Pick your battles (picking a company)

[BeauteousRot]

I live in WV, which makes is VERY hard to find a company that will hire me. I usually have to agree to 3 weeks out to get them to hire me. That isn't a HUGE problem because I'm single and childless anyway. And I have one year otr dry van.

So my choices are very limited, and my desires are those of any average trucker I suppose. A decent truck, mileage pay commissurate with experience, etc etc.

I have some other preferences and I'm beginning to wonder if I'm being reasonable because I've closed out so many companies. One of the reasons I went to trucking was because I could not find a job I liked in my town (no option to relocation). I kinda had it in my head that a CDL was a meal ticket where I could call at least a couple of the shots. Well, my wants are as follows:

OPTIONAL per-diem (quite a few companies require it and I don't like what I see when I run the numbers)
Limited NE runs
Allowed to disconnect at home time (I have a place for a tractor, the trailer needs to be at a t/s nearby <excepting HV loads>
Not required to chain (I choose when it is safe)
Paper Logs
Layover and Breakdown
Tolls paid or reimbursed
Dry van only


I don't expect to be put up in a rathole hotel or a dorm when I arrive. That tells me what kind of treatment I can expect when I work for them.

I don't expect to work for a company that has 1900 hate threads in trucking forums.

I do expect to get 2200 miles a week (low for some, but I can live on it)

Well, like I said, those are wants, and only a few since I probably forgot some. Now I'm aware some may seem unreasonable, some frivolous. There are a couple things that are NOT negotiable.

I'm pretty stuck on not being required to take per diem.
I will run NE, but I don't want to be there every damn day.
I choose when I'm safe to run.

OK lay it on me. On which ones am I being unreasonable?

Doesn't New Century truckload have a big terminal somewhere in WV. They are a good company.

[Double R]

BeauteousRot,
What part of WV.

[Twilight Flyer]

OPTIONAL per-diem (quite a few companies require it and I don't like what I see when I run the numbers)

And rightly so. If you can avoid Per Diem, avoid it. It's a company ploy used to save the company money. As a driver, you put a couple extra bucks in your pocket at the expense of potentially thousands in social security benefits.

Limited NE runs

Depends on where you live. NE freight is the country premium and most major carriers run a lot of it. If you're anywhere near that area, expect to be going there just to set you up for hometime on the way back out.

Allowed to disconnect at home time (I have a place for a tractor, the trailer needs to be at a t/s nearby <excepting HV loads>

I'd have to say you're being unreasonable on this one. Most companies require the tractor and trailer to remain together for security purposes.

Not required to chain (I choose when it is safe)

Not unreasonable at all.

Paper Logs

Most companies still use paper logs, though most companies also use qualcomm.

Layover and Breakdown

I don't know of any of the major companies that do NOT have layover and breakdown. But by the same token, most majors don't have a set policy for it, either. The general company thought process is that if you're running late or turning down loads to get you in a situation where you have to sit, don't expect a company to take care of you. If you're on time, taking what you are given, and not causing any issues, a company is going to be more willing to take care of you if you end up sitting for an extended length of time.

Tolls paid or reimbursed

Again, most companies should be doing this.

Dry van only

That simply limits your search parameters. Nothing wrong with that.

I don't expect to work for a company that has 1900 hate threads in trucking forums.

I'm sorry to say that every company on this planet has 1900 hate threads in trucking forums. That's simply the way it is. The angry or disgruntled are venting...the content are too busy working.

I do expect to get 2200 miles a week (low for some, but I can live on it)

That's probably a reasonable request. Regional runs, depending on companies will usually average anywhere from 2000 to 2500. OTR will average a bit more.

[BeauteousRot]

well that is good news, and from a reputable source. I truly was beginning to wonder about the choices I was making.

thanks

about new century, I haven't even given them much of a look. I have one year experience. And the truck I saw on the site is a reefer. No dock delays if I can help it.
(Minimum of 2 years verifiable tractor trailer driving experience in the last 5 years)

[Malaki86]

well that is good news, and from a reputable source. I truly was beginning to wonder about the choices I was making.

thanks

about new century, I haven't even given them much of a look. I have one year experience. And the truck I saw on the site is a reefer. No dock delays if I can help it.
(Minimum of 2 years verifiable tractor trailer driving experience in the last 5 years)

What part of WV do you live in? That would help out a lot. I live just north of Clarksburg and have a choice of 2 companies that are local with amazing hometime. If I go another 30 miles I've got a choice of about 6 other companies.

[kips41]

Quote:
OPTIONAL per-diem (quite a few companies require it and I don't like what I see when I run the numbers)


And rightly so. If you can avoid Per Diem, avoid it. It's a company ploy used to save the company money. As a driver, you put a couple extra bucks in your pocket at the expense of potentially thousands in social security benefits.

Per Diem is not a ploy nor is it bad for every driver. The typical driver can save on average about $2500 yr in income tax, social security and medicare taxes. If this money is used to be put in as extra in 401K or even a Roth IRA the benefit in Retirment income will be more than if you don't take it.

One should really talk to a tax / financial expert on this issue before deciding what is better for you.

With the current state of social security and the fact that the baby boomers will place a strain on the system the likelyhood of decreased benefits, higher taxes or higher age limits is very likely.

I can't stress it enough that drivers should seek PROFESSIONAL advice on this and not depend on DNN ( Drivers News Network).

[BeauteousRot]

I live in Parkersburg, I'll spare you the details and let you google.

I did check with two tax preparers. One was a lady who I would not let do my taxes at H+R block because she argued that I could only claim 50 percent of the 52 in per diem. To me that showed her ignorance and she was the one who told me I would have been better off with per diem.

I asked the private preparer who did do my taxes... he stated, after looking at my numbers, I was much better off without per diem. I got a 17k deduction just from the 52$ figure. That and my receipts significantly reduced my tax BURDEN. I don't claim to know all the nuances of the system, but I do believe per diem is POOP. And I dont mean to turn this into a tax thread, but I had to explain my position and why I chose it.

[headborg]

I think the only one you're being "unreasonable" about is the 'dry van only' and 'breakdown'.

you just got to be extra selective and a little more 'homework' before getting with a 'garbage' (reefer) hauling outfit.

Good idea to check out the layover policy-- it too can tell you alot about a company. But, I've yet to find one (other than Union) that PAYS good money for breakdown time.

I disagree with TF that you're being 'unreasonable' on the unhooking from the trailer and parking your rig in your drive-way. As long as you have a "written" permission or even a "secure" place to drop your trailer and lock it up(kingpin, glad-hand, enforcer lock on back doors) this isn't unreasonable--
many of us live in nice neighborhoods--without enough room to drag a 53' trailer all the way home with us.

[Twilight Flyer]

I disagree with TF that you're being 'unreasonable' on the unhooking from the trailer and parking your rig in your drive-way. As long as you have a "written" permission or even a "secure" place to drop your trailer and lock it up(kingpin, glad-hand, enforcer lock on back doors) this isn't unreasonable-- many of us live in nice neighborhoods--without enough room to drag a 53' trailer all the way home with us.

That's the rub, though. There are precious few companies that will allow it today, so my point was that it was unreasonable to think that she'll find one that will be willing to allow it.

[inmate1577]

Schneider doesnt require you to take the trailer with you when u go home.
I never have.

[Malaki86]

There's a couple of companies located local to you. Merchants 5 Star is the main one I can think of. Not sure of their hometime policy, but I'm sure it's every weekend. They're located in Marietta, so that's extremely close to you.

If you've got the year OTR already, don't limit yourself to the big companies. Smaller companies may not always have the newest trucks but you can almost be guaranteed that they'll treat you better. I know I'm a lot happier now that I'm with a small company.

[kips41]

I live in Parkersburg, I'll spare you the details and let you google.

I did check with two tax preparers. One was a lady who I would not let do my taxes at H+R block because she argued that I could only claim 50 percent of the 52 in per diem. To me that showed her ignorance and she was the one who told me I would have been better off with per diem.

I asked the private preparer who did do my taxes... he stated, after looking at my numbers, I was much better off without per diem. I got a 17k deduction just from the 52$ figure. That and my receipts significantly reduced my tax BURDEN. I don't claim to know all the nuances of the system, but I do believe per diem is POOP. And I dont mean to turn this into a tax thread, but I had to explain my position and why I chose it.

Don't see how you can have a 17k deduction with just the $52 meal allowance. If you stay out all year 365 days. The math would be 365 x 52 x .75 = 14,235.00. For 2007 you can only take 75 % of the deduction.

The advantage of the Per Diem of $52 is that you get the whole $52 not just 75% if you write off the meal deduction at the end of the year. So in reality you are getting $13 bucks a day for other incidentials other than meals and you don't have to save receipts. If the average driver is out 280 days a year that is $3640 non tax income for stuff other than meals.

When you itimize at the end of the year you only save on income tax and not on social security and medicare taxes another 7.65%

The real savings is for individuals that do not have other deductions to get over the standard deduction on their return. If you are having to use your business expenses to get you over the standard deduction to be able to itimize. You will realize more non tax income if you take the standard deduction and per diem.

Now before I get slammed, everyone should be informed on this and I guess talk to a Qualified Tax Expert. I would not use HR Block or any other cookie cutter tax preparer. Find a local individual who is a licensed
Certified Public Accountant. They will cost a little more but well worth it in the end.

[BeauteousRot]

I don't understand a word you just said about taxes.

I already worked for schneider. The rest is history.

I will check on 5star merchant.

[BeauteousRot]

Ok checked out merchant 5 star....
I don't think my lard arse is gonna be moving any furniture OR riding with the 2-3 other people needed to move furniture. :shock:

[Malaki86]

They're not a HHG company. They run the exact same freight that my company hauls. In fact, we haul to the same places all the time.

[BeauteousRot]

http://www.navlagent.com/mfsmoving/household.htm

that's who I found with that name in marietta, OH.

do you have a link for the other company?

[Malaki86]

I don't have a link to them, but their entire company isn't HHG. In fact, most of their company is standard dry-van. Take a drive down Rt 7 in Ohio between Marietta and Belpre. There's a few companies on that stretch. There are also a couple of otr dump companies along there.

[Double R]

NFI(National Freight) has a dedicated account that runs out of Cammbridge,Oh. Colgate-Palmolive(CP). They run both daycabs and regional.