Western Express 3-4 Weeks Training Sufficient?
Topic 30483 | Page 3
As far as securement equipment the cost is about $4,000 that they take it out in each paycheck at $75. But you generally tarp at least one load a week and the tarp pay is at least $80. So, you will at least recoup the cost of the equipment in tarp pay.
As far as schedule and sleeping, you generally run Bankers hours with flatbed. Most shippers and receivers are only open during the week and during the day. You will have the occasional load during the night. But that is rare.
As far as regularity of loads, I am always running and very rarely have to wait very long for a late assignment.
Shipper:
The customer who is shipping the freight. This is where the driver will pick up a load and then deliver it to the receiver or consignee.
So I've decided on Prime!
Currently trying to decide on OTR reefer or OTR flatbed now and totally on the fence.
I'm not lazy in the slightest, don't mind hard physical labor, and love working and being outside. So maybe flatbed is for me. But apparently you pay for thousands of dollars worth of securement equipment at prime...so that's not cool.
Is there any truth in that you're sleeping schedule might be more consistent and regular with otr flatbed?
Congrats on your decision, Garrett~!!
I think you'll do great with Prime/flatbed...go back & read some of Turtle's old stuff, too!!
~ Anne ~
ps: Is Western Express BACK TO being a training company again?!?!? That's awesome, if so.... need to know!! :)
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.
As far as securement equipment the cost is about $4,000 that they take it out in each paycheck at $75. But you generally tarp at least one load a week and the tarp pay is at least $80. So, you will at least recoup the cost of the equipment in tarp pay.
Thanks SO much for that info. I almost decided on refer instead of flatbed for that reason, but now its back on the table.
Pretty shady on Prime's part if you ask me. But hey, I guess that's one way they get away with paying a little higher than the average. Always a trade-off.
Pretty shady on Prime's part if you ask me. But hey, I guess that's one way they get away with paying a little higher than the average. Always a trade-off.
What's shady about it? I'm not seeing anything I'd call shady.
Laura
Pretty shady on Prime's part if you ask me. But hey, I guess that's one way they get away with paying a little higher than the average. Always a trade-off.
What's shady about it? I'm not seeing anything I'd call shady.
Laura
Referring to how they make you pay for the equipment. No other company does that. I guess it's not too shady to make you to pay if its brand new, but if they already own it they should just give it to you and make you pay for any lost or damaged items.
There are other companies that do. Look at r&l carriers for city p&d I’ve heard they make them buy there own pallet jack. Just what I’ve heard.
Pretty shady on Prime's part if you ask me. But hey, I guess that's one way they get away with paying a little higher than the average. Always a trade-off.
What's shady about it? I'm not seeing anything I'd call shady.
Laura
Referring to how they make you pay for the equipment. No other company does that. I guess it's not too shady to make you to pay if its brand new, but if they already own it they should just give it to you and make you pay for any lost or damaged items.
P&D:
Pickup & Delivery
Local drivers that stay around their area, usually within 100 mile radius of a terminal, picking up and delivering loads.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers for instance will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.
There are other companies that do. Look at r&l carriers for city p&d I’ve heard they make them buy there own pallet jack. Just what I’ve heard.
Pretty shady on Prime's part if you ask me. But hey, I guess that's one way they get away with paying a little higher than the average. Always a trade-off.
What's shady about it? I'm not seeing anything I'd call shady.
Laura
Referring to how they make you pay for the equipment. No other company does that. I guess it's not too shady to make you to pay if its brand new, but if they already own it they should just give it to you and make you pay for any lost or damaged items.
Just the pallet jack? Well, that's not EVERYTHING the driver needs to perform their job.
I just think a better way to go about it would be: each flatbed trailer has its own designated set of equipment that stays with it and if any additional equipt is needed for a job, the company provides it. If the driver wants additional equipment that isn't necessary, they provide it. If any of the equipment is damaged or lost, the driver pays for repairs and replacements.
I don't think there should be any costs to an employee to perform a job they were hired to perform other than the time the job costs them. Different story for independent contractors and O/Os of course. Just my opinion.
P&D:
Pickup & Delivery
Local drivers that stay around their area, usually within 100 mile radius of a terminal, picking up and delivering loads.
LTL (Less Than Truckload) carriers for instance will have Linehaul drivers and P&D drivers. The P&D drivers will deliver loads locally from the terminal and pick up loads returning to the terminal. Linehaul drivers will then run truckloads from terminal to terminal.
Garrett, allow me to play a little game with you. It's just for fun and maybe we can both learn something.
Assume you are the owner of a flatbed trucking company. You are having trouble with your drivers calling the terminal and claiming they need to be routed in to a terminal to pick up a new set of tarps. Somebody stole theirs off the truck last night at the truck stop. Or maybe their straps keep getting stolen. It's really starting to irritate you, because it is costing you a lot of money. How do you handle that situation?
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
Garrett, allow me to play a little game with you. It's just for fun and maybe we can both learn something.
Assume you are the owner of a flatbed trucking company. You are having trouble with your drivers calling the terminal and claiming they need to be routed in to a terminal to pick up a new set of tarps. Somebody stole theirs off the truck last night at the truck stop. Or maybe their straps keep getting stolen. It's really starting to irritate you, because it is costing you a lot of money. How do you handle that situation?
Ohhhhhh I see....
...I would make them pay for the equipment so they stop selling the free stuff on the flatbed securement equipment black market. Lol
Ok. It all makes sense now.
Terminal:
A facility where trucking companies operate out of, or their "home base" if you will. A lot of major companies have multiple terminals around the country which usually consist of the main office building, a drop lot for trailers, and sometimes a repair shop and wash facilities.
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So I've decided on Prime!
Currently trying to decide on OTR reefer or OTR flatbed now and totally on the fence.
I'm not lazy in the slightest, don't mind hard physical labor, and love working and being outside. So maybe flatbed is for me. But apparently you pay for thousands of dollars worth of securement equipment at prime...so that's not cool.
Is there any truth in that you're sleeping schedule might be more consistent and regular with otr flatbed?
OTR:
Over The Road
OTR driving normally means you'll be hauling freight to various customers throughout your company's hauling region. It often entails being gone from home for two to three weeks at a time.
Reefer:
A refrigerated trailer.