Western 11 MILES? GOOD INFO INSIDE!

It sucks I am going to lose a 2700 mile run due to mechanical issue

 

Spokester, no one is pissed off at you. Also, there is not a planner looking at your miles on a screen saying, "well, we ran this guy good for a few mos, it's time to back his miles off." They do not operate like that. If they had the freight for you to run where you are sitting, they would put it on you.

 

Sorry to hear that.

 

Yeah Scooter, I know that, but it's a bummer that I've been sitting so much. Costing me money in interest charges on my debt because I can't pay as much money toward it as well. My last few checks have been smaller than my $15/hr bike shop job back home. I mean, I'm generally enjoying myself, but a big reason I chose this lonely road was the supposedly better money... I see some companies offering a minimum weekly pay guaranteed, sounds pretty good. I know those offers are for experienced drivers, but they guarantee a minimum per week more than I've ever seen on my checks. Wonder when May is gonna follow the industry in upping its pay packages...? Or at least bump the governed speed to 65 so we can run more miles. Or offer fuel mileage bonus, pay detention/layover/breakdown (and all those other categories I see on the "Dispatch Earnings Information" message) without drivers having to pull teeth to even see a possibility of being paid what was agreed and is actually owed. Or... something... I just want to feel like I'm being fairly compensated for my time and efforts; especially when I was told that was the deal!

Don't get me wrong, I am glad I chose May, and happy with my choice, but ####! Just pay me what I'm owed!

 

Oh, and another thing I'm curious about. Anyone else ever had a load they moved a few miles, sat on for 30 hrs or so, and made about $5? That one did not please me one bit. Seems like a lot of work for a Starbucks coffee...

 

Yep. It happens all the time to me. I sit an awful lot, and I am not even counting the bad luck I had with my last truck (in the shop 17 days out of the 8 weeks I was out last time.)

I am here for 2 years, not a day longer if I can help it. Then, I am going to try my best to get a local job for better pay and to go home at night. Even if that means quitting OTR and taking a night dishwashing job or pizza delivery gig so I can make a concentrated job search during the day and actually be around for an interview, rather than 2000 miles away. And if that cannot be obtained, then I shall hang up the CDL and go do something else. My lot in life is a little better than most, though, by my own design: I don't have kids, or a needy wife, or a home I cannot afford, or car payments, so I have the freedom to say "to hell with it" and move on, so I suppose I am luckier than many.

The pay is not worth our time, but I would submit to you that the experience is. Stick it out for a couple of years and move on.

 

There is a easy solution to this problem. However, you must realize the danger both of you are creating for yourselfs and other motorist around you. I have had 100 + mph trucks and 55 and slower trks and my experience seeing accidents caused in these situations have taught me to travel slower then the flow of traffic. If (your keeping pace) your not leaving outs. More importantly your stressing yourself out. Slow down 5mph next time create enough distance were u avoid this situation. At the end of your day it cost yu just seconds but could potential save your life and the lifes of others. But what do I know??? I only have 2 million + miles accident and incident free..

 

That's true. However, I found out it's much better driving a truck now for a different company that isn't governed at 60 mph. I just pull completely away from guys that do that to me now

 

LMAO just reading this i nearly spit the water out my mouth!!!!

 

Who would tell you that? I would like to know because their f-in silly! Now had you said "I don't understand why they purchase a isx450 and limit the trucks to 60mph, that would have made more sense.

The 13 is purchased for many reason: in no specific order
1) resale (this is obvious)
2) Primarily operated in the west coast. It makes sense to spec a truck with a 13 speed that runs in the mountains. don't confuse torque and horse power.. You could govern a log truck at 40 mph with a 18 speed and it would make cents those extra gears are not for "SPEED" there for "TORQUE"

Having the option to split on the top side of the transmission also saves tons of fuel that would just be wasted trying to power up a hill. It affords you the ability to stay in the sweet spot where the engine produces its most torque with out wasting unnecessary revolutions per minute. I suggest you check the block of the motor to see what range that is.

Not that many years back the trucks were not programmed in this fashion, drivers would power thru everything rev shift rev shift just burning up equipment and fuel. In 2007 I did a video on progressive shifting. They (may) seen the video and asked if I could do some test runs as they thought it would be next to impossible to bring a heavy load over mountains and never go over 1350. I picked up a GOLDEN load and headed back for brooks. Of course I did as I always do, and the rest is history! (btw - they have saved a ton of money in lost revenue by reprogramming the computers)