Profile For Ride2BFree

As many mention when on home time you need to park the truck. If you park in a truck stop and leave it for a few days make sure you let the truck stop people know and some will charge you for parking for a few days. The other issue is how long of a home time? Some companies if you take more than 4-5 days off they asked you to leave the truck at a terminal and take all your things out in case they’ll need it. Some had no problem even if you take 2 weeks at a time. Now even if you live out of your truck companies like home address and your CDL should be from the same state. Even if you don’t ever need to get there. I live out of the truck as well, I’m a company driver, I leave my personal car at the terminal where I pick my truck and take home time there or rent a car or use Uber or Lyft in other locations around the country.

Hello, In one way it’s a performance base but then if one driver has 3 years experience and the other 12 years the guy with the 3 years will make less per mile then the more experience driver, why? If they do the same job with the same amount of miles?

I don’t know how was it when you started but my experience is that in the big companies many times the problem are with the planners. I had planners that did not know what they are doing with many never step in a truck before.

But the way to overcome it is to ask questions to find out what they see on their computers as far as Driver HOS and locations. When you know the info they have you can communicate with them to make sure they have the real info. In one company the planners did not see 34 reset unless you told them to switch to a different system.

It took me time to realize that trying to help them do their job they look at it as whining despite the fact that I was telling them I’m not complaining I’m just trying to help the system.

So, yep each company as it’s own way to do things. Don’t try to fix it or make them better just accept the loads deliver on time be safe and everything will be fine.

I love being a trucker.

Rainy great article. Love it. Thank you for taking the time to write and share.

Refusing a load, I was working for a company and was hired for no touch freight after 1 year and 7 month working for them they gave me a load on the holiday that say that I have to unload myself about 1000 tires and they say if I find lumpers there and pay them I’m not going to get reimburse for it. Instead of causing all the assle at the customer i refused the load and got fired. After being fired some companies will not hire you regardless the reason. My advice is don’t refuse the load just quit on the spot.

Thank You.

I got stop and the officer wrote on the inspection report that I did not obey a sign that the road was restricted to trucks. But he did not issue a citation and I did not see any sign a truck GPS plus rand McNally atlas does not have it restricted my company say because it's a warning only no way to fight it but it put points on the company and driver CSA score. Is there a way to appeal it? Doesn't the constitution give us the right for due process even if it's not a fine but just points? Thank You for your help.

One of the things drivers need to know about the company they work for who has the authority for what, so they don't bark on the wrong tree. And unfortunately in many companies, specially the big ones, it's all cover your ass attitude and people afraid to make decisions even when they know it's the right one. I learned that sometimes it's better to do what you know is right without asking because if you ask someone will find a reason not to make a decision at all. Every company have a system that works in a different way than other companies you need to adjust and to find your way within that system.

The amount is after truck payment ins payment fuel permits and everything. It's a brand new truck so almost everything is under warranty up to 450,000 miles. I'll try to keep you inform on a regular basis.

For some it's all about the money others are looking for other advantages that they might have.

Yes there is a risk involved in being O/O or L/O. The future will tell if it was worth while or not.

200$ a week more is 10,000 more per year. For some it's small change for others is not.

I'm happy not only because of the extra money I'm happy because I like being a truck driver I enjoy the open road and love the life style.

Some people look at what can go wrong others go after their heart with hope for the best and try to be prepared for the worst just in case.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each, many here will tell you being a lease operator does not pay enough for the risk, I will put here the weekly gross compare to my best week (I was a company driver only for couple of month) As company driver. My last week as company driver I did 3000 miles and my gross was 1200$ for the week. Please realize this is the gross. Taxes and deductions are different to everyone.

As a lease operator you are getting your gross deposited and you are responsible for your own taxes. In addition there are couple of deductions from your pay that will run only for about 6 month and they are for the deposit and a bond and the student loan for the cdl so I will add them back to the lease operator gross I feel this way it will be easier to compare. I'm deducting 10cpm for a maintenance account.

First 3 weeks as lease operator it's a grace period so no truck payments yet so I will not count them then I took home time so I will not count it either so I start fresh my first full week as lease operator with all the payments And adding back the temporary deductions. Pay was 1200$ plus 225$ temp deductions so net income before taxes 1445$. I'm happy.

I called today to verify the miles and was told 2700-3900 miles per week. That is in 5-6 days which makes more sense to me now. It's about 450-490 miles one way so each round trip is 900-980 miles. They say I can legally do 4 round trips per week. I can see 3 round trips, but how can I possibly do 4 round trips? Thats closer to 4000 miles now. What do you guys think? I'm new to this so I'm not trying to kill myself out there. I think I can manage 3 round trips weekly, but 4 seems crazy.

A lot of it depends on the truck and the route. Is the truck governed? At what speed? Mine governed at 68 and it's hard to average 60+ every day. What the speed limit on the route ? Do you need to get into cities during rush hour? How flexible are the live load is it at a fix hour appointment or you get loaded as you arrived? Is there major road work on the route? Is the route affected by weather conditions?

my advice take a weekly calendar and fill up start driving time break average speed time for drop and hook Sometimes it takes more then you think waiting in line at gates security check line at shipping receiving office etc.

After you do it and get all info you will know better how many miles you can do per week.

And as others said don't compromise safety.

Good Luck.