What do truckers do after they hit the 11 hour mark for driving?

Why would I want to own my own truck and risk my financial future on a ticking time bomb. One catastrophic accident (regardless of who's at fault), or one slip and fall or a catastrophic equipment failure and a savings cushion gets wiped out. Here, I make $70k+, or I was before last weekends surprise raise, paid vacation, paid breakdown, short and long term disability and accident insurance (not counting workers comp if I am hurt on the job bad enough to lose work time)...all without risking a dime of my own, plus the right to say "nah" to loads if I want...what's not to love.

Enjoy being an O/O...hope your success continues, but keep in mind, not everyone shares your same desire for ownership.

 

70k. More like 50k after you pay taxes. You're also forced to stay out for a month at least to get that. Detention after THREE hours (no doubt you don't get the total they bill the customer), a measly $50 for an entire day off for a holiday. I've quoted your post from your recruitment thread in the other section below. You're doing about 275-300 a day before taxes. Again, enjoy it but it's comparing apples to oranges to what a decent OO does. Not even in the same ballpark. For the risk you're putting yourself in, the money isn't even close to being worth it.

"I personally stay out 4-6 weeks. Some drivers go home every month for regular hometime, and pass thru the house occasionally thru the month. They only hire drivers that live within their regular freight lanes so hometime isn't an issue. They pretty much run everywhere except the extreme west coast.

They pay detention after 3 hours, $50 holiday pay after 90 days, $100 layover after 24 hours and on the occasion that you have to live load, they pay you a $30 load fee. Short haul pay is $150 for loads under 200 miles (plus $.55/mile for the empty miles to return to the plant). Loads between 200-300 miles pay $200 (plus the $.55/mile for empty miles back to the plant)

The empty miles are paid different here. You are paid for the empty miles you run after delivery instead of before. And...are paid before you run them. Deliver the afternoon of payroll cutoff, and you are paid for the load and return miles even if it will be days later before you get to the plant."

 

People who own their own truck and know what they are doing make over $150,000 per year.

 

If you're only grossing $150,000 owning your own you are either working part time or not making much...especially with fuel up to $3/gal. I was making $125,000 just after Y2K when fuel was around $1/gal.

How much tax do you think I pay? I am not in the top tax bracket... $75k nets in the $60's with this new tax plan that went into effect this year...our holiday pay went up, our detention pay went up, our layover and breakdown pay went up, and our loading pay almost doubled (and this loading pay is for picking up a reload instead of deadheading back, it's not for actual fingerprinting any freight)...I was an O/O, I know how expensive it is when you pay for everything...and this was before the new EPA approved engines came out, unless you're driving an old truck, then the equivalent in truck payment goes into your repair fund.

 

We turn the e log off, run paper and tell the dot man its broken

 

And how much of what you make in a day is actually for your salary?

 

We all run our own businesses differently. I got those numbers above from your thread in another section of the board. I must have missed your post in that thread where you mentioned all your pay went up. Either way, not in the same ballpark. Good luck on your company job.

 

I gross $24,000 per month with 3 trucks. That works out to $1,248,000 per year.

My insurance cost were $57,000

Fuel cost just about 250000

Add taxes and equipment cost and payroll and interest cost........and I can afford three meals a week if I have a coupon.

Please don't try to get into this business........Just let me muddle through.

 

If you only have two hours left start looking for a solid place to park, chances are one or two are near, never plan to the last minute though. That's my golden rule when it comes to it. As for what to do, I consider it a long break unless load is timed then I start earlier. As to what to do.... go laundry since it takes a while? Explore, walk around, hell break a leg, noone is there to tell you you aren't doing your job. Your the captain and truck ain't moving without you. If neither of the close by places have parking, be mindful of where you are parking, be mindful of early bird drivers, and without being a nuisance to anyone try to make your own parking? Or ask a nearby place if no truck facilities are available close by. Walmart can also be your friend, call before hand to find out if city doesn't have a truck ban, and where they prefer you park at.

 

You must be a Schneider driver or you just love the color, even your avatar is orange