What we've got here is failure to communicate

That is my intention... What kind of time out were you running? Your numbers are up there. Quite honestly if I can hit 35000 gross I'll be doing well enough to make this a worth while venture.

I'm realistic, my wife and I have discussed it in length. The only time I will demand to be home is for Christmas this year. Of course all the holidays are important, but I want to keep the wheels moving and make a good mark for myself. Start this career off right! I will let home time come as it may. I live in an area where there is some major trucking and don't see getting home to be too tough. Even if it is under loads and on my way somewhere.

 

10-4 on that Dan. I am a COA type of guy.

 

I work for them an ive not had a prob.hell been out 25 days they d/h me 300 mi to home for 5 days couldent be better. its by no means perfect. adv.523 mi on my days out. a cople loads impossible to make. but hell works for me

 

hindsy
Please don't make your decision to change jobs based on the info on this site. 140,000 miles a year is not a realistic number unless you are going to live in the tuck year around. If you are planning to ever see your wife again and have any kind of home life 110,000 to 120,000 will be a stretch. You have to figure waiting at shippers, receivers, maintaince at Roehls terminals, waiting for load plans, (that can mean sitting all weekend at a truck stop). As for demanding Christmas at home, I spent my first Christmas with Roehl waiting for a load (for more than 36 hrs.) at the senic E. St. Louis Pilot parked next to another Roehl driver who was equally unhappy to be there. If you let the home time come as it may you will not get home at all. You have to tell them when you need to go home or they will never send you there. Judas works for the perfect Roehl, I work for the real one, loads are mostly over 40,000 in the box (just hauled a water load 46,600) we also haul lots of heavy paper rolls, mostly time consuming live load/unload, my (F/M, DSR, dispatcher) is indifferent at best, lots of east coast (New England). You will be changing your lifestyle and that of your families, and not for the beter.
Having said all that I enjoy truck driving on most days, I don't mind the heavy loads or long days (i do get tired of waiting for load assignments) and Roehl has a lot of great people working for them. In my opinion Roehl is about average for a large trucking company. And for an entry level driver like myself it is a good place to start. If you are trying to be realistic consider this a lifestyle change as well as a career change. Good luck with whatever you decide.

 

Oldguy... I apreciate the advice and make no mistake I will decide with all those things you mention in mind. I know what it is like out there for the most part and realize that not only my lifestyle is changing, but everyone around me as well. I drove before, but on a local oil company that left out at230 in the morning and put in 12-15 hour days then we'd be out again. I really enjoyed the driving end of things. That is why I think it is a viable avenue for me to persue.
I understand that realisticly 140,000 miles is running 52 out of 52 weeks. I know that is not gonna happen. My plan of attack is this: Get out there run whatever whenever they need me. Gotta work to make money! Get home when I can for the 1st year and get valuable, safe miles and experience. Then see where and what my options become.
I really enjoy driving and think that this is much more a job for me than what I currently do. I guess we will see...
Thanks again for the advice. I will take it and choose wisely..