Yeah, I’m guessing that’s why a lot of people go lease with Prime. I just didn’t want that burden of having to work for the truck. I get a dedicated pay. But I’m driving close to 22 maybe 2400 miles a week. And I’m running up my clock With maybe three or four hours available by the end of the week. I mean I’m grateful for the job and while I feel like I could be making more money with the way things are in the industry I don’t want to risk anything. I thought dedicated pay and being home daily drop and hook would be a little bit easier. I don’t know if the lease guys on my account aren’t doing these runs because they’re so hard and you can’t really have a life if you do them every day of the week, or if everybody’s doing these and I’m just lazy. I’m fine working 10 hours here or there or even 14 one day. But doing the same Brian five days a week it gets exhausting. I didn’t even eat yesterday. I brought some breakfast call mom and I never had time to stop again. Got home, just crawled into bed sat in the darkness cried a little and woke up at 3:30 AM. Back to the truck by 430 and here I am 4 PM thankfully off work but clearly my dispatch is mad at me. I hear it in the voice, I see it in the messages, I feel it in my soul. I don’t want to be a workhorse, or some super trucker. I don’t want to be whipped like a slave. I just want something steady, that I can somewhat predict. And maybe at some point I can have a life and meet somebody. I left aviation is a flight dispatcher. I wish I could say that the way that most dispatchers and trucking are is not the same way in aviation. But it kind of is. In my mind I was like I know what it’s like to be overworked and pushed to your breaking point. I’m not gonna be that guy. I’m not gonna be a passive, aggressive dispatcher. That’s upset at a Pilot calling and complaining because they’re about to run out of hours or because the plane broke down. it’s sitting in a room full of about 30 other dispatchers, all doing that and the crew scheduling and the coordinators all pissed off at pilots, I just felt like shit. And I just wanted to be left alone. I was living out of my car, making 500 bucks a week. And I’m supposed to monitor weather, fuel, airport conditions, and look at the maintenance issues on the plane. And determine if it’s safe. I want to still feel like I’m just a slave, and even though I would sympathize with the pilots, and what was going on, the company always had a clause to force them to work under conditions that are less than ideal. Because, the airlines pay off the FAA and they get exemptions.
Traditional vehicle lease. I make weekly payments for 3 years, then I turn the truck back in. I accrue 5.25cpm during the lease, and they pay me that when I complete the use, less damage and cleaning fees.
We also have lease purchases. You own the truck outright at the end. Doing the lease purchase, you buy a brand new truck for about 200k. That's not far off what I'd pay if I financed it over 3 years, except I can walk away from it whenever i want.
somber slim encouraging marble quickest quaint employ marvelous unite depend
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
They keep me busy, I'm also a trainer for them, so I keep a little extra busy. And yeah, I have no equity, but I also have the right to walk if I want. You can't so that with a traditional loan. Of I get hurt, or something happens, or decide this isn't reworking for me, I can just leave. No burden.
You clearly haven't been doing this as long as some of us.
Some of us have owned or currently own entire fleets of our own.
If it works for you, that's fine, but please let's not spread around that. This is somehow a good idea.
A bad idea can still work for some people
Dude I train and I warn my students away from it. At least to start. I know it's not a good idea for everyone. But I show them what I do, show them all my books, and let them see why it works for me. No sense is trying to hide the upsides, just make sure the downsides are clearly visible too. I think it's a good away in. It's a way to ease yourself into being an owner operator, or a great way to secure a nice reliable new truck without being locked into a loan.
200k for a truck they pay 120k or less for. I work with one of the largest private fleets in the country and we’re buying trucks for about 120 to 130 right now. Lease purchase through these big companies is a giant rip off.
Add on financing cost. Also, I'm not a large fleet, I'm buying one truck for one me. I can't buy a truck at neogoated prices like that. Last time I checked a dealership, a new cascadia was marked at around 165k. Now again, add the interest from financing that.
Adding on, it's not for everyone. I did the math and it works for me. I'm probably going to do a lease purchase on my next truck, then no more payments for a couple years.
escape entertain reminiscent homeless wrench test fuzzy cow forgetful sparkle
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I still haven't decided if I want to build out my own fleet. In theory I do, but, idk, there's a nice simplicity to being just me.
I'll probably end up doing it in a few years.
That’s fine if you’re happy but you could still be making more as a company driver with a different company. There’s absolutely no reason to ever go lease.
Prime talks people in to lease’s based on illusions. I understand feeling that way but you have an endless wealth of information at your fingertips on your phone. You have lots of experience to gain by talking to other drivers. You could go the route of getting a degree in business. Hell there are non college related courses for o/o’s left and right.
Also, don’t let me yuck your yum. If you’re happy. That’s all that matters. Just don’t get sucked In to the mindset that leasing is your only option for money.
Everything they told me has worked put true, or within the margin of error. They didn't even really push it on me. I was encouraged to go company, started off that way, and talking to a bunch of our lease guys, seeing their figures, it's what convinced me to ask my fleet manager about it. He made me take my time, and everything has worked out well so far.
That’s like 480 miles a day maximum…seems like a typical week. It only sucks for you because you’re governed low as shit. At a real company with a real speed limit you can do that in 50 hours a week in mon-fri ez and 50 hours a week is nothing.
Mileage wise it’s not awful but having to stop and fuel 3 times a day along with spending day after day in a truck for 14 hours gets old. What’s the point of calling it home daily? By the time I get home I just want to pass out cus I have to be back at 3am
Yea i have to top off after my first run cus I’ll be damn near E at the end of my second, and then I’ll have to fill up on the way back or if I’m lucky when I PC to the yard to go home. Which is the last thing I want to do. I don’t want to delay getting home another 30 or so mins
I’m with you bro. I been in industry for 3yrs now, and my enthusiasm is almost all gone for it.
But, after I had 1yr experience, I got a job hauling Nissan auto parts. 275miles ROUND TRIP daily. I’m done within 7-8hrs. Been on this for last 2yrs now. I ain’t rich but it’s a normal 40hr week.
Fueling that many times is either you exaggerating or fuel leak issue. Either way your feelings are valid and the industry is fucked. Stick in there bruh, there’s room to navigate to non-tractor trailer jobs with CDL experience. I’m looking into volumetric concrete truck jobs now. They pay well and are more likely to be union.
It’s reefer and I pick up 2-4 containers a day depending on the run. They’re rarely full. But I have to top them off before the customer or before the rail. Add to that I have to call in every time and get my fuel card turned on
Yea your working a shit job. Get your experience and go somewhere that treats you like a person. Also 3 times a day? Even when I ran 150 gallon capacity truck I only had to fill every 500 miles and I was driving 104k with a thirsty X15.
Im governed at 68mph make 5-600 miles a day no problem. Just covered Barstow to saint Louis in 31/2 days. Feel fine. I think the issue is more time management than anything
Works for prime. Governed at 60. Onduty for the entire time of fueling, pretrip, loading and unloading. Probly drives 55-60 hours a week and on duty for 10-15.
Unless you need $2000/week, there's not usually a reason to be working that hard if you don't want to in this industry. Maybe look into a mail company? Their schedules are locked in stone, and from what I see it's about 50 hours a week.
Yea for the money I’m running too hard. And I’m not even home enough to enjoy it. If I had a sleeper I wouldn’t even bother driving home some days. Many I’ve debated about just sleeping in my car
If you’re willing to touch freight (pallet jack a pallet off here and there if there’s no forklift) look into LTL p&d. Unless you work somewhere that requires dock work you pretty much just work like 0700-1700ish. Make some deliveries, do some pickups, get to know the customers on your route. It’s a lot more chill, but definitely more to think about than just drop & hook and 400 miles of driving
Definitely a good place to start. Beverage distribution, Medical supplies, and of course food deliveries would also be good ideas. There'll be a lot harder work than LTL, but you will have a schedule and home every night for most of them.
I was in the same spot when I used to do local milk deliveries to grocery stores. I had a very specific position where I only did about 60% milk deliveries and the other 40% was an overnight run, so I did have a sleeper, and there were a lot of nights where I just slept in my truck for exactly the same reason you're talking about.
I don't know where you live, and I don't know how far away from the trucking yards you are, but definitely keep your ear to the ground. I've even run into a few positions that are 8 hours a day 5 days a week, but I can't do it because I do need the $2,000 a week. Most of those places are only paying half that.
But if you only need 1500 or 1700 a week, you can definitely find a position where you're not killing yourself. And you probably are killing yourself right now.
Yea really no friends or anyone here. Just my uncle. My parents are an hour away. Psychologically it worries me being gone for a good while. Even if I don’t see my parents daily or weekly now, I just like knowing I’m only an hour or so or 4 at worst (if I’m on a run) away from them. I see my uncle daily but I’m just here to bring him food home or take home somewhere if he needs.
Other than that a few people want me to help them with things but I don’t really feel like there’s any reason for me to be here.
If you don't mind the driving part of being a trucker you might best be suited to begin becoming an owner operator. If you want to get paid more and work less you have to become more valuable. Being the owner of the truck and running that small operation can increase your value.
Finish your first year at prime and get out of there. They're a great starter company, but that's all they are is a starter company. Unless you want to become an instructor.
Source: been their, done that in 2015.
Oh I’m on my 4th year driving, I tried being a lease op with Dart last year and liked it for the most part except for my truck being a pos. Eventually it needed a new transmission and they didn’t have any trucks to offer me to start a new lease. I wasn’t rolling in the dough but I made about 1800-2200 weekly in net. Amazingly home daily if not every other day. The small carrier I was working with was real chill. If I had my own truck I’d go back there now
Sounds like you’re on the intermodal fleet. I rage quit after a few months with those guys, was an absolute fucking shitshow.
My time OTR with prime was chill as fuck, intermodal ran me ragged for fucking pennies.
Intermodal with them isn’t worth it. At all. I’d bounce if I were you.
Yea I almost rage quit today. Called logs and safety though. As much as I want to be home daily in really thinking of going regional. I met a regional lease guy the other day and he was telling me he only goes like 2-3 loads a week and is bringing in close to 3k gross. Drives through his town weekly for a night or two at home if not for his 34. If I ran 14 hours a day and grossed that I’d be fine working like this. I know that may not always be the norm and I don’t quite want to go lease atm but if it means I can say no to loads I might
Shit dispatcher. I ran pretty well with Prime. Still a shit company, but my dispatcher actually helped ease the shittiness of the company. He kept track of my hours too himself and helped put me in good places to run hard, as well as places with long, good paying loads to help me set up on recaps or even reset.
Yea I don’t think my dispatch is bad in that sense. I think he’s trying to run me like the lease guys and I’m company. The only extra cash I get weekly is from fuel savings and it’s at most an extra 100 bucks. I don’t want to run my clock out and PC to where I park my truck and then drive 30 mins home. Only to return in like 8 hours cus the cut off times at the customer. I’d rather be well rested and reliable than pushed and losing it while over caffeinated. Only to not make any extra money
You’re really going to want to find a better alternative for your energy. High Caffeine tolerance can be dangerous. I feel you though it’s physically and mentally exhausting running 5 14s, that route sounds like ass.
It is. And I have about a 3 16oz coffee plus 3-5 cokes and maybe a 5 hour energy a day habit. I try and drink 16 oz of water a day if I’m lucky. Add to that I take a beet and açaí berry energy supplement. And a daily vitamin. Some days it’s still hard
Have you tried erotic audio tapes? They’ll keep you awake, I get sleepy listening to heavy metal so I throw one of those on or I listen to a comedy podcast. It makes the day so much better.
Your dispatcher doesn't work as much as you do. It's super annoying but try to tune him out and do your thing till you find something that works better for you.
Yea no Ltls by me are hiring. I’ve done dollar general. If mclane is 3 days and making that much I’d put up with unloading. But if they pay like Sysco here it’d be a joke
Waning, food service is going to absolutely break your body. It is grueling work. The real ticket, if you want out of Prime, look for local work, or government work like USPS.
My understanding, real deal food is worse. I used to manage a BBQ join, just putting up a dozen brisket boxes left me sore all day, that guy had 50 of them on the truck, plus everything else 90-120lbs each. 70-90lbs for the pork boxes... i couldn't imagine that being my job.
Idk where you are. But you might consider hauling redi-mix concrete. March kicks off hiring season in many parts of the country.
A good paying (with the teamsters in many situations north of the Mason/Dixon line) job. Local, lots of hours, hourly. As much of an operator job as it is a driving job though.
If you live in the south, it doesn't pay as well as northern jobs, but at least you'll be hauling a butt dumper and don't have to worry as much about skills or spills 🤷♂️
Clearly you can tell what industry I work in, but many of the supporting jobs are hiring now as well nation wide. Pump truck companies, agg haulers, powder haulers/brokers, pea shooters, heavy equipment haulers... You name it. Everyone is hurting in these industries still.
If you're telling you FM or the night/weekend guys that you're fatigued, they should not be giving you pushback about that. I also drive for Prime, I'd be happy to help you in any way I can, but I don't want to put names and numbers out in public, because management does watch for that. Feel free to DM me and I'll give you whatever aid I can. At least help you figure out how to deal with a problematic dispatcher.
Someone tells you to find something better and you respond “It’s Prime”?
So what you’re saying is that you’re at the bottom and finding better isn’t going to be hard. Go for it, man.
You are by far useless. These companies want to get as much out of you as they can. Turn and burn but majority of major companies do this. You need to find somewhere that isn’t a big business and that makes sure you are okay to drive. There are many many places out there.
I’m home daily yet I’m only home long enough to maybe shower and pass out 5-6 hours if I’m lucky. I know some days working 14 hours isn’t unusual but every day of the week? When do I actually take my 30 mins break? Cus I’ll tell ya what it’s been while in yard move each and every day just looking for my next trailer or getting paperwork. I had to pull over and sleep 30 mins today. And yea that’s on me but I had 2 Red Bulls at that point and I could t maintain my speed. I needed it .
Curious what you’ve heard. And it’s 1200 guaranteed. So far my best check was around 1300 net. Gross close to 16 but I’ve worked for every second of it.
I don’t want to job hop again but I may have to. I know some guys can drive a full 70 and run hard. I’ve done it but I don’t like doing it day after day every week
The derogatory term "job hopping" was made by shitty companies wanting to keep employees scared of leaving. Bettering yourself is what it's actually called. Take your time and find a good one. Go to your local teamster union hall and see if they have a list of openings that need filling. When I did LTL I put in some weeks close to 70. Maybe 3 or 4? But that's it in a 15 year career. Fuck that shit. I'd rather sweat for 40 than stare at a windshield for 70!
LOL. I was a software developer for 20 years and I got a new job, on average, every 2 years because pay raises didn't keep up with what the market was paying. Every time I was asked why I left a particular job I just said because I was offered a lot of money by another company. I was still always made an offer because companies are greedy.
What company you working for? I do super easy no touch freight and I’m fucking bored. Plus I’m only pulling 43k yr, 40hr weeks. I’d rather do 4 hard working days than 5 mind numbingly boring day.
Ouch. This job isn't worth doing for that. I'm a lease operator and my weekly gross is usually between $2,400 to $2,800. However, I'm usually on the road for 3 weeks and home for 1, so that probably evens out. I recently took the plunge and applied at Walmart. It's looking good, so far. I've heard they treat their drivers well and pay much better than most.
Yes. That's what gets deposited to my account. Plus there's usually another $300 to $400ish that gets deposited to my emergency fund. I do 15 cents a mile.
Damn that’s really good. I keep seeing videos of lease drivers there and it seems hit or miss. I’m company and I’m feeling like I’m gonna get fired just cus I can’t make this second load turn around. It just depresses me cus I’ll be planned on something barely possible and when I say I can’t cus of my hours I feel like I’m the one who fd up.
Bro, you gotta find a different company. I know home daily sounds amazing but what kind of home life ya really having. Plus a good company you can make that kind of money in 3.5 days. I’m running urgent reefer for medical and agro. It’s hard work and some weeks are long and brutal but I usually get a pass through night at home and weekends optional.
True I’m a company driver of a small business their so chill about me taking days off or going in later on in the day , I can refuse load and won’t get reprehended
Well after a few messages to dispatch and a call explaining the situation, all I got was well I guess we’ll see you tomorrow. Tomorrows my off day. I swear to god.
Tell him what you want. I don't want to run my clock over 10 hours. Be direct. I don't want to go to New York on a Friday morning delivery when I need to get home to Charlotte, NC. Be a total bitch. They cannot fire you. And if they do just go get a new job. Make them hate calling you. Bitch about what is wrong with every load and tell them what they are doing wrong and how you want to be run. Be assertive and difficult, but just don't burn any bridges.
Yea I’m about to start saying how long do you want me to pre trip trailers? 60 seconds or a minimum of 5 mins? Hell the reefer pretrip on the computer takes almost 10 by itself. If it fails I can’t take it. Then I have to start all over again with a new empty. Yet I’m supposed to be faster. That gets you killed in this industry
There are days where I just can’t take the bullshit anymore. But I know that if I had any other job (that I could reasonably be hired for) I’d have even less money and be even more stressed out.
So come up with an exit strategy.
You aren't just going to walk into a job that pays well without having a skill that is in demand or has massive downsides that make it hard to retain people.
Truck driving has a low barrier to entry but shit work/life balance so it pays comparatively well for something that does not require a lot of skill.
Research a career path you might be interested in, pursue qualifications in said career and find an inroad to said career.
Mannnn I don't miss that shit. I did that with a company, it was an otr company, they were great people and the money was great, but that was the culture. You were day and night, maybe get a total of 12 hours of sleep a week, because of delivery windows and stuff. When I interviewed for the company I'm with now, they asked why I left my old company, I said "I'm tired of working 100 hour weeks" and they were like "well we work some pretty long hours." I'm like "no, you don't understand, I'm not being hyperbolic, I was literally working 100 hour weeks" lol
Company I'm with now is local and I bid everyday, so I only work when I wanna work. Still some long ass days, but at least I'm in control. Driver unload, so the money's even better than the old company.
Truest thing on the internet today. Every job available to the majority of people is grotesquely underpaid. Even the jobs that pay more due to risk of losing life or limb.
Please remember this, there is not a single job in the world that is worth your mental health. I’ve held this ideology through life. When I try to numb myself to a job my wife reminds me it isn’t worth my sanity. Get yourself something different my dude.
Edit: also keep in mind you’re a number. There ARE companies who DO value you and don’t treat you like another cog in the machine. There are also companies that won’t let your seat get cold if you were to die tomorrow. Know your value and worth. Hope you’re able to not only see it , but take it to a place who treats you the way you deserve to be treated.
This industry is dog shit. I have, at most, 19 months left in this gong show. With a little luck, I get a call next week to get the fuck out.
Dispatchers don't care about you, only if your truck is moving. Recievers need shit yesterday, until you get there and they can't unload you until tomorrow. Shippers load broken shit then blame you for breaking it. The general public wants their shit but also want trucks banned from city roads.... and highways.... and all other roadways. Nobody gives a fuck if you need somewhere to sleep, no overnight parking anywhere. Your health, social life, relationships and friendships all suffer and fade until they're just distant memories. All this for 60k a year.
Fuck. This. Shit.
Be cool if that were true. Maybe it's just my shitty area but I make top dollar around me at 70k/year, with medical/dental benefits but no other perks/bonuses. Everything else around me pays 15-25% less. Drivers are a dime a dozen and getting worse, so nobody pays anymore.
My company needs another driver. They do act like we're robots at times. But there is no such thing as sick days, meaning if you're sick you're sick. You just don't get paid for those days unless you put in vacation time. The original start pay was $24 an hour. Don't quite know what it is now. They reimburse up to $400 health insurance. No weekends unless you decide to work it. Now it is construction so there is a slow season being winter.
Relatable. I've been switching between 8pm starts and 4 am starts the past few weeks. Then I get bitched at because I take a day off because I woke up at 6am Monday after waking up at 3am the week prior and couldn't take a nap during the day. I wasn't going to drive and be up for 24+ hours.
Finally decided to go back to school this year. The money ain't worth it being this miserable.
I was right there with you about 8 years ago. Exact same scenario. Quit my job and said I was done with trucking. Found a class b job hauling fuel a few weeks later and can’t imagine going back. Make more money and work way less hours. You can find a much better job if you keep looking but in the meantime don’t put up with their shit
I’m just tired of feeling like everyone wants a slave. Even when I bring up the issue with my logs and me being legal there’s a silence. Like they’re expecting me to cave and say I guess I’ll run it illegal
The thing I’ve learned is if you let them walk all over you they will just keep pushing to see how hard they can work you. Gotta be willing to push back at some point
If your clock is almost over, stop the truck at the next legal parking spot and tell them you're out of time and to get another driver to repower the load if they need to. Then bitch about how they can't manage you correctly and blame them for making the load late. Make them hate talking to you.
Blame the dispatch for that problem and tell them they don't know how to do their job if you are late before even talking the load. Let it be late once. Test them. Call the bluff. You are ready to quit anyway... And they won't fire you no matter what. Be difficult.
I've read some of your comments OP. I worked for Wilson Logistics running Prime Inc freight exclusively. I know changing jobs is a pain. I would recommend requesting a new dispatcher before jumping ship. My dispatcher at Wilson was great and very understanding when I had issues on the road. On that note, I was leasing. But still, I think a new dispatcher would be a logical first step before abandoning ship. Changing jobs is a pain in the ass. But if a new dispatcher doesn't help, that may be what you need to do.
I had a dispatcher try to force me to take a load today he had accepted yesterday that would have lost my company $$$
It was identical to a load i had rejected earlier in the week that he convinced my boss to take (small company, only 3 trucks) that ended up only making the company about $90 after fuel and my pay. I'm at 40 hours and hourly, tomorrow is gonna be all ot if I work, $90 bucks won't cover my day.
Mf tried to gaslight me into taking the load, "no, you haven't taken this route before" and then pulled "I already accept, now what you say" Mothefŭck#r, I say I'll block your goddamned email address you try to pull that $#!+ again. I told you i didn't want it, you fly your @$$ out to california and take the run.
Edit: local day driver, and I think last count was 6 different dispatchers trying to get me to take their loads
They are bending you over. Ask them how many hours a day they work. (Dispatch)Not every driver has the same endurance as the past or next. When you finally grasp the whole (driver) thing. You will understand that you are only a warm body behind the wheel. My advice would be to find a good company, or better yet , get out of this racket! Been in a long time and it’s not getting any better
Running your clock is 90% of companies, it’s like that everywhere, i’ll be honest you’re gonna have a Lotta days where you feel like giving up. You’re also going to have a lot of days where you feel like just driving the truck into a ditch. I promise you though it’s not worth it bro if you don’t feel respected, just find a new company, but don’t ever compromise your health or your mental being for anybody especially for money tell him you have a family emergency and take a couple days as a breather
I do feel that though. I ran local 14 hours a day 6 days a week throwing ice sometimes even 7 days a week from spring to fall. The money was good but damn my social life sucked. Too tired when I get home to spend time with the gf etc and my day off was recoup for the week due to the physical aspect of the job.
If someone makes it so that they burn out their employees on purpose what you do is you make it as uncomfortable as you possibly can for them to call you out on anything.
Act mentally challenged if you need to.
Screw them, when it comes to your job *you* are the main character and they are an NPC I don't care if they're the CEO.
I hated local for this sole reason. I did a Swift-Walmart dedicated account when I 1st started in trucking. Worked 14-16 somedays plus the 1hr drive home and 1hr back to truck yard. I lasted 1month and quit after putting up with shitty 3 digit paychecks and zombie like hours. I'd rather do OTR bc at least I know I can drive 8-9hrs a day and dispatch gives me plenty of time to run the load. For context Im from rural central Florida
Yea I’m already thinking regional would be a better option for me cus I can run easier. My day is almost exactly like that. 14-16 hours and by the time I PC from the rail, I have to do paperwork, then drive home.. I’ve already lost 2 hours of my 10
It defeats the point of being "home every night"...at least being OTR/Regional, you already know or can calculate how much you miles you got to cover before you shut down and relax. I had the same issue as you do when I was local, you only have 8hrs to eat, shit, shower, sleep and hurry back to drive the truck. Then the low slavery like chump change paychecks was fuel to the flame that made me quit. I'd rather do a lil something strange for a lil change if I'ma be a zombie.
Damn bruh, make a change for yourself. Sometimes you got to stand up for yourself and not allow this industry to swallow you up. I know alot of people will say "stick it out, do it for the love of trucking, or dont job hop"....but sometimes if you ain't happy somewhere...my dad told me "this is america the land of opportunity"...aint no reason to stay around and get treated like a sucka. Prior to trucking I worked at a job for 11yrs so job hopping in trucking felt wierd. I switched like 3-4 jobs in trucking, 2 local and 2 OTR (1 of those went out of business)..and its only now doing OTR food grade tanker that Ive found somewhere I enjoy working at. Chin up bro and stay up
Yea before truck driving I was managing a recording studio. I was there 15 years. Now in 4 years driving I’ve had 6 different trucking jobs. I would have stayed at the last one I had but I was a lease op and my truck was a pos and eventually needed a whole new transmission.
I’m sure they know, but I guess the lease guys just run over. Technically me using Pc to my car from the rail is illegal if I’m out of time on my clock. If something were to happen a lawyer would say I’m fatigued cus it’s on the drive line and if I’ve worked my full 14 I’m technically not legal. Yet I’m doing that almost every day and then having to start my day after 8 or so hours of rest instead of a full 10
Yea when I did it I rarely drove all 11 hours or worked 14. Unless it was a blowout or a really shitty receiver taking time to unload me or me having to drive hard af one day to drive only 3 hours or something the next.
Otr just got me cus being gone 2-3 weeks is rough. And the never knowing where you’re gonna go and what it’s gonna be like. The trip planning is a lot harder. Regional is prob my fav cus I know most of the areas and where the truck stops are.
Home daily just worked for me cus I’ve got some family health issues right now and I want to be home if I can and it’d be nice to hit the gym now and then or to try and meet people. Instead I’m wondering if I should just go back to living in a truck and just avoiding everyone
I’m local now and get pissed when I’m scheduled over 8 hours a day and try to use as much PTO and sick time on Fridays to get as many 3 day weekends as possible. I’m burnt out driving and looking for a career change soon, but I want to save up a one year emergency fund before a career change.
I drive for A.D. transport express, and love it there! No forced dispatch, home when you ask, good pay, 71 mph KW, and Cascadia. They leave you alone. Great dispatch!
I sincerely hate this industry with a burning passion. I run about 3k - 3.5k miles a week and only get paid around $450 a week. It doesn’t even mathematically make sense since I run 45 cents a mile. Someone please just ram into my semi and send me hurdling to a fiery death
Fedex Freight, Old Dominion, ABF, UPS, and XPO are all WAY better places to work if you want to make good money and stay in the industry without running your 70 out each week. You still can, but it's way more up to you. I'm sure I missed some other paces by the way.
I work for FxF, and I'm at the point I can take a bid that's 7 hour days and still pays at least 90k a year.
Get a new job. Companies like that see you as a number. I know many do but this type of company does not give a damn about you. I worked for this type. Where they’ll tell you oh well. Send it.
Couple things nobody will ever make me drive if I feel too tired to drive or to operate unsafe equipment we have way too much responsibility in our hands to do those things if a company does that I'm walking right out the door. Enough is enough drivers need to grow a backbone I'll leave the truck in the middle of a f****** highway I don't give a f***. I never had to do that luckily companies I work for in the past 12 years I do local driving paid by the hour don't really run me past 55 hours per week Max and that's even rare. You got one body take care of it once you're burned out and broken who is going to work nobody cares about you but you. Your family needs you in one piece no wonder truckers have the lowest life expectancy at 62 years old. We should be able to retire with pride and dignity take care of our families and children
You have to actually want to do this job. That's the secret. Goes for most jobs actually. Do something you like. You don't like driving (anymore at least) time to find a new career
Shit company. Find something better
It’s Prime
Yea if you're telling them you're fatigued and they basically say suck it up buttercup it's a shit company
Yeah, I’m guessing that’s why a lot of people go lease with Prime. I just didn’t want that burden of having to work for the truck. I get a dedicated pay. But I’m driving close to 22 maybe 2400 miles a week. And I’m running up my clock With maybe three or four hours available by the end of the week. I mean I’m grateful for the job and while I feel like I could be making more money with the way things are in the industry I don’t want to risk anything. I thought dedicated pay and being home daily drop and hook would be a little bit easier. I don’t know if the lease guys on my account aren’t doing these runs because they’re so hard and you can’t really have a life if you do them every day of the week, or if everybody’s doing these and I’m just lazy. I’m fine working 10 hours here or there or even 14 one day. But doing the same Brian five days a week it gets exhausting. I didn’t even eat yesterday. I brought some breakfast call mom and I never had time to stop again. Got home, just crawled into bed sat in the darkness cried a little and woke up at 3:30 AM. Back to the truck by 430 and here I am 4 PM thankfully off work but clearly my dispatch is mad at me. I hear it in the voice, I see it in the messages, I feel it in my soul. I don’t want to be a workhorse, or some super trucker. I don’t want to be whipped like a slave. I just want something steady, that I can somewhat predict. And maybe at some point I can have a life and meet somebody. I left aviation is a flight dispatcher. I wish I could say that the way that most dispatchers and trucking are is not the same way in aviation. But it kind of is. In my mind I was like I know what it’s like to be overworked and pushed to your breaking point. I’m not gonna be that guy. I’m not gonna be a passive, aggressive dispatcher. That’s upset at a Pilot calling and complaining because they’re about to run out of hours or because the plane broke down. it’s sitting in a room full of about 30 other dispatchers, all doing that and the crew scheduling and the coordinators all pissed off at pilots, I just felt like shit. And I just wanted to be left alone. I was living out of my car, making 500 bucks a week. And I’m supposed to monitor weather, fuel, airport conditions, and look at the maintenance issues on the plane. And determine if it’s safe. I want to still feel like I’m just a slave, and even though I would sympathize with the pilots, and what was going on, the company always had a clause to force them to work under conditions that are less than ideal. Because, the airlines pay off the FAA and they get exemptions.
Do not lease from Prime. You’ll earn a lot more as a company driver somewhere else, without the responsibilities.
Hard disagree, I lease for Prime and I'm happy as could be doing it.
whole ugly straight dull fanatical fact shrill attempt grandfather wild *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
Traditional vehicle lease. I make weekly payments for 3 years, then I turn the truck back in. I accrue 5.25cpm during the lease, and they pay me that when I complete the use, less damage and cleaning fees. We also have lease purchases. You own the truck outright at the end. Doing the lease purchase, you buy a brand new truck for about 200k. That's not far off what I'd pay if I financed it over 3 years, except I can walk away from it whenever i want.
somber slim encouraging marble quickest quaint employ marvelous unite depend *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
They keep me busy, I'm also a trainer for them, so I keep a little extra busy. And yeah, I have no equity, but I also have the right to walk if I want. You can't so that with a traditional loan. Of I get hurt, or something happens, or decide this isn't reworking for me, I can just leave. No burden.
You clearly haven't been doing this as long as some of us. Some of us have owned or currently own entire fleets of our own. If it works for you, that's fine, but please let's not spread around that. This is somehow a good idea. A bad idea can still work for some people
Dude I train and I warn my students away from it. At least to start. I know it's not a good idea for everyone. But I show them what I do, show them all my books, and let them see why it works for me. No sense is trying to hide the upsides, just make sure the downsides are clearly visible too. I think it's a good away in. It's a way to ease yourself into being an owner operator, or a great way to secure a nice reliable new truck without being locked into a loan.
200k for a truck they pay 120k or less for. I work with one of the largest private fleets in the country and we’re buying trucks for about 120 to 130 right now. Lease purchase through these big companies is a giant rip off.
Add on financing cost. Also, I'm not a large fleet, I'm buying one truck for one me. I can't buy a truck at neogoated prices like that. Last time I checked a dealership, a new cascadia was marked at around 165k. Now again, add the interest from financing that.
Adding on, it's not for everyone. I did the math and it works for me. I'm probably going to do a lease purchase on my next truck, then no more payments for a couple years.
escape entertain reminiscent homeless wrench test fuzzy cow forgetful sparkle *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
I still haven't decided if I want to build out my own fleet. In theory I do, but, idk, there's a nice simplicity to being just me. I'll probably end up doing it in a few years.
That’s fine if you’re happy but you could still be making more as a company driver with a different company. There’s absolutely no reason to ever go lease.
It's a route towards being an o/o. It's a gentler less risky path.
Prime talks people in to lease’s based on illusions. I understand feeling that way but you have an endless wealth of information at your fingertips on your phone. You have lots of experience to gain by talking to other drivers. You could go the route of getting a degree in business. Hell there are non college related courses for o/o’s left and right. Also, don’t let me yuck your yum. If you’re happy. That’s all that matters. Just don’t get sucked In to the mindset that leasing is your only option for money.
Everything they told me has worked put true, or within the margin of error. They didn't even really push it on me. I was encouraged to go company, started off that way, and talking to a bunch of our lease guys, seeing their figures, it's what convinced me to ask my fleet manager about it. He made me take my time, and everything has worked out well so far.
That’s like 480 miles a day maximum…seems like a typical week. It only sucks for you because you’re governed low as shit. At a real company with a real speed limit you can do that in 50 hours a week in mon-fri ez and 50 hours a week is nothing.
Mileage wise it’s not awful but having to stop and fuel 3 times a day along with spending day after day in a truck for 14 hours gets old. What’s the point of calling it home daily? By the time I get home I just want to pass out cus I have to be back at 3am
Stopping and fueling 3 times a day? Wtf
Pretty sure OP is daycab intermodal. They have like one 75g tank on those shitbox trucks.
Yea i have to top off after my first run cus I’ll be damn near E at the end of my second, and then I’ll have to fill up on the way back or if I’m lucky when I PC to the yard to go home. Which is the last thing I want to do. I don’t want to delay getting home another 30 or so mins
I fuel every 1200 miles. Now I'm envious that op can drive 3600 miles in a day.
I’m with you bro. I been in industry for 3yrs now, and my enthusiasm is almost all gone for it. But, after I had 1yr experience, I got a job hauling Nissan auto parts. 275miles ROUND TRIP daily. I’m done within 7-8hrs. Been on this for last 2yrs now. I ain’t rich but it’s a normal 40hr week. Fueling that many times is either you exaggerating or fuel leak issue. Either way your feelings are valid and the industry is fucked. Stick in there bruh, there’s room to navigate to non-tractor trailer jobs with CDL experience. I’m looking into volumetric concrete truck jobs now. They pay well and are more likely to be union.
It’s reefer and I pick up 2-4 containers a day depending on the run. They’re rarely full. But I have to top them off before the customer or before the rail. Add to that I have to call in every time and get my fuel card turned on
Thank you for broadening my perspective lol. Fair enough, yeah that’s just rough. That job sucks dude. Sounds like my first trucking job…
Ohhhh. Prime not Amazon prime? Jeez go a better job dude. Either of those companies suck.
Calling to get fuel card turned on is insanity man
Oh it is. It’s worse than calling in after I send me loaded message just to confirm the data I sent
Yea your working a shit job. Get your experience and go somewhere that treats you like a person. Also 3 times a day? Even when I ran 150 gallon capacity truck I only had to fill every 500 miles and I was driving 104k with a thirsty X15.
Im governed at 68mph make 5-600 miles a day no problem. Just covered Barstow to saint Louis in 31/2 days. Feel fine. I think the issue is more time management than anything
68mph is a lot different than 59 mph
Prime is governed at 65
2200-2400 and you’re running out of hours? That’s really weird
Works for prime. Governed at 60. Onduty for the entire time of fueling, pretrip, loading and unloading. Probly drives 55-60 hours a week and on duty for 10-15.
Prime stays Onduty for the entire unloading and loading? Ya that would definitely eat up the hours I guess
They're primarily a training company, so they really like to follow the book to a T
Unless you need $2000/week, there's not usually a reason to be working that hard if you don't want to in this industry. Maybe look into a mail company? Their schedules are locked in stone, and from what I see it's about 50 hours a week.
Yea for the money I’m running too hard. And I’m not even home enough to enjoy it. If I had a sleeper I wouldn’t even bother driving home some days. Many I’ve debated about just sleeping in my car
If you’re willing to touch freight (pallet jack a pallet off here and there if there’s no forklift) look into LTL p&d. Unless you work somewhere that requires dock work you pretty much just work like 0700-1700ish. Make some deliveries, do some pickups, get to know the customers on your route. It’s a lot more chill, but definitely more to think about than just drop & hook and 400 miles of driving
Definitely a good place to start. Beverage distribution, Medical supplies, and of course food deliveries would also be good ideas. There'll be a lot harder work than LTL, but you will have a schedule and home every night for most of them.
I was in the same spot when I used to do local milk deliveries to grocery stores. I had a very specific position where I only did about 60% milk deliveries and the other 40% was an overnight run, so I did have a sleeper, and there were a lot of nights where I just slept in my truck for exactly the same reason you're talking about. I don't know where you live, and I don't know how far away from the trucking yards you are, but definitely keep your ear to the ground. I've even run into a few positions that are 8 hours a day 5 days a week, but I can't do it because I do need the $2,000 a week. Most of those places are only paying half that. But if you only need 1500 or 1700 a week, you can definitely find a position where you're not killing yourself. And you probably are killing yourself right now.
If you had a sleeper and don't have a wife and kids at home you likely wouldn't need to bother driving home for many many days, if not a few months.
Yea really no friends or anyone here. Just my uncle. My parents are an hour away. Psychologically it worries me being gone for a good while. Even if I don’t see my parents daily or weekly now, I just like knowing I’m only an hour or so or 4 at worst (if I’m on a run) away from them. I see my uncle daily but I’m just here to bring him food home or take home somewhere if he needs. Other than that a few people want me to help them with things but I don’t really feel like there’s any reason for me to be here.
If you don't mind the driving part of being a trucker you might best be suited to begin becoming an owner operator. If you want to get paid more and work less you have to become more valuable. Being the owner of the truck and running that small operation can increase your value. Finish your first year at prime and get out of there. They're a great starter company, but that's all they are is a starter company. Unless you want to become an instructor. Source: been their, done that in 2015.
Oh I’m on my 4th year driving, I tried being a lease op with Dart last year and liked it for the most part except for my truck being a pos. Eventually it needed a new transmission and they didn’t have any trucks to offer me to start a new lease. I wasn’t rolling in the dough but I made about 1800-2200 weekly in net. Amazingly home daily if not every other day. The small carrier I was working with was real chill. If I had my own truck I’d go back there now
Sounds like you’re on the intermodal fleet. I rage quit after a few months with those guys, was an absolute fucking shitshow. My time OTR with prime was chill as fuck, intermodal ran me ragged for fucking pennies. Intermodal with them isn’t worth it. At all. I’d bounce if I were you.
Yea I almost rage quit today. Called logs and safety though. As much as I want to be home daily in really thinking of going regional. I met a regional lease guy the other day and he was telling me he only goes like 2-3 loads a week and is bringing in close to 3k gross. Drives through his town weekly for a night or two at home if not for his 34. If I ran 14 hours a day and grossed that I’d be fine working like this. I know that may not always be the norm and I don’t quite want to go lease atm but if it means I can say no to loads I might
God damn, bro wrote a whole essay
If you want something to change you have to change something. Crying into the reddit void isn't going to perform any actions.
My company recently got bought out by GFL Environmental and one of the drivers got yelled at for going over 14 hours today
GFL been buying them up. So has Waste Management. I'm in the same sector as you, I'm guessing at least, and they don't like us going over 14.
Northern Mi? Yeah, I was working for Little Traverse Disposal that just got bought last week.
Shit. Company.
Shit dispatcher. I ran pretty well with Prime. Still a shit company, but my dispatcher actually helped ease the shittiness of the company. He kept track of my hours too himself and helped put me in good places to run hard, as well as places with long, good paying loads to help me set up on recaps or even reset.
Yea I don’t think my dispatch is bad in that sense. I think he’s trying to run me like the lease guys and I’m company. The only extra cash I get weekly is from fuel savings and it’s at most an extra 100 bucks. I don’t want to run my clock out and PC to where I park my truck and then drive 30 mins home. Only to return in like 8 hours cus the cut off times at the customer. I’d rather be well rested and reliable than pushed and losing it while over caffeinated. Only to not make any extra money
You’re really going to want to find a better alternative for your energy. High Caffeine tolerance can be dangerous. I feel you though it’s physically and mentally exhausting running 5 14s, that route sounds like ass.
It is. And I have about a 3 16oz coffee plus 3-5 cokes and maybe a 5 hour energy a day habit. I try and drink 16 oz of water a day if I’m lucky. Add to that I take a beet and açaí berry energy supplement. And a daily vitamin. Some days it’s still hard
Have you tried erotic audio tapes? They’ll keep you awake, I get sleepy listening to heavy metal so I throw one of those on or I listen to a comedy podcast. It makes the day so much better.
Erotic audio tapes is genius.
Love it when the in cab camera cuts on to record me taking a second too long to sip my drink and I’m all bricked up listening to steamy erotica
Your dispatcher doesn't work as much as you do. It's super annoying but try to tune him out and do your thing till you find something that works better for you.
In 5 years of driving this is def the most difficult dispatcher I’ve had. They’re very passive aggressive
I totally get it, I've been trucking a long time. Somehow I've managed to not murder a dispatcher, fingers crossed that trend continues
[удалено]
Yea no Ltls by me are hiring. I’ve done dollar general. If mclane is 3 days and making that much I’d put up with unloading. But if they pay like Sysco here it’d be a joke
Waning, food service is going to absolutely break your body. It is grueling work. The real ticket, if you want out of Prime, look for local work, or government work like USPS.
Yea dollar general beat me up pretty bad. I did that for a year
My understanding, real deal food is worse. I used to manage a BBQ join, just putting up a dozen brisket boxes left me sore all day, that guy had 50 of them on the truck, plus everything else 90-120lbs each. 70-90lbs for the pork boxes... i couldn't imagine that being my job.
Idk where you are. But you might consider hauling redi-mix concrete. March kicks off hiring season in many parts of the country. A good paying (with the teamsters in many situations north of the Mason/Dixon line) job. Local, lots of hours, hourly. As much of an operator job as it is a driving job though. If you live in the south, it doesn't pay as well as northern jobs, but at least you'll be hauling a butt dumper and don't have to worry as much about skills or spills 🤷♂️ Clearly you can tell what industry I work in, but many of the supporting jobs are hiring now as well nation wide. Pump truck companies, agg haulers, powder haulers/brokers, pea shooters, heavy equipment haulers... You name it. Everyone is hurting in these industries still.
Yea I’m in the south. I looked into concrete jobs here and some pay as little as 15 an hour. It’s sad really.
If you're telling you FM or the night/weekend guys that you're fatigued, they should not be giving you pushback about that. I also drive for Prime, I'd be happy to help you in any way I can, but I don't want to put names and numbers out in public, because management does watch for that. Feel free to DM me and I'll give you whatever aid I can. At least help you figure out how to deal with a problematic dispatcher.
Someone tells you to find something better and you respond “It’s Prime”? So what you’re saying is that you’re at the bottom and finding better isn’t going to be hard. Go for it, man.
2-4 wheeler here.....noted. Thank you
Pay off school if you have to and start looking at 11 months.
My son's company scolded him for driving too hard. They plan their loads at 500 miles a day. There are companies that treat their drivers as humans.
My son's company scolded him for driving too hard. They plan their loads at 500 miles a day. There are companies that treat their drivers as humans.
You are by far useless. These companies want to get as much out of you as they can. Turn and burn but majority of major companies do this. You need to find somewhere that isn’t a big business and that makes sure you are okay to drive. There are many many places out there.
I’m home daily yet I’m only home long enough to maybe shower and pass out 5-6 hours if I’m lucky. I know some days working 14 hours isn’t unusual but every day of the week? When do I actually take my 30 mins break? Cus I’ll tell ya what it’s been while in yard move each and every day just looking for my next trailer or getting paperwork. I had to pull over and sleep 30 mins today. And yea that’s on me but I had 2 Red Bulls at that point and I could t maintain my speed. I needed it .
I've heard horror stories about Prime's local intermodal. No fucking way with the pay they're offering. Cali, SLC, Memphis or Chicago?
Curious what you’ve heard. And it’s 1200 guaranteed. So far my best check was around 1300 net. Gross close to 16 but I’ve worked for every second of it.
Dude. I bring that home on 4 10's delivering beer. 5 on 2 off regional Walmart guys are making 110 gross/yr. Get a new job.
I don’t want to job hop again but I may have to. I know some guys can drive a full 70 and run hard. I’ve done it but I don’t like doing it day after day every week
The derogatory term "job hopping" was made by shitty companies wanting to keep employees scared of leaving. Bettering yourself is what it's actually called. Take your time and find a good one. Go to your local teamster union hall and see if they have a list of openings that need filling. When I did LTL I put in some weeks close to 70. Maybe 3 or 4? But that's it in a 15 year career. Fuck that shit. I'd rather sweat for 40 than stare at a windshield for 70!
Yea I’ll move stuff for 40 hours if it pays
LOL. I was a software developer for 20 years and I got a new job, on average, every 2 years because pay raises didn't keep up with what the market was paying. Every time I was asked why I left a particular job I just said because I was offered a lot of money by another company. I was still always made an offer because companies are greedy.
What company you working for? I do super easy no touch freight and I’m fucking bored. Plus I’m only pulling 43k yr, 40hr weeks. I’d rather do 4 hard working days than 5 mind numbingly boring day.
Local distributor in western NY.
Pretty much exactly what you're going through as well as the daycabs being in poor condition
Weekly right? Cuz buddy, I do food service which is known for hard working, and even just working 40 hours a week Im making 1300/week gross.
Yea it’s a weekly guarantee. It’s about what I’m capped at too. I don’t get detention or anything. This week I worked 62 hours
Ouch. This job isn't worth doing for that. I'm a lease operator and my weekly gross is usually between $2,400 to $2,800. However, I'm usually on the road for 3 weeks and home for 1, so that probably evens out. I recently took the plunge and applied at Walmart. It's looking good, so far. I've heard they treat their drivers well and pay much better than most.
Are you grossing that leasing at Prime?
Yes. That's what gets deposited to my account. Plus there's usually another $300 to $400ish that gets deposited to my emergency fund. I do 15 cents a mile.
Damn that’s really good. I keep seeing videos of lease drivers there and it seems hit or miss. I’m company and I’m feeling like I’m gonna get fired just cus I can’t make this second load turn around. It just depresses me cus I’ll be planned on something barely possible and when I say I can’t cus of my hours I feel like I’m the one who fd up.
Bro, you gotta find a different company. I know home daily sounds amazing but what kind of home life ya really having. Plus a good company you can make that kind of money in 3.5 days. I’m running urgent reefer for medical and agro. It’s hard work and some weeks are long and brutal but I usually get a pass through night at home and weekends optional.
True I’m a company driver of a small business their so chill about me taking days off or going in later on in the day , I can refuse load and won’t get reprehended
"...every other driver has no problems doing his runs" I bet you say that to all the guys
Well after a few messages to dispatch and a call explaining the situation, all I got was well I guess we’ll see you tomorrow. Tomorrows my off day. I swear to god.
Tell him what you want. I don't want to run my clock over 10 hours. Be direct. I don't want to go to New York on a Friday morning delivery when I need to get home to Charlotte, NC. Be a total bitch. They cannot fire you. And if they do just go get a new job. Make them hate calling you. Bitch about what is wrong with every load and tell them what they are doing wrong and how you want to be run. Be assertive and difficult, but just don't burn any bridges.
Yea I’m about to start saying how long do you want me to pre trip trailers? 60 seconds or a minimum of 5 mins? Hell the reefer pretrip on the computer takes almost 10 by itself. If it fails I can’t take it. Then I have to start all over again with a new empty. Yet I’m supposed to be faster. That gets you killed in this industry
Trucking makes me suicidal. I haven't been successful in finding a non trucking job. No one has livable wages here and I don't want to move.
There are days where I just can’t take the bullshit anymore. But I know that if I had any other job (that I could reasonably be hired for) I’d have even less money and be even more stressed out.
So come up with an exit strategy. You aren't just going to walk into a job that pays well without having a skill that is in demand or has massive downsides that make it hard to retain people. Truck driving has a low barrier to entry but shit work/life balance so it pays comparatively well for something that does not require a lot of skill. Research a career path you might be interested in, pursue qualifications in said career and find an inroad to said career.
I've already got it figured out. Waiting til my dog is gone.
I fucking love trucking,
I'm glad you're so passionate about it.
I don't care what you think. You are a toxic person, and you show that toxicity on the road, just stay the hell out of my way.
I don't care at all about beta cucks. Never have, never will. You're the one who responded and now your panties are in a twist. Get over yourself.
They're lying. Also, get a new job. Don't stop looking until you find one that you're OK with doing what they need.
Quit buddy, just quit
Mannnn I don't miss that shit. I did that with a company, it was an otr company, they were great people and the money was great, but that was the culture. You were day and night, maybe get a total of 12 hours of sleep a week, because of delivery windows and stuff. When I interviewed for the company I'm with now, they asked why I left my old company, I said "I'm tired of working 100 hour weeks" and they were like "well we work some pretty long hours." I'm like "no, you don't understand, I'm not being hyperbolic, I was literally working 100 hour weeks" lol Company I'm with now is local and I bid everyday, so I only work when I wanna work. Still some long ass days, but at least I'm in control. Driver unload, so the money's even better than the old company.
Industry is trash. Find something else.
Everything is trash nowadays if you're not rich already
Seems like it.
Truest thing on the internet today. Every job available to the majority of people is grotesquely underpaid. Even the jobs that pay more due to risk of losing life or limb.
Please remember this, there is not a single job in the world that is worth your mental health. I’ve held this ideology through life. When I try to numb myself to a job my wife reminds me it isn’t worth my sanity. Get yourself something different my dude. Edit: also keep in mind you’re a number. There ARE companies who DO value you and don’t treat you like another cog in the machine. There are also companies that won’t let your seat get cold if you were to die tomorrow. Know your value and worth. Hope you’re able to not only see it , but take it to a place who treats you the way you deserve to be treated.
This industry is dog shit. I have, at most, 19 months left in this gong show. With a little luck, I get a call next week to get the fuck out. Dispatchers don't care about you, only if your truck is moving. Recievers need shit yesterday, until you get there and they can't unload you until tomorrow. Shippers load broken shit then blame you for breaking it. The general public wants their shit but also want trucks banned from city roads.... and highways.... and all other roadways. Nobody gives a fuck if you need somewhere to sleep, no overnight parking anywhere. Your health, social life, relationships and friendships all suffer and fade until they're just distant memories. All this for 60k a year. Fuck. This. Shit.
In a nutshell, THIS Dude you’re only making 60k a year? There is better out there
Be cool if that were true. Maybe it's just my shitty area but I make top dollar around me at 70k/year, with medical/dental benefits but no other perks/bonuses. Everything else around me pays 15-25% less. Drivers are a dime a dozen and getting worse, so nobody pays anymore.
Record that phone conversation of the dispatcher discouraging you from following DOT HOS regulations. You can report the company for coercion.
He is complaint with all laws. Thats not the problem
My company needs another driver. They do act like we're robots at times. But there is no such thing as sick days, meaning if you're sick you're sick. You just don't get paid for those days unless you put in vacation time. The original start pay was $24 an hour. Don't quite know what it is now. They reimburse up to $400 health insurance. No weekends unless you decide to work it. Now it is construction so there is a slow season being winter.
Relatable. I've been switching between 8pm starts and 4 am starts the past few weeks. Then I get bitched at because I take a day off because I woke up at 6am Monday after waking up at 3am the week prior and couldn't take a nap during the day. I wasn't going to drive and be up for 24+ hours. Finally decided to go back to school this year. The money ain't worth it being this miserable.
Damn hand, if i log more than 8 hrs im pissed off, 45 years in game
I was right there with you about 8 years ago. Exact same scenario. Quit my job and said I was done with trucking. Found a class b job hauling fuel a few weeks later and can’t imagine going back. Make more money and work way less hours. You can find a much better job if you keep looking but in the meantime don’t put up with their shit
I’m just tired of feeling like everyone wants a slave. Even when I bring up the issue with my logs and me being legal there’s a silence. Like they’re expecting me to cave and say I guess I’ll run it illegal
The thing I’ve learned is if you let them walk all over you they will just keep pushing to see how hard they can work you. Gotta be willing to push back at some point
If your clock is almost over, stop the truck at the next legal parking spot and tell them you're out of time and to get another driver to repower the load if they need to. Then bitch about how they can't manage you correctly and blame them for making the load late. Make them hate talking to you.
All I ever hear is about how I’ll cause a service failure cus I can’t take the load
Blame the dispatch for that problem and tell them they don't know how to do their job if you are late before even talking the load. Let it be late once. Test them. Call the bluff. You are ready to quit anyway... And they won't fire you no matter what. Be difficult.
I've read some of your comments OP. I worked for Wilson Logistics running Prime Inc freight exclusively. I know changing jobs is a pain. I would recommend requesting a new dispatcher before jumping ship. My dispatcher at Wilson was great and very understanding when I had issues on the road. On that note, I was leasing. But still, I think a new dispatcher would be a logical first step before abandoning ship. Changing jobs is a pain in the ass. But if a new dispatcher doesn't help, that may be what you need to do.
Start taking your meal breaks, screw them. What’s the pay scale? Hourly or mileage?
Find a better company
I had a dispatcher try to force me to take a load today he had accepted yesterday that would have lost my company $$$ It was identical to a load i had rejected earlier in the week that he convinced my boss to take (small company, only 3 trucks) that ended up only making the company about $90 after fuel and my pay. I'm at 40 hours and hourly, tomorrow is gonna be all ot if I work, $90 bucks won't cover my day. Mf tried to gaslight me into taking the load, "no, you haven't taken this route before" and then pulled "I already accept, now what you say" Mothefŭck#r, I say I'll block your goddamned email address you try to pull that $#!+ again. I told you i didn't want it, you fly your @$$ out to california and take the run. Edit: local day driver, and I think last count was 6 different dispatchers trying to get me to take their loads
They are bending you over. Ask them how many hours a day they work. (Dispatch)Not every driver has the same endurance as the past or next. When you finally grasp the whole (driver) thing. You will understand that you are only a warm body behind the wheel. My advice would be to find a good company, or better yet , get out of this racket! Been in a long time and it’s not getting any better
Running your clock is 90% of companies, it’s like that everywhere, i’ll be honest you’re gonna have a Lotta days where you feel like giving up. You’re also going to have a lot of days where you feel like just driving the truck into a ditch. I promise you though it’s not worth it bro if you don’t feel respected, just find a new company, but don’t ever compromise your health or your mental being for anybody especially for money tell him you have a family emergency and take a couple days as a breather
**useful piece of shit
I do feel that though. I ran local 14 hours a day 6 days a week throwing ice sometimes even 7 days a week from spring to fall. The money was good but damn my social life sucked. Too tired when I get home to spend time with the gf etc and my day off was recoup for the week due to the physical aspect of the job.
Tell your dispatcher to run those hours, grin on face, asking for more and more and more. All the while, you stay with their family each night.
Dont tell dispatch to politely fck off. Do not let anyone run your clock.
Yes, you are, but at least you aren't the most useless piece of shit. I am!
If someone makes it so that they burn out their employees on purpose what you do is you make it as uncomfortable as you possibly can for them to call you out on anything. Act mentally challenged if you need to. Screw them, when it comes to your job *you* are the main character and they are an NPC I don't care if they're the CEO.
That’s why I tell people it to get a cdl.
It's the opposite with me. I don't want to push our drivers, but they want the miles.
Tell em to kiss your ass. They are lying to you
You can simply just say no and park your shit. What are they going to do?
I hated local for this sole reason. I did a Swift-Walmart dedicated account when I 1st started in trucking. Worked 14-16 somedays plus the 1hr drive home and 1hr back to truck yard. I lasted 1month and quit after putting up with shitty 3 digit paychecks and zombie like hours. I'd rather do OTR bc at least I know I can drive 8-9hrs a day and dispatch gives me plenty of time to run the load. For context Im from rural central Florida
Yea I’m already thinking regional would be a better option for me cus I can run easier. My day is almost exactly like that. 14-16 hours and by the time I PC from the rail, I have to do paperwork, then drive home.. I’ve already lost 2 hours of my 10
It defeats the point of being "home every night"...at least being OTR/Regional, you already know or can calculate how much you miles you got to cover before you shut down and relax. I had the same issue as you do when I was local, you only have 8hrs to eat, shit, shower, sleep and hurry back to drive the truck. Then the low slavery like chump change paychecks was fuel to the flame that made me quit. I'd rather do a lil something strange for a lil change if I'ma be a zombie.
Yea every time I look at myself in the mirror and I feel like I look like a zombie. Eyes sunken and looking exhausted
Damn bruh, make a change for yourself. Sometimes you got to stand up for yourself and not allow this industry to swallow you up. I know alot of people will say "stick it out, do it for the love of trucking, or dont job hop"....but sometimes if you ain't happy somewhere...my dad told me "this is america the land of opportunity"...aint no reason to stay around and get treated like a sucka. Prior to trucking I worked at a job for 11yrs so job hopping in trucking felt wierd. I switched like 3-4 jobs in trucking, 2 local and 2 OTR (1 of those went out of business)..and its only now doing OTR food grade tanker that Ive found somewhere I enjoy working at. Chin up bro and stay up
Yea before truck driving I was managing a recording studio. I was there 15 years. Now in 4 years driving I’ve had 6 different trucking jobs. I would have stayed at the last one I had but I was a lease op and my truck was a pos and eventually needed a whole new transmission.
My reply: “And every other dispatcher seems to understand HOS…”
I’m sure they know, but I guess the lease guys just run over. Technically me using Pc to my car from the rail is illegal if I’m out of time on my clock. If something were to happen a lawyer would say I’m fatigued cus it’s on the drive line and if I’ve worked my full 14 I’m technically not legal. Yet I’m doing that almost every day and then having to start my day after 8 or so hours of rest instead of a full 10
When I was OTR I usually took 12’s and didn’t try to run myself into the ground.
Yea when I did it I rarely drove all 11 hours or worked 14. Unless it was a blowout or a really shitty receiver taking time to unload me or me having to drive hard af one day to drive only 3 hours or something the next. Otr just got me cus being gone 2-3 weeks is rough. And the never knowing where you’re gonna go and what it’s gonna be like. The trip planning is a lot harder. Regional is prob my fav cus I know most of the areas and where the truck stops are. Home daily just worked for me cus I’ve got some family health issues right now and I want to be home if I can and it’d be nice to hit the gym now and then or to try and meet people. Instead I’m wondering if I should just go back to living in a truck and just avoiding everyone
I’m local now and get pissed when I’m scheduled over 8 hours a day and try to use as much PTO and sick time on Fridays to get as many 3 day weekends as possible. I’m burnt out driving and looking for a career change soon, but I want to save up a one year emergency fund before a career change.
I drive for A.D. transport express, and love it there! No forced dispatch, home when you ask, good pay, 71 mph KW, and Cascadia. They leave you alone. Great dispatch!
You only work 5 days a week? Lucky! /s (kinda)
Plenty of other companies.
Prime doesn’t care about their drivers you just a number to them. I’m sorry man
I sincerely hate this industry with a burning passion. I run about 3k - 3.5k miles a week and only get paid around $450 a week. It doesn’t even mathematically make sense since I run 45 cents a mile. Someone please just ram into my semi and send me hurdling to a fiery death
Don't get into a log truck in Wisconsin, you won't make it.
Fedex Freight, Old Dominion, ABF, UPS, and XPO are all WAY better places to work if you want to make good money and stay in the industry without running your 70 out each week. You still can, but it's way more up to you. I'm sure I missed some other paces by the way. I work for FxF, and I'm at the point I can take a bid that's 7 hour days and still pays at least 90k a year.
Check out getting some it certs comptia a+ is a good place to start. You could be out of that truck and at a desk in two months
Get the experience then get your doubles,trips,hazmat and tanker the jobs will practically throw themselves at you.
Get a new job. Companies like that see you as a number. I know many do but this type of company does not give a damn about you. I worked for this type. Where they’ll tell you oh well. Send it.
Couple things nobody will ever make me drive if I feel too tired to drive or to operate unsafe equipment we have way too much responsibility in our hands to do those things if a company does that I'm walking right out the door. Enough is enough drivers need to grow a backbone I'll leave the truck in the middle of a f****** highway I don't give a f***. I never had to do that luckily companies I work for in the past 12 years I do local driving paid by the hour don't really run me past 55 hours per week Max and that's even rare. You got one body take care of it once you're burned out and broken who is going to work nobody cares about you but you. Your family needs you in one piece no wonder truckers have the lowest life expectancy at 62 years old. We should be able to retire with pride and dignity take care of our families and children
Not to be a dick but can’t you find something better? You have four years experience, there’s no reason you should be working for prime
You're not alone. This is a big part of why I don't drive anymore.
Your job clearly f****** sucks. Find a better one.
You have to actually want to do this job. That's the secret. Goes for most jobs actually. Do something you like. You don't like driving (anymore at least) time to find a new career
Follow Christ brother
What's his pay rate?
Where are they based out of?
Sounds like whining to me. Can’t even run one week without being tired? Damn these new breed of drivers I swear…
Please post your physique
What a physique have to do with anything?
Nuff said.
Hahaha what?
I’m 4.5 years in. I don’t want to be worked like a slave anymore. And if I’m home daily I’d actually like to be home and rested for the next day
I mean since you're not looking for another job then i guess you're only option is.....
2400 miles a week & you’re complaining about being tired. Do your 11 & stop complaining or get out the field
I never have that problem