Profile For Truck_Driving_Lou

Freedom

I can route my way, Fueling Pilot Flying J Loves, but I can fuel at any I wish. I'm not forced to go to a certain one. No Forced Dispatch, No Northeast, No NYC.

Dedicated Contracted yr round freight. I'm Avg 3300 to 3700 miles weekly. Trucks are at 65, you can get 1 hr a day at 68 but as a company hole, the switch has bumped the Fuel from 6.5 to 7.2 mpg. I'm over 9 mpg currently. With Rates coming down, any savings helps. Tolls, They don't want you on the Major expensive tolls like PA IN OH turnpikes. Will ok you using NJTP to get where you need but if you can switch to 295 I do it.

Lastly, it run by drivers. Most of the dispatchers are drivers, and the Director and Owner are former drivers. 80% DH.

Are there bad days yes like any place but I'm pretty happy here.

500 plus company 500 plus OO

I thankfully work for the greatest company of them all. Artur Express The Trucker's company, The schedule is 16 on 4 days off.

I can choose to stay out, or even choose to stay homeless. Very flexible. When you want to be home, they will get you home.

I usually Avg about 30 days out at a time, then I take 4 off. My longest stretch ever is 120 days out.

We could all argue our company is the best. What is it you enjoy most about the company? Not trying to debate just curious what they do that elevates them to the best in your situation. Everybody places importance on different factors so I'm interested in what yours are. Cpm, freight, lanes you run, and home time for example. Also, I haven't heard of them before do they have alot of trucks?

Best Advice I can say is, for right now stay company. With Rates dropping the next year or 2 will be rough as a OO.

I recommend in the meantime setting yourself up.

Save so you have about 25% towards a downpayment. On top of that, you want minimum of 6 months of expenses saved, fuel, maintenance, etc.

I'd consider bringing your new truck to a company, make sure you have an out. Example my company Artur Express lets you leave if you want to leave which is great.

A lot of bad companies won't let you do that and then you will be in a world of poop.

Also what % will you get for each load? Most companies are around 70-80% My Company is at 86%.

I'm not a recruiter nor am I asking you to work here unless you want to. I'm just providing info from the place I'm at vs others.

The first year is to save, save, save.

If you have decent credit, Get a Credit card, use that for everything, Just remember to pay in full each month.

If you don't have good credit, I recommend the Lexington Law firm they are great at removing items.

Driver habits, don't be focused on gunning it,

I drive between 60-65 I'm avg 9+mpg's, Also use the Jake brake a lot to slow down as long as your not in an ordinance area. Use the cruise as much as possible weather permitting.

Don't think about the Top line or being a Top Driver, Think about your Bottom line. Saving as much fuel as possible is crucial.

Maintenance, I go every 30k miles to Penske and have a PM completed. A lot of drivers go at 50k some 100k, I don't like that. Every 30k for a PM, usually 3 or 4 times a year is what I do. Yes, I pay with more visits for the PM, but I keep the problems small.

Tirepass at Loves every 2 weeks, 10.00. Professional state of the art equipment checking your tires and putting an air as needed is a huge asset.

Over the past 4 years, since I been doing the PM and Tirepass. I have had 0 breakdowns.

OO at our job will gross around 190 to 200k and clear after everything expenses, taxes, etc 50k to 90k give or take It depends on how much expenses you have.

Company drivers at our place Avg 1300 gross which is just shy of 70k a yr after taxes you'll clear over 55k net.

Thanks,

TDL

I'm a new driver few month and consider moving to become owner operator. I will gladly appreciate some comments advice help, thank you. 1. I realize owner op might have a better cash flow but after considering paying more in health insurance taxe at year end lost of paid vacation school reimbursement company life insurance financially for the short run it does not look so much better. But the advantages are I can get a dog and a friend with me when I choose. I can choose my own route.

And my long term plan is to lease a truck from the company after 3 years to buy the truck they will finance so in 5 years it will be paid off and it will be my truck.

Then working with the truck for another 3-5 years payment free So I will be able to save for my retirement. Maybe.

I'm 59 and broke now with nothing set aside.

I heard that owner op are getting more miles than company drivers.

I'm single so I need home time to see my daughter once every 3-4 month.

I figured out that there is very little risk First you can any time walk away from the lease it's like a month to month lease actually second if you don't get enough miles from them you can go with the truck to other companies and as long as you make the payments they have no problem with that.

Do other company take owner op if the truck is not leased through them?

My other question is what the best truck to buy Peterbilt? Freight liner? Ken worth?

Other?

I like the idea of the automatic freight liner, does any one had an experience with it?

Is it makes much of a difference if I plan to keep the truck for many years to choose Cummins vs. Detroit Diesel engine?

Thanks again for your help.

I thankfully work for the greatest company of them all. Artur Express The Trucker's company, The schedule is 16 on 4 days off.

I can choose to stay out, or even choose to stay homeless. Very flexible. When you want to be home, they will get you home.

I usually Avg about 30 days out at a time, then I take 4 off. My longest stretch ever is 120 days out.

Had my first long haul this week. Left last Thursday from South Carolina to a mine in the Nevada desert and back, got home today. Round trip of just over 5000 miles. The last 20 miles to the mine was a dirt road. That was an experience. Normally I am two trips a week from South Carolina up to either Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, or Michigan LP. Head out on a Sunday and finish up on Friday.

What other long runs have the rest of you done?

I run Allentown PA to Oelwein IA to Temple TX, to Conroe, TX to St Louis, Mo to Denver, Co to Tulsa, Ok to Springfield, Mo to Elkton, MD then Home, and repeat.