Is it possible to only drive a couple weeks per month?

[Cool Hand]

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Okay, so I made a stupid post, wondering about Fleece Purchase programs...*slap self*

But I still need to know: is there a way to get on the road, doing long distances, but only part time, as in two weeks a month?

How do-able is the idea of purchasing a truck and then only driving when I want? (I would like to travel by truck, but only part time) Can a guy make his payments and expenses that way?

If only I knew an O/O who wanted more time off and would let me take out his truck every once in a while while he stayed home...

I assume there are no Company Driver casual jobs out there for someone like me who has less than a year experience?

Thanks very much,
Luke

[GMAN]

Luke, it sounds to me as though you are not a serious driver. Before most any owner operator or company is going to hire you to drive part time, as you suggest, is after you gain a couple of years experience. Most will not be able to cover you with their insurance. Even if insurance would cover you, they would be taking a considerable risk in allowing an inexperienced driver behind the wheel. Before you can lease a truck to a carrier, you will need at least 6 month's to 1 year minimum experience. If you have the money, you can get your own authority. Insurance will eat you alive on rates and will probably restrict you to a 300 mile radius and place limitations on type of freight you can haul. There have been 2 or 3 who have done the later on this forum. I would not recommend buying a truck and getting your authority without first having a few years of driving experience. The odds are against you. The best thing to do, if you want to become a commercial driver, is to commit to a year or two with a company so you can get some experience. Then you will be in a better position to find what you are seeking. You may not even like driving. Save your money until you have enough for a good down payment and working capital. It costs a lot to feed a truck. I have owned several. They are not cheap. Some costs go on whether the truck moves or not.

[Cool Hand]

Gman you're absolutely right: I'm not a serious trucker. That's the whole purpose of the post: trying to find work for a non-serious trucker I don't have the time or inclination to drive full-time again.

[rigidsporty]

-But I still need to know: is there a way to get on the road, doing long distances, but only part time, as in two weeks a month?

I know this reply is a little late, but here is a company that hires "temp" drivers...

http://www.superiordriversinc.com/SDInc/Home.cfm

[The_Tucson_Kid]

There are companies that will hire a part time driver. You should expect a fairly serious road test and will still need to do the companies required training full time meaning you will need to take the time off from your other source of income to accomplish this.

For the routes available, I am second fiddle to the full time guys, as you would expect since they are depending on the loads to make their livings. If there is anything left over, I slip seat on the weekends when I want and when the loads are available.

It took 4 months to find the company, most said exactly what GMAN said, come back when you have exp. At least one said they could not even consider it due to insurance. The company I drive for is point to point on highways. There is very little in town driving, it is only passing through very small towns. I imagine it would be very different driving part time in heavy city traffic where an inexperienced driver would be accident central.

Of course, the economy kind of sucks right now so many are having a hard time just keeping their full time guys busy.

I hate slip seating but all I have asked said it would be absolutely stupid to buy a truck part time. The fixed costs would eat you alive. God forbid you bought a used truck and in 2 weeks you needed an overhaul, you would be under water for years. That exact scenario happened to a guy I know.

[floored]

Knight has a 7 day on 7 day off program for company drivers.

I'm on the same boat as you, part time trucking (I have two small kiddos at home, can't do f/t otr) and I'm truck shopping this week and the plan is to run 1 week on 1 week off, I will be doing this under my own authority and the costs associated with that may not be what you would want to spend. Some carriers allow you to sign on a truck "part time" but if they buy your plates and furnish you a trailer be sure to talk to them what their min. time out each year is before you buy a rig and sign on the dotted line.

For what its worth I got my first truck with only 10 months on my CDL and didn't have any problems finding a place to run on a 2-3 week out and 1 week home schedule. You can find the companies out there, most are the 80cpm-95cpm range places (plus fsc) tho.

[dobry4u]

Knight has a 7 day on 7 day off program for company drivers.

I'm on the same boat as you, part time trucking (I have two small kiddos at home, can't do f/t otr) and I'm truck shopping this week and the plan is to run 1 week on 1 week off, I will be doing this under my own authority and the costs associated with that may not be what you would want to spend. Some carriers allow you to sign on a truck "part time" but if they buy your plates and furnish you a trailer be sure to talk to them what their min. time out each year is before you buy a rig and sign on the dotted line.

For what its worth I got my first truck with only 10 months on my CDL and didn't have any problems finding a place to run on a 2-3 week out and 1 week home schedule. You can find the companies out there, most are the 80cpm-95cpm range places (plus fsc) tho.

Awesome Floored!!!

[floored]

Awesome Floored!!!

haha is it?

[BanditsCousin]

If you had experience, HHG would work out nicely.

Roehl also has a 7 on, 7 off deal, but I'm not sure if it's for o/o or company.

HTH

[Rev.Vassago]

If you had experience, HHG would work out nicely.

You'll have to explain how.....

[Malaki86]

I just gotta ask: what kind of money are you planning on bringing in on the couple weeks you're planning on running? Leasing a truck definitely isn't cheap.

[BanditsCousin]

You'll have to explain how.....

Pretty vague statement to go on but...

More or less, run short haul or something like the "11 western" (for example) and do a trip out and back. In the summertime, I would do a round in 2 weeks from the Midwest to Calfornia and back. Put 3-4Kin my pocket each way after expenses.

[rigidsporty]

Roehl also has a 7 on, 7 off deal, but I'm not sure if it's for o/o or company.

Company. I looked into it but they said I didnt qualify cause I dont live close enough to a terminal. I guess its slip-seat.

[Orangetxguy]

-

Okay, so I made a stupid post, wondering about Fleece Purchase programs...*slap self*

But I still need to know: is there a way to get on the road, doing long distances, but only part time, as in two weeks a month?

How do-able is the idea of purchasing a truck and then only driving when I want? (I would like to travel by truck, but only part time) Can a guy make his payments and expenses that way?

If only I knew an O/O who wanted more time off and would let me take out his truck every once in a while while he stayed home...

I assume there are no Company Driver casual jobs out there for someone like me who has less than a year experience?

Thanks very much,
Luke

You know.....If you proposed the "Relief Driver" concept to the right company and set of O/O's....you might make some decent $$ and not have to buy or lease a truck to have your time off.

Not a bad idea really...if the truck made good money while you were driving it in "relief".

[rank]

the relief driver idea would work. there have been times when we, and our drivers have needed some short term help. but then he'd need to be available when they needed him.....not when he needed them