The Old Man's Advice

They put me on a dedicated route recently where I supposedly get paid for 2000 miles base pay every week and if I get more than 2000 in a week they'll pay for whatever that number is .

The main thing is this companies cpm is so bad. If I get pulled off this dedicated account for any reason it could be back to those sub 300 paychecks which is completely unacceptable.

 

Why not look into a linehaul gig or something like that. Them guys can make really good money and u will be home more often

 

this whole thread...Well said.


Sirscrapntruckalot - Bravo! Bravo!

 

I don't know much, and I started out trucking old. I run about a 300 mile radius and sleep in my own bed 99% of the time. Hourly pay. Overtime pay. Weekends off.

In 6 years, I have no accidents, no tickets, no incidents, 0 CSA points and I haven't damaged or backed over anything. EVER. (Contrary to what PattyJ used to claim)

Take finding your next employer very seriously, and take the time to find the place that is right for you. Whats your big dam rush?

1. Being the "new guy" sucks. The new guy gets the crap loads, the crap customers, anything the other drivers don't want or don't like. Getting a new job, even if you've driven 20 years, automatically makes you the "new guy" all over again. Who actually enjoys that experience so much that they want to keep repeating it every 6-12 months? Stick with one good job for awhile (i.e. a few years) and things get better.

2. Pay really close attention to your prospective new employers SMS scores. It DOES make a big difference. My small trucking company employers SMS scores of almost all Zeros have meant that their insurer would allow them to hire me. It has also meant that in 6 years, I normally get waved through/green lighted through every scale. In 6 years, I have only shown 1 logbook page to 1 officer, whose only comment was "you've been busy this morning. Get out of here, and be safe." I've never had more than a Level 3 inspection.

3. If theres something wrong with my equipment it gets fixed. Right now. Today. Thats what my boss, and I both want. No dings on those SMS scores. And I don't sit around a truck shop waiting for days. If its gonna be more than 3 hours, I get repowered and come back for my truck when its done. Try getting that done with a mega.

4. Look beyond megas for a job. There are lots of small and medium sized carriers with outstanding SMS scores, good equipment and loads, and good benefits, that have the ability and willingness to hire and teach new drivers. You just have to look, and present yourself as someone worthy of consideration.

Good luck, and be safe.

 

Reefers will still be rolling long after flatbeds have parked because no one is building stuff.

If the reefer work dries up it's because people have stopped buying food and if that happens we are surely at the end times. The type of trucking you are doing and money you were earning will be meaningless when civilization as we know it has ended.

 

Keep your nose clean...no accidents tickets ect. Stay at current employer for a year. Start looking for your next job now. Get out and look, don't panic when in a bad spot. Take a breath, get out walk around the truck survey the situation then try again. Don't make things worse, go slow. Get a couple years experience then you can get on with anyone. I had a years long plan and stuck to it. Nothing comes easy you have to work for it, there are no short cuts.

 

That's not entirely true. Colorado is experiencing one of the biggest building booms in history ( crisis, what crisis?) Matter of fact, all I see is flatbeds. While it's true, reefers will always be running, it's the job itself I'll have nothing to do with again. I pulled a reefer for a company by the hour for 3 years, it was a total PITA. If the guy can't do flat, and is OTR, a van is the only answer.

 

True, but I was talking about things getting much worse than they are now.

When we are living in cardboard boxes under bridges food will still be needed even if we don't have the means to pay for it.

Then again the government might just let us all starve.

 

As a rookie hauling reefer, my goal is to become an OO, right now I am making more or less 1,300-1,600 gross which equates 2500-3200 miles per week. I’m making the assumption that if I’m an OO, I might be able to make more but I also understand that it’s not always the case.

 

poongdool, What carrier are you driving for ?