THE ADVENTURES CONTINUE - DFO gets a truck and hops on Schneider's IC Choice Program

To me it is all about net income and I have learned that I take home as much as $200 more a week by keeping my speed down. That is nearly $1000 a month in more cash in my pocket. I set my cruise at 58-59 and I run about 1325 rpms in 12th gear. I pass less than 5 vehicles a day normally and have no stress of all the passing and switching lanes game. My loads are normally less than 400 miles so being 125 miles behind someone at the end of the day means nothing to me. Because of how I drive and where I drive I normally NET .75-$1.00 a mile. Last week I drove a total of 1835 miles (Gross revenue was $3185) and took home $1600 after all expenses. All miles were driven in Texas and no load was greater than 356 miles.( This includes $530 in fixed expenses payed to Schneider on every settlement). Why would anyone let money just go out the stack by driving faster than economically viable.

 

ETCH it will just continue to be point counterpoint! Like the saying goes "plan your work and work your plan" Sounds like yours is

working just fine!

 

I'm assuming your truck is payed for and you aren't setting any aside for the next one? Your average rate was around $1.70/mile. Cost is around $1.10/mile.Leaving you around .60/mile less the $530 fixed.I'm trying to learn how to make it on L/P,to me the numbers simply don't add up.

 

This is the most important variable. "Motivation". What drives me to be successful is totally different than what drives another person. I prefer to be home more and I have hobbies outside of trucking that are important to my happiness. This prevents me from ever buying a brand new truck and chasing loads that require the revenue to support that. Many drivers want the peace of mind of a new truck and are willing to sacrifice to achieve that piece of mind. Just as some drive 60 mph and others drive 70 mph. Our decisions are based on our individual needs and desires. To each thier own.

 

You assume wrong, That $530 a week includes my truck a 2009 cascadia, plates, insurance. I traded my old 9400 on a used truck thru SFI last year SFI gave me $25000 for it and I put it towards the Cascadia. My average rate may have been 1.70 a mile last week but most my loads are over $2.00 per loaded mile and u.p If you stay within Texas state lines any quick glance at the load board and you will see quite a few loads that pay $2,$3 and even $4 a mile. The fuel is cheaper in Texas and the land is flat. 8mpg is really not hard to achieve here. Load weight is really meaningless because of the flat ground I pay myself a salary of $650.00 per week and the rest sits in my bank account for any expense needed to keep the truck running. So on any given week I can bank greater than $500 just for the truck future ( this adds up quite fast) I have never had a negative settlement with Schneider. No need for me to embelish the truth, just trying to show it can be done. Believe me I made tons of very costly mistakes early in my quest but I listened and learned from those that I knew were successful. I remember blowing a turbo in Mo a few years back and having to use a credit card to pay the nearly $4000 to replace it. From that point on I began to save as much as I could on every pay check to ensure I never used a credit card again for a truck repair. Just one of my many learning experiences.

 

Does obetz have a cafeteria that cooks meals?

 

Obetz is one step above a van down by the river. Unless that van has a wicked cool wizard painted on the side. Then the vans a step above Obetz

 

I take that as crappy food or no food at all. I've only been in the yard, never inside the building.

 

Snack vending us it

 

in short no. company car , left out of OC to High Street ( US23) loads of places and stores. Plus wally's. Approx 4-5 miles away.