Looking To Switch Companies

It's been depending on the freights. I'm currently waiting on a load that was supposed to be ready yesterday so I'm only getting paid for two loads this week. I do the best that I can with what I'm given, accepting loads quickly and all that. I don't really care so much about the governor as the pay and a terminal near home. Since I got out of hometime on July 3rd, I have run a grand total of 2900 miles; however, that has been split into at least two pay checks so it doesn't seem like a lot. My last one was $241. Now if I could run that and get it all in one paycheck, that would make my day, but my best one has gotten me a bit more that $500. If I can get this load that I'm still waiting for delivered before Tuesday night then I might turn a good week this time around. I do my best to deliver early and I run as hard as I can. I would just like some more consistency, you know? I would love to stay with Celadon, but I need some help sticking around past my contract. I can clear 500 miles in a day easy, but I need the loads in order to do it, you know? If things change within a year then yeah, it could argue for me to stick around with Celadon. It's why I'm just doing research and seeing if I need to switch for those reasons. I can clear the 2.5k miles in a week but I would like it to all be on the same paycheck at least.

It's been depending on the freights. I'm currently waiting on a load that was supposed to be ready yesterday so I'm only getting paid for two loads this week. I do the best that I can with what I'm given, accepting loads quickly and all that. I don't really care so much about the governor as the pay and a terminal near home. Since I got out of hometime on July 3rd, I have run a grand total of 2900 miles; however, that has been split into at least two pay checks so it doesn't seem like a lot. My last one was $241. Now if I could run that and get it all in one paycheck, that would make my day, but my best one has gotten me a bit more that $500. If I can get this load that I'm still waiting for delivered before Tuesday night then I might turn a good week this time around. I do my best to deliver early and I run as hard as I can. I would just like some more consistency, you know? I would love to stay with Celadon, but I need some help sticking around past my contract. I can clear 500 miles in a day easy, but I need the loads in order to do it, you know? If things change within a year then yeah, it could argue for me to stick around with Celadon. It's why I'm just doing research and seeing if I need to switch for those reasons. I can clear the 2.5k miles in a week but I would like it to all be on the same paycheck at least.

Inconsistencies in pay are something to be expected. I am only getting paid for 800 miles for last week because my load doesn't deliver until tomorrow. But next week I'll have a good check. Being only 2 and a half months in they are probably still testing you. I would suggest calling up your fm and explaining to him/her that you understand that you are still new but that you would like the chance to prove yourself. If you haven't called and told them they might think your happy with the miles your getting

Hmm, there's an idea. I haven't thought of that. I have to go up to our headquarters to get a fuel issue addressed. Maybe I can talk to my DM about it then. I also didn't think that they would be testing me. I didn't think they would do something like that, especially since I went through their training program and passed. When I was with my trainer, I cleared 10k miles in 3 weeks and graduated with 12k miles. Thanks for the advice there!

Hmm, there's an idea. I haven't thought of that. I have to go up to our headquarters to get a fuel issue addressed. Maybe I can talk to my DM about it then. I also didn't think that they would be testing me. I didn't think they would do something like that, especially since I went through their training program and passed. When I was with my trainer, I cleared 10k miles in 3 weeks and graduated with 12k miles. Thanks for the advice there!

A good relationship with dispatch is one the most important things you can do for yourself. I know I can call mine anytime during the weekdays and whatever problem I am having he will do his best to fix for me. And it's quite common for them to test you after you first go solo. They aren't just going to throw 3000 miles at you and expect them to all be done. They are going to work you up to that.

I also didn't think that they would be testing me. I didn't think they would do something like that, especially since I went through their training program and passed. When I was with my trainer, I cleared 10k miles in 3 weeks and graduated with 12k miles. Thanks for the advice there!

Why not? They don't know how much you actually learned from the trainer or how much trip planning the trainer did. Some of the new company drivers that started with me were given 1200 per week for a month to start off and ease them into solo. My first week was 2200. When I handled it my FM loaded me up on miles. I call my FM every month "hey.. it's been another month solo with you.. how can I improve?" By month three he told me he has me at the top of the list for miles cause I'm "great with getting to customers early" and he "loves I break at the customers or before I roll in". I usually park within 20 miles of customer the. Take break or roll in and take break. Before the end of his day I shoot him a message "will be parked 10 miles from 90 by 1700 for 0600 appt".

My FM loves this cause he can worry about someone else. another might not and think it is frivolous. Build the relationship.

We get paid the zip code to zip code so 10% difference is normal. And when my FM is on vacation I get way less miles. But I know we he is there if I'm not getting above 2500... the. He just doesn't have the frieght or my 70 clock won't allow what he has

Awesome advice by everyone!

My only point is that some of your complaints are likely related to you learning the ropes or the industry in general, not Celadon

Exactly. It takes time to learn how things are done in this industry. One thing to keep in mind is that you're competing for freight with the other drivers in your company. There's plenty of freight for the top drivers, but the ones near the bottom have to scrape and scrounge for enough miles.

So first of all you have to make sure you're making all of your appointments on time, accepting all of the loads they give you if you can do them legally, and be easy to get along with. Once you've done that for a short time then it's time to start lobbying dispatch for more miles. And make sure you're doing it over the Qualcomm. You can speak in person, but you also want these requests on Qualcomm. That way later on if you're still struggling to get miles you can go to management and say, "Listen, I've proven myself, I've asked repeatedly for more miles, I know for a fact that other drivers are getting a lot better mileage than I am, and I want to know what needs to be done to get me the miles the top drivers are getting." Then management can look at your past conversations, your past performance, and make some good things happen for you.

Before you get ahead of yourself. Focus on finishing the contract. For all you know after a year, you may want to go local, or may not like it at all, or celadon may be the perfect fit.

I agree 100%. Stop doing research on other companies and start focusing on learning what you need to learn to make a go of it right where you're at. Like I said, every company has plenty of miles available for their top drivers. If you're a top performer then you should be getting top miles. You have to learn how to work the system. Lobby dispatch continuously for more miles, take every load they give you, and make every appointment on time. Just keep hammering away at it. If your performance is where it should be then it won't be long before you're seeing 2,500+ miles per week.

I knew there was a reason I liked this website. Thanks for all the advise guys! I'll keep at it for the time being and try to talk to my DM about getting more miles. I know she wants to get them and even tried to take one off that was super short but couldn't because we had to do it. I do my best and hope things will improve over time. Thanks for everything guys!!!

I knew there was a reason I liked this website. Thanks for all the advise guys! I'll keep at it for the time being and try to talk to my DM about getting more miles. I know she wants to get them and even tried to take one off that was super short but couldn't because we had to do it. I do my best and hope things will improve over time. Thanks for everything guys!!!

Short runs are still miles. One driver I know complained to disptach about a 400 mile run. They gave it to me. The next run was 2200 miles. Guess what happened to that other driver? He sat. So here I am with 2600 miles that week with a couple days yet to go... and he sat moaning he only got 1500. Well... that 400 plus 1500 is still better than 1500.

I did a 23 mile run.. that took 7 hours to unload. I didn't complain. The customer was hell on earth for a newbie. My very next message was "would you mind doing this 1800 mile run? It's tight and I'll repower you if I have to but you are the one in the area I know will get there early"

You know what happened the next time I was 100 miles from home? I asked if I could go home that day and I got a "sure. Have fun and I'll load you up on Friday".

Drive safe... be very early... and don't bother dispatch with stupid stuff. Get more miles hahha