A Different Take On Miles .....

Just me, but I don't see a ton of conflict in committing to driving for someone and also finding a way to operate your online business. Six hours a week is, uh, an hour a day. Some drivers spend that much time or more on their phone goofing off after driving all day anyway. What's the difference?

If your son is on a base near a large enough metro area that has several medium/large carriers nearby, I'd put even money that someone would be accommodating enough to have your resets at that terminal. You conceivably could run and get your miles to make the company happy, and your breaks close to your son. What base is he at?

Just me, but I don't see a ton of conflict in committing to driving for someone and also finding a way to operate your online business. Six hours a week is, uh, an hour a day. Some drivers spend that much time or more on their phone goofing off after driving all day anyway. What's the difference?

If your son is on a base near a large enough metro area that has several medium/large carriers nearby, I'd put even money that someone would be accommodating enough to have your resets at that terminal. You conceivably could run and get your miles to make the company happy, and your breaks close to your son. What base is he at?

That would make sense to me. I'm sure how well he is accommodated will depend on his driver manager. I don't think it's necessary to run 3,000+ miles every week. Most carriers would be totally ok with a driver averaging 2500 miles a week, as long as he/she is driving safely and delivering on time.

I don't see any issues with what you are looking for in this industry. Although, you may not have time for "sight seeing" on every load, you will surely get some with a little extra time between pickup and delivery. Sometimes you will have to make this time though, for example, I just dropped a load that went from Twin Falls, ID to New Berlin NY with about 5 days for the 2600 mile run. The route took me directly through home (western N.Y.) so I maxed out my 11 driving hrs the first 3 nights, driving about 650 each and taking exactly 10hr breaks. The 4th day I drove 100 miles to home and was able to chill for a full day before finishing trip on time. Oftentimes, I would drive about 9 hours a day on such a run but I saw an opportunity and went for it. The 6 hrs a week for your side business shouldn't be an issue either, you can probably accomplish most of it while simply sitting at shippers/receivers. Most companies allow to take your "hometime" wherever your heart desires, generally out about 4 weeks, off for 4 days. No reason that time can't be spent wherever your children happen to be. Communication with dispatch is key.

Keep in mind the customer's delivery time determines how fast we run. Your goal as a driver is to safely get the freight to your customer, on time, every time. If there is enough time on a load, then you can slow the pace. That is not always the case though. This is a performance based business, highly competitive. If you show your dispatcher/driver manager you'd rather stop to smell the roses at your discretion, over time you will be passed over and find that you are sitting more and more, dispatched on predominantly crappy loads, and driver management will be far less motivated to get you routed near your Son's location when you want to be. Driver management and planners are compensated on their ability to keep trucks moving and the utilization rate. ......

And honestly,...consistently expecting home time on weekends to visit your son is perhaps unrealistic.

.......

If your post is an indication of your paradigm and associated priorities, no offense, but you might not be a good fit for this. You may not be happy.

Maybe my post made me sound ..... lazy or like a slacker? I'm not looking to deliver loads late or be a negative complaining employee. I'm just truthfully not motivated to knock myself out trying to get loads delivered early in order to get the next one that much quicker. I'm perfectly content to be a steady and reliable employee, but not one killing myself to get 3,000 miles + per week.

It's not reasonable to expect to be out on the road for 3-4 weeks at a time driving and then get 3-4 days "off" at a location near my son? I thought most companies were OK with drivers having a day of home time for each week they spent on the road.

Your points are well taken, and maybe my priorities don't line up with this profession. I can accept that. It's why I'm here answering questions. I'm grateful for your candid and informative response.

SteakEater,...lots of conflicting advice here. The best thing to do here is be honest with the company you intend to hire-on with. Be upfront with them about your desire, try not to be arbitrary. You must be flexible...things are not always going to go your way. Roll with the punches and try to remember my intial suggestion; "give and take". Your Driver Manager's priority is to move their freight and if they can, get you hometime where you want and when you want.

Good luck.

Steak Eater, forgive me for asking the obvious...

But, I have spent most of my lifetime as a business owner, and I do not understand why you don't just go ahead and commit to this internet business of yours for forty or fifty hours per week and really make some money at it? I think it is obvious from your post that you are not the type of person who is going to excel at truck driving. I'm not being critical, it is certainly not for everyone. This is a performance based business, and therefore the top performers are the ones who get established and make a success of this. Those who just aren't all that interested in being the most productive usually fall by the way, or are just miserable in the occupation.

I'm in a similar position myself. Computer related business with big pay and short/flexible hours (though one I could not do as full time OTR , as I do have to occasionally go onsite). But I'm BURNT TO A CRISP on it. I made more in the last 2 days on a project, that I would have in 2 weeks trucking - and HATED EVERY MINUTE of it. Sounds idiotic, I know. But the stress and aggravation, of projects - and the overall idiocy of the people I have to deal with - plus the fact that I've been doing it for 30+ years - well - you get the picture.

As far as slacking or not being a "top performer" - Steak Eater - if you get a gig driving, you will go when/where you are dispatched to go. As long as you make your appointment times, you can expect to be dispatched on another run (assuming your company has the freight) as soon as your are clear from the one you're on. While not aiming to be a "top performer" - you could very well end up being one REGARDLESS. Any way you slice it - you are still going to be expected to bust yer butt to be on time & safe. So in reality - you ALWAYS HAVE TO HUSTLE. Slackers are the one that don't manage their clocks efficiently (and are constantly running themselves out of hours), ending up late to appointments because they've been sitting around in the drivers lounge (or whatever) and don't account for traffic/weather conditions that they COULD have made their appointments on time - HAD THEY NOT BEEN SLACKING.

So if you are going to be a SUCCESSFUL DRIVER, you are going to have to run your ass off because THAT'S THE JOB. But as long as you're on time and not getting into wrecks - whether you make your appointments in a leisurely fashion, or hustle for early pickups/deliveries because you're itching for that next load is entirely up to you.

Remember the tortoise and the hare. As long as you get there - it doesn't matter. As long as you're happy making 2,000 miles instead of 3,000 - who are we to argue?

Rick

I have NEVER been late for an appointment and run recaps 95% of the time. The fact of the matter is, if you have a trip that would take 40hrs of drive time and 5 days to do it, you can choose to run (5) 8hr days at a leisurely pace or run (4) 10hr days and give yourself about a day at a point along the route. Either way, the trip will take 40hrs of drive time off your 70, averaging 8hr per day. Sometimes I go the leisurely route, sometimes I zip thru and have excess down time in one spot or deliver early if receiver allows it. If you are able to run at night, there is often a huge difference in traffic, though such an option is not always feasible.

Vendingdude - Right now he's at Fort Campbell, but as you know, nothing's permanent in the Army. I had hoped that being OTR would allow me to change my "home" address and be able to visit him after 3-4 weeks on the road during my home time at whatever base he finds himself.

Piano man - that's my goal. Be consistent and deliver on time. But if the information on the site here is correct, it looks like there is a reasonable amount of time for delivery of most assigned loads without a need to push it to the limit. I'm not looking to loaf or waste time enroute to a delivery, but I don't want to feel like I'm constantly under the gun to push-push-push either.

Rick - I guess that syncs with my thinking. I fully understand traffic / weather / unexpected issues arise and cause delays. I'm not one who would spend the first day dawdling and find themselves behind the eight ball right off the bat. But if my delivery was set for 4 days and I made it in 3 I wouldn't be opposed to stopping for an hour somewhere near the end of the haul to "smell the roses" rather than to feel like I have to deliver early to get my next load that much quicker.

G-Town - Thank you for the excellent advice and suggestions.

BQ - thanks got your comments and example. That's what I'm looking for too, The occasional chance to be in a position to adjust my driving schedule if I'm passing by something of note if the schedule allows.

Old school - It's not an endeavor that's scalable to more money for more hours. It's easy money and the schedule can be set to suit me at any time for about 6 hours per week. It's probably about the same time commitment as one might spend being a regular poster to this site and maintaining a blog. 😃

Patrick C - Thanks for those suggestions. I'll look into those companies. I appreciate your taking the time to answer and provide your suggestions.

Steve L - The RV delivery is unbelievably poor pay for one way trips. I don't know how those guys cover their overhead (truck , fuel , etc) let alone make anything for themselves.

Steak Eater, Ft Campbell is my neck of the words. Was stationed there from 2002 until I was medically separated in 2013. There are 4 truck stops close by. 2 Walmart's as well. If you ever need to know anything about the area hmu. Within 30-45 mins of post you have an additional 2 Walmarts, a mall, a shutdown Kmart, and Akebono Brake's old wharehouse facility. There are a few more hidey holes I could point out as well if need be.

Thanks for the tips Patrick. And thanks for your service to our country!