IS ONE DAY PER WEEK OFF TOO MUCH TO ASK FOR IN THIS CAREER?

[2fast4love]

I think that it is too much to ask for, but my father does not. I believe that wanting one day per week off is being a little too "high maintenance" as a truck driver. However, my father insists that if we drive as a TEAM then we should find a company who will give us one day off per week. I am the kind of guy who is willing to stay out for 3-4 weeks driving before getting time off and he is the kind of guy who is only willing to stay out for 1 week before getting time off. He has mentioned to me that he would CONSIDER driving for 2 weeks before getting time off, but it would be the VERY MOST AT BEST. The only trouble with this is I think that IF THERE EVEN ARE ANY COMPANIES that allow their TEAM drivers to take a day off every week the TEAMS who get this much time off probably do not make very much money. So now I am trying to figure out if a solo guy like myself willing to stay out 3-4 weeks at a time can make more money than when on a TEAM staying out for just 1 week at a time. If anyone can help me out with this then that would be great, because as a new class A driver I am just not sure myself. :?:

I believe that wanting one day per week off is being a little too "high maintenance" as a truck driver.

Not me. I'm home everynight, off every weekend, don't work any holidays and still manage to bring home the bacon. Wouldn't have it any other way. :wink:

[Stainless]

Not me. I'm home everynight, off every weekend, don't work any holidays and still manage to bring home the bacon. Wouldn't have it any other way. :wink:

Same here, plus i get time off just about whenever i ask for it.

[gemc1]

it dependes on how long you have Ben doing it for you have your home and car no bills exe get the work while its there it wont last forever

[2fast4love]

Not me. I'm home everynight, off every weekend, don't work any holidays and still manage to bring home the bacon. Wouldn't have it any other way. :wink:

Same here, plus i get time off just about whenever i ask for it.

That is nice and I am happy for you guys, but my father and I live in the county with the worst unemployment rate out of all of the counties in the entire USA and we have therefore not been fortunate enough to find ANY local driving jobs after 2 months of searching. We sent in applications (even to a garbage company), but I am guessing that this privledge is only reserved for the experienced truck drivers with CDL-A's and not the new guys like us who just got their CDL A's and are thus on the bottom of the totem pole, so to speak. So that only leaves OTR and we both have a lot of experience in expediting with a cargo van to multiple states. In this experience we have learned that I am willing to stay out for 3-4 weeks at a time and he is only willing to stay out for 1 week at a time before getting any days off, which we have had disagreements about throughout the entire day while discussing it. In OTR TEAM TRUCK DRIVING I have gotten the impression that the longer teams stay out on the road, the more money they make. But how much more money they make when 3 weeks out instead of just 1 week out before getting time off is something that I still do not know. :?:

[emerlin]

I have zero experience, but that won't stop me from weighing in...

I could not work with my father. I would not be able to stay in a truck with him for two days, let alone two weeks. Don't get me wrong, I love my dad and would do just about anything for him, but if we are together more than about 5 days, the differences of opinion come out, and it's not pretty.

[emerlin]

AND ANOTHER THING!

Well, I was going to have a bit of a rant regarding time out, but I'll start my own thread on that one.

[greg3564]

I would think that since Team drivers are so sought after that you would have some leverage to negotiate your time off.

[2fast4love]

it dependes on how long you have Ben doing it for you have your home and car no bills exe get the work while its there it wont last forever

My philosophy regarding loads is also "get it while its there" and I am very ambitious and willing to do whatever it takes to succeed in OTR TEAM DRIVING. I am just a little discouraged that my father does not share that same level of ambition. Together I think that we could make so much more money if choosing to stay out longer than just 1 week at a time as a team. As an example, we were just offered positions to team-drive for a partner company of Fedex Custom Critical at 3 weeks out driving and then getting 1 week off with over $1,000 per driver every week. I was all for it and he basically turned it down, which lead to a dispute between us regarding home time vs. money and which is more important. Money is more important to me and home time is more important to him. BUT if there are actually companies out there where teams can make over $1,000 a week per driver as a team while getting 1 day off every week like he wants then I have no problem with this. I am just curious to know if there are actually OTR team drivers out there who do get this much time off while still getting at least $1,000 a week per team driver.

[2fast4love]

I have zero experience, but that won't stop me from weighing in...

I could not work with my father. I would not be able to stay in a truck with him for two days, let alone two weeks. Don't get me wrong, I love my dad and would do just about anything for him, but if we are together more than about 5 days, the differences of opinion come out, and it's not pretty.

My father and I have already team drove in a 1 ton cargo van for an expediting company for 1 week out at a time before taking time off. It was strange at first sleeping on a cot in the cargo area of the tiny van after dropping off automotive loads with my father sleeping 6 feet behind me on his own cot, but we got used to it after a very short time. There were even several nights where we had to sleep before dropping off loads and therefore could not even sleep on our cots in the cargo area of the van. On those nights, we actually had to sleep upright in our chairs (which do not recline at all due to no space between the rear cargo cage). So we do get along really well, but I am concerned with our only difference, which is that as OTR team drivers he is only willing to stay out 1 week driving at a time before requiring at least one day off. Can team drivers still make at least $1,000 a week per team driver when driving for 1 week at a time or should we have to stay out longer before taking a day off to make that kind of money as a team?

[2fast4love]

I would think that since Team drivers are so sought after that you would have some leverage to negotiate your time off.

I hope that this is the case and that as team drivers we can actually have 1 day off per week and still make at least $1,000 a week per driver. I am willing to stay out longer than 1 week at a time, but he is not. Basically I am wondering if there is anyone on here who can tell me if my father and I drove as a team, how much money should we be able to make as a weekly average if we drive for 6 days straight and then take 1 day off at a time like he wants to do? Can we still make $1,000 a week per driver when doing this as a team?

[greg3564]

I would say to start calling recruiters and getting applications in. There are so many companies out there that I'm sure one will fit your needs. Good luck!

[mike3fan]

I was wondering how long you would be willing to stay out,and how long would he be willing to stay out?

[2fast4love]

I was wondering how long you would be willing to stay out,and how long would he be willing to stay out?

I would be willing to stay out for 21 days before getting any time off and he is currently willing to stay out for 7 days before getting any time off. Hopefully that is do-able while still making at least $1,000 a week per team driver. :?:

[GoldiesPlating]

I was wondering how long you would be willing to stay out,and how long would he be willing to stay out?

I would be willing to stay out for 21 days before getting any time off and he is currently willing to stay out for 7 days before getting any time off. Hopefully that is do-able while still making at least $1,000 a week per team driver. :?:

Just a thought here, I drive for TMC SOLO and am home daily plus weekends off and make $1100.00/ week. When I ran SOLO OTR for them I made around $1500.00/ week. Barring and complications with your application(s), I don't see why you can't do the same.

[2fast4love]

Just a thought here, I drive for TMC SOLO and am home daily plus weekends off and make $1100.00/ week. When I ran SOLO OTR for them I made around $1500.00/ week. Barring and complications with your application(s), I don't see why you can't do the same.

Do you currently make that $1,000+ per week with TMC driving OTR, regional, or dedicated? And do you always get Saturday and Sunday off in the process? Also, how long have you been driving, because we are new drivers hoping to make that kind of money in our first year driving as an OTR TEAM together?

[GoldiesPlating]

I'm home every day and off on weekends so I am on a dedicated route for them. I've been there 6 months. Depending on where you live, there may be a local route available for you too or at LEAST a regional OTR run where you'll be home EVERY WEEKEND and make great money.

[One]

Since you didnt get much of an answer to your question, Ill contribute what I can:
I know an Averitt Express driver that has a dedicated run (team) to TX and back from AL and does it twice a week, home several days a week. He has suggested I come drive fro them. Hes an old-timer...
Hope this help...I think dedicated will be best for you, and they ARE outt there.

[BanditsCousin]

Sounds like your fathers flexibility only extends so far for this kind of work, which is fine. Some drivers never come home but 2-3 times a year.

What county/state are you in?

[fireman932003]

There are tons of companies out there where you can make over $1000 a week and STILL be home every week just like Fred said. These days in MY opinion, you don't need to stay out for weeks and weeks at a time to make great money! Just do your homework and keep your eyes open.