I Need Help - Not Getting Enough Miles

I know everyone here has there own opinions here and i dont know much about regional work in that area but i know for a fact i would never ever stay away from my family to gross 7-800$ i have driven northeast regional dry van/reefer with the occasional flatbed if needed and from week one ive never grossed less than 1000 and actually grossing 1000$ only happens if i take a day off or have a breakdown i do however average 3000 miles a week just my perspective on the situation

Yeah I'm kinda feeling that way. It's tough. Trying to make myself focus on future potential.

Neek, I think you left out an important detail: When you arrived at the shipper is not as important as when you started your 14 hour clock. When was that? That would determine if you have any time left after you deliver the bricks to make headway towards your next pick up. If I understand correctly, you will deliver the bricks no sooner that 17:00. Then unload time comes into play. Will you have any time left on your clock to drive after that?

So, when did you start the 14 hour clock?

Neek, I think you left out an important detail: When you arrived at the shipper is not as important as when you started your 14 hour clock. When was that? That would determine if you have any time left after you deliver the bricks to make headway towards your next pick up. If I understand correctly, you will deliver the bricks no sooner that 17:00. Then unload time comes into play. Will you have any time left on your clock to drive after that?

So, when did you start the 14 hour clock?

Yes Bruce you're right. I started my 14 and did pretrip as I was waiting to be unloaded. But here's the thing. I can't deliver these bricks at 1700. The cutoff is 1600 and even so everyone in the home office leaves at 1700. No night dispatch.

Have you talked with other drivers at your company about their miles, waiting on loads, money, and downtime?

Have you talked with other drivers at your company about their miles, waiting on loads, money, and downtime?

No not yet

Oh, okay. Sounds like you can't get any more miles beyond the current delivery unless you can invoke the FM rules. (Freaking Magic). I guess you have to get there and park and start your 10 hr. DOT asap so you can get going as early as possible tomorrow.

Not totally related to you, but just a general comment. (And I know I may get chastised for this). I developed a practice of doing my pre-trip before I started my 14 hr. clock. With my company, I need to log in at least 5 minutes for a pre-trip or any duty change. So, I would start my clock on pre-trip, wait an excruciatingly long 5 minutes, then start driving. I was never questioned on why my pre-trips only took 5 minutes every day. If I had been, I would have just told the truth and I figured the worse that could happen is that I would be told not to do that anymore. I don't want to encourage any bad habits, but that is what I did to squeeze a little more time out of my clock. Whether that's a common practice, I don't know.

Oh, okay. Sounds like you can't get any more miles beyond the current delivery unless you can invoke the FM rules. (Freaking Magic). I guess you have to get there and park and start your 10 hr. DOT asap so you can get going as early as possible tomorrow.

Not totally related to you, but just a general comment. (And I know I may get chastised for this). I developed a practice of doing my pre-trip before I started my 14 hr. clock. With my company, I need to log in at least 5 minutes for a pre-trip or any duty change. So, I would start my clock on pre-trip, wait an excruciatingly long 5 minutes, then start driving. I was never questioned on why my pre-trips only took 5 minutes every day. If I had been, I would have just told the truth and I figured the worse that could happen is that I would be told not to do that anymore. I don't want to encourage any bad habits, but that is what I did to squeeze a little more time out of my clock. Whether that's a common practice, I don't know.

You need to log a minimum of 15 minutes to be DOT compliant otherwise it's a log violation.

Jamie, are you sure? My trainer told me 5 minutes. I've only been doing it for a short time but he's been doing it for 20+ years.

I've heard conflicting information. Is a 15 minutes pre/post trip REQUIRED by DOT? I know that by moving the vehicle you're saying the vehicle is free of defects and take responsibility if it isn't. My company only requires us to log 8 minutes.

Have you talked with other drivers at your company about their miles, waiting on loads, money, and downtime?

No not yet

Packrat might be onto something. If the company works a small area as a business model then you may have problems getting longer loads. Mix that with no preplans and...

I worked for a company for some time and kinda noticed the same thing you have. Then I spoke to a few drivers and told them what I made at the company I worked at prior and most were like "not making that here"

That company had perks other than 💸. They ran in a great area ,had nice equipment. But... I was after cash.

At least if you speak to other drivers you'll know where you stand. It kinda seems like your racking your brain to find out what you may or may not be doing wrong.