Taking the plunge. My journey as an O/O.

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by Farmerbob1, Jan 7, 2019.

  1. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

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    One hole added about 300 lbs to my steers. I moved around 200 lbs back onto my drives by taking chains out from in front of the passenger seat and putting them on the chain rack.

    I cannot move any farther forward or a lot of my loads will be problematic.
     
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  3. SteerTire

    SteerTire Road Train Member

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    Completely understandable. Our weight distribution wouldn’t be the same even if we drove identical trucks.

    I checked mine within a couple of days of delivery. Hit the scales for a wet & dry weight to figure out how that weight was distributed between the drives and steers, after all my gear was on the truck.

    My fifth wheel is all the way forward. This may cause an issue in the future. But for now, it’s not an issue.

    I haven’t been more than 11,800 on the steers. Even with a gross of 79k. But that day is coming, I’m sure
     
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  4. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

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    This last week is one reason why you need money in the bank before you try to go o/o.

    Nothing terrible happened, but if I was just holding on by my fingernails, it would have been bad.

    Finished my home time and rolled, heading to Victorville, CA. A nice start, I hoped.

    Was asked to delay arrival by a day. No problem. Stopped at Freightliner, Kingman, AZ, and had some work done while I took a 34.

    Delivered the load. Picked my next load heading from southern CA to Portland, OR. Again, there was far too much time on the load. I took a 40 hour break in order to time my arrival, as this was a live unload.

    Next load had a pickup the next day, but allowed overnight parking.

    Not. The customer does not allow overnight parking. I arrived there at 1730 on a weekday, to the West of Portland, OR. Parking with truck and trailer would not be found easily that late. The shipper was, fortunately, kind enough to let me drop my empty onsite. It then became fairly easy to find legal parking.

    However, the last few days of terrible mileage, combined with bad company info almost leading to parking drama caused me to screw up.

    Settlements have to be submitted by midnight on Monday. I failed to do so.

    Next week will be zero pay. However, hopefully, the week after that will be nice.

    While considering this, I realized something else. Working as an o/o for Crete means that I get another benefit. I get paid Friday every week for miles submitted the Monday immediately prior. Crete is essentially acting as a factoring service for me, so I don't have to chase billed dollars.
     
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  5. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

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    Here we go... readying the popcorn. lol

    Wish I could get guys to sign on for what your getting paid. I’d pay you day of delivery or even after picking up. I’d make a fortune. Heck, I would even send you for a professional massage every week. lol

    Hang in there. Hope you get past your learning time soon and find some more lucrative work. You can’t afford these delays.
     
    Last edited: Apr 3, 2019
  6. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

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    From the feedback I got while trying to arrange for better loads, there is a shortage of decent non-account loads that Crete is willing to accept.

    I will be staying East of the Mississippi until loads pick up on the West Coast, heading East, then I might pick up some more Victorville loads.
     
  7. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    I'd adjust the 5th wheel to put at least 12,300 on the steers. You can go up to 13k. Give yourself wiggle room for the drives.

    Keep your trailer brakes adjusted and you don't have a need for chocks. That was money wasted right there.
    If your trailer won't stay still. That outta be your sign right there. Your brakes aren't working. Fix em. Why on earth would you want to be roaming around the country without trailer brakes?

    There's a VERY BIG difference in brake pedal between poorly adjusted brakes and tightly adjusted brakes. ALL of them.

    I don't want to hear no crap about not being certified or company won't let you either. What no one knows won't hurt them and you'll save yourself the hassle of being OOS from an inspection.
     
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  8. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

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    A lot of those big company trailers are so beat up and twisted that the spring brakes alone won't let you slide the tandem when loaded. The chocks will come in handy for that.
     
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  9. Farmerbob1

    Farmerbob1 Road Train Member

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    The amount you can put on steers varies quite a bit from state to state, actually. According to my atlas. Quite a few states have a 12k limit.
     
  10. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    THAT I could understand. Most of the complaints on the forum though, are tires keep rolling.
     
  11. snowwy

    snowwy Road Train Member

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    I think the atlas goes on a basic general knowledge more or less. Some of us are rolling around the country with more then 12k. Look at the label on your door jam. It'll tell you max weights for your axles. I know the newer FL's are rated for 13k.

    Some members are better at the math science and others could probably tell you which states if that's the case. I"m only aware of Oregon not allowing more then 12,300 on standard sized steers. I personally roamed around with 12,600 - 800. Even in Cali.
     
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