Profile For Don L.

Steve, I love you man, but I have got to put in a few comments about this.

This makes no sense...

He also said he was making way more money than as a company driver. However, to make that really good money, he only got home twice in the first year as an IC driver.

If it were true that he was making "way more money than a company driver," then it stands to reason that he would have been able to spend a little time at home. He obviously wasn't making all kinds of money or he wouldn't have been married to the truck like he was. This is the same kind of rhetoric that lease ops and O/O's throw out there all the time. Maybe I should clarify and state that it makes no sense to me. He was having to bust his tail like crazy so that he could stay afloat. In my mind that cannot be considered as making way more than a company driver. To go home two times in one year by choice, is one thing, but to have to do it because you are an owner operator is another matter altogether and the reasons for that should be obvious to anyone with a little understanding of the economics of trucking. If he really was doing all that great, then why did he need to switch over to LandStar? There is very little wiggle room in this business when it comes to margins, and the national averages all point to the same conclusions. An owner operator who is doing very well can maybe earn a scant 5% more than a good solid company driver.

I realize there are people who think I am crazy when it comes to this subject, and I catch my share of flack over this, but to be honest with you, I honestly think most of these owner operators are living in a make believe world. Many of them don't even seem to understand their own numbers. They are happy their accountant is able to reduce their numbers at tax time to a reasonable sum, but they don't seem to realize what that means. It means that is what they are making! Most of them love to talk about the size of their checks, ignoring the fact that those are not paychecks! They don't like you to pry into their real numbers, because that indicates that you see the smoke screen they're putting out. I know this to be true, because every time I've tried to engage some of them with the kind of questions that will produce factual information, they get furious and refuse to continue in the conversation.

Old School, Can you tell me who you are a trainer for?....Sorry to be off subject....Respect is earned NOT given, and ALL the Moderators on here have paid their dues with Time and Real life experience! Therefore you ALL have earned my Respect.....Keep changing the world 1 mile at a Time!!

WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY to GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..........AWESOME JOB!!

My total cost per week for my benefits for my wife and myself is $88.57 per week. This includes medical, dental, vision, life, ADD and what I choose to contribute to my HSA. The buy up will be a few dollars more. I do not feel this cost. With per diem, I have been netting over $1000.00 per week most weeks.

Big Scott,

Whoot Whoot....Thanks for the info...Guess what, the state of illinois, will want me to retake a bunch of tests, if I get my CDL from CFI in MO?...So what should I do?...Stick with a Illinois trucking school training center so I don't have to retest? So I get issued a state licence from Illinois, with NO hoops?

just need to find the time to study Illinois CDL manual.

I wouldn't even bother with that manual. Our High Road CDL Training Program will put you way ahead of the game. It's a gem! It's far more effective at helping you retain the information needed for the exams.

Thanks Old School....Working on that as well....I will quit Illinois study manual and stick to HR CDL Training

Thanks Don for your thoughts.

You didnt say whether you want single or family, but including everything vision, disabilty and such i pay $50 per week now for single.

Old Dominions website says they pay 80% of the premiums. I THOUGHT someone on this forum said they paid 100%, so hopefully other will chime in. We have a couple forum members who work for them and a couple who tried but did not get hired. It seems each terminal there has different requirements based on need. One of our forum members told me yesterday they need 15 drivers in a new eastern PA terminal, but they were asking for one year OTR experience.

Never hurts to set goals.

I dont mean to pry, but if you have a condition that makes you so concerned about insurance, you might be shocked to find that condition could hinder employment. we have had a few prospective drivers post about either having special needs or children with special needs, or medications that are not DOT or company compliant. If you have a family member with a condition, truky think about the time away from home truck will require.

I'm all good Rainy in the health department, however wife was diagnosed with breast cancer 1 month ago, so as of right now, I'm learning all I can. She's got 1 Chemo treatment down, 7 more to go..I'll see how she recovers and we are being truly optimistic about beating the disease!!!!

I don't know what I pay weekly for mine. We have a high deductible plan with HSA. After the first year you can get a better deal for a bit more money and with that CFI puts $500.00 per quarter for family or $250 per quarter for single into your HSA. I actually became eligible for that yesterday and haven't had the time to get on line and do it.

Big Scott, I appreciate your response as well! I'm enjoying your responses and info shared on here. I'm thinking about driving for CFI, applied to them. Got a response from recruiter, just need to find the time to study Illinois CDL manual, do practice tests, watch you tube video's on pre-trip, backing, you get what I mean. Plus maintain my current job of selling new and used fine automobile's...

As I'm sure you are aware of, sometime's 24 hours is just not enough hours in the day it often seems like.

Be Safe out there, God Bless and keep posting brother!!

This young lady goes for surgery 8/22 not 8/2 :)

thanks for thinking of me OS.

the health insurance is as follows and the decrease goes into effect on your first anniversary, not in january. so i got my CDL Oct 30th and on the pay for the next Oct 30th the decrease went into affect. we also have dental, vision, life and disability options. we have a doctor at the main terminal who can do exams, blood work and some other testing.

Rainy D,

First off, I'll say a few prayers for you and your surgery. Second, Thank you for your response with proof of info on your insurance plan. I'ts great to see in black and white the info, so I can make informed decisions vs guessing? I pray for a speedy recovery, and will look forward to reading more posts, once your recovered!!

If you're wanting a bargain on great insurance, you should look into Prime. After a certain amount of time they start taking up the biggest part of your premium. It is an incentive for you to stay on with them. I don't know the details, but I'm quite sure a certain young lady in here will jump in with some more info shortly.

Old School,

Your info is appreciated. I'd like to thank you for your knowledge and mentoring us "newbies"! I look forward to getting an education of knowledge and experience from you, as I move forward with my new career!!

I remember talking to recruiters about this there is no cheap insurance out there. If you want to try to put a family on there you're still going to pay through the nose. I do occasionally see on the back of trucks fully paid benefits. Don't remember the names of them, the one company I know in my area at least pays the full insurance is UPS and that is if you are full-time. Sometimes it takes up to 4 years to become full-time with them at least in my area. Good luck.

JYD,

Now that takes me back to my days of Harley Race, and the old school of wrestling! I appreciate your response and info. I would have to agree with you, UPS is probably a great company to work for. However, I will have to pay my dues and get my seat time first. Be Safe out there, and God Bless You and the Family, 1 mile at a time!!!

Good Afternoon and God Bless, I'm doing my research on trucking companies, and would like to know if any of you out there have any knowledge or suggestions on which trucking companies offer the best insurance plans? This is a topic very important to me, I look forward to your comments, and Thank You In Advance!! I appreciate --Brett and ALL Truckers!! Thank you for this site, and the knowledge gained as I too, will soon be on the Road in a short time.

Once Again, Be Safe out there, thanks for keeping the Economy rolling, One mile at a Time!!