[SoCal79]

So construction trucking is dead and will be for a long time so I figured I would use this opportunity to get away from it. I will be buying a tractor soon just not sure if I should get a sleeper or not. I have one guy in Pheonix who wants me to run from Ontario CA, to Pheonix AZ 3-4 times a week,pays $2,500-$3500 wk. Seems a bit low to me but its all I got so far. Due to the family situation I cant be gone,need to be home every day, thats why I liked Const. trucking 7:00-3:00 nice! If anyone could point me in the right direction as to where to start I would really be greatful. I am a bit uncomfortable about being out of my comfort zone but have to do something.

[pepe4158]

The Phoenix run sonds great for what you need (Id take it just for the steady work )....so your running his trailer?????? So 3 or 4 runs....need specifics to understand if the pays worth it, whats he pay you for one run and iwhats up with the backhaul???, your loaded...right?

[no_worries]

You won't find anything better unless you luck into it. How are you going to be home everyday running phoenix?

[SoCal79]

Yep all his trailers,drop & hook, back haul is either loaded or returning empties to CA. I didnt get into detail on how and what pay is because I have not bought a tractor yet, I need to get something I can eaisily convert into a dump if I need to,my current truck is a 1979 too old to put a fifth on and run to Pheonix. But anyhow running under his authority,he said that the guys doing the CA,AZ thing avg 3-4 trips and have some local work mixed in. I am just looking at it this way, with my dump truck I made about $600 a day burning 30 - 100 gal of fuel a day depending on the job, so about $3k a week. So if I do the same money going to AZ and burning 100+ gallons a day I'll be making less profit. I don't think I will have to be in Phoenix overnight but it will be a really long day, my main concern is no one to watch my son after school and if I am putting 10-12 hrs in a day it will be hard on him,and the whole reason for getting up in the morning is to make his life better.

[SoCal79]

Dumb question but if I have a daycab as opposed to a sleeper truck will that affect my hours of service? Right now in CA local drivers are 14 hrs. on before you run out of time. If I am crossing state lines I'll need to have a log book right?

[allan5oh]

You won't be able to log sleeper berth time obviously.

I don't think you'll be able to do a 8/2 split either.

[tootie04]

You will need a sleeper truck to run AZ. You can only go 150 miles radius local....at least thats what it was in OR for Bo running dump trucks.

tootie

[pepe4158]

you dont need a sleeper, but you DO have to save your motel reciepts. The scales will want to see them and youl get to know people at Banning well LOL ....just save your reciepts cuz the scales there WILL want to see them....logging 12 hours off duty will be enough if you show them your motel recipt from Phoenix........dont want a motel, then you WILL have to get a sleeper truck.

[SoCal79]

I figured I could turn it in like 12 hours but the more I talk to this guy the more of a bumb deal it sounds like. I may be wrong but, 600 mile round trip avg. 5 mpg about 120 gal. @ $3.65 avg. price around here, it seems to me I would be running to pay for the fuel about $450 a day. Am I wrong? I am sure there is trailer rental but not sure if I would pay to run under their authority, It kind of sounds like he cant get people to stay with it for very long. Your thoughts?

[SoCal79]

So yes the Pheonix deal was a bumb deal, the guy actually gave me a few phone #'s of guys who haul for him as references and they said that although he has some good hauls most are way low pay. One broker I spoke with said that when he had a run to Pheonix it paid $1,260 to the truck so this guy is way low. I just kinda want to stay local and be home at a reasonable time but it looks like that is pretty tough to do.