My 1st Week as a JBHunt SE Regional Driver

[jonp]

My very first week was during Thanksgiving and we all know how that messes up freight so I won't count it.

Sunday: I delivered in Kissimmee, FL first thing in the morning and DH down to Arcadia to pick-up a load of pallets going back to Jacksonville for Monday morning. 94 mt and 241 loaded miles.

Monday: delivered at 0700 and was sent up to Folkston, GA to load and head up to Cleveland, TN for Tuesday. 42 mt and 398 loaded.

Tuesday: Delivered and then sat for an hour then got a 3 p/u 1 stop load for Wed from Calhoun, GA to Conley, Ga so I drove to Dalton and wasted a day then spent 7 hours the next day getting the 3 stops on and drove down to Conley (Atlanta) and dropped at the customer at 1800 then bobtailed to the yard for the night. 2 days shot for 54 mt and 88 loaded miles.

Thurs: Sat till 0900 then got a load that picked up in Atlanta at 1300 for at Thursday 0700 delivery in Albertville, AL. Burned a whole day for 9 mt and 139 loaded miles

Friday: Delivered at the grocery warehouse at 0630 and was done at 0700 ( I know, they got me in early and took 1/2 to unload me. I still can't believe it). I then sat till 1000 and was sent to Decatur, Al to pick up for Olive Branch delivery that same day. Ran and got the load and dropped at the customer at 1700. 61 mt and 170 loaded miles.

I was then sent a load that picked up on the next monday at midnight for a Wed delivery in Atlanta. That would be 5 days for 500 miles for those of you who are counting. I'm a pretty patient guy but that was enough. I told them what I thought about that idea and they pulled the load. They then sent me a shuttle load that paid $45 and went from the yard in Memphis about 2 miles. This would be on monday morn then I would pick-up a dropped trailer at the yard and head to Lafayette, LA for Tuesday morn. Paid 429 loaded miles. So I sat for the weekend mt in Memphis.

First week: 1,296 miles.

Here's the thing. I was told when I started that I would be out 5 - 5.5 days a week, home on Friday and out Sunday or Monday AM. I would also average 2,000 miles a week. My first week I was stuck out on the weekend and didnt even come close to 2,000. I was also told that I would be home Saturday and out Sunday night/Monday morn.

I knew when I took the job that I wouldnt make as much as I did OTR. Thats a trade-off. Either your on the road and make money or your home more and make less but I couldnt find a good local job here in NC with the economy the way it is so I took what I could find. I might not last the winter at this rate with JB Hunt.

[jonp]

By the way, of the first weeks loads 5 of the trips pay was screwed up. No re-imbursement for scales, no short-haul, no layover, etc... Not impressive and I have to try and get that taken care of on Monday.

[Jumbo]

It was only first two weeks. I do hope that it does pick up for you.

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

My very first week was during Thanksgiving and we all know how that messes up freight so I won't count it.

Sunday: I delivered in Kissimmee, FL first thing in the morning and DH down to Arcadia to pick-up a load of pallets going back to Jacksonville for Monday morning. 94 mt and 241 loaded miles.

Monday: delivered at 0700 and was sent up to Folkston, GA to load and head up to Cleveland, TN for Tuesday. 42 mt and 398 loaded.

Tuesday: Delivered and then sat for an hour then got a 3 p/u 1 stop load for Wed from Calhoun, GA to Conley, Ga so I drove to Dalton and wasted a day then spent 7 hours the next day getting the 3 stops on and drove down to Conley (Atlanta) and dropped at the customer at 1800 then bobtailed to the yard for the night. 2 days shot for 54 mt and 88 loaded miles.

Thurs: Sat till 0900 then got a load that picked up in Atlanta at 1300 for at Thursday 0700 delivery in Albertville, AL. Burned a whole day for 9 mt and 139 loaded miles

Friday: Delivered at the grocery warehouse at 0630 and was done at 0700 ( I know, they got me in early and took 1/2 to unload me. I still can't believe it). I then sat till 1000 and was sent to Decatur, Al to pick up for Olive Branch delivery that same day. Ran and got the load and dropped at the customer at 1700. 61 mt and 170 loaded miles.

I was then sent a load that picked up on the next monday at midnight for a Wed delivery in Atlanta. That would be 5 days for 500 miles for those of you who are counting. I'm a pretty patient guy but that was enough. I told them what I thought about that idea and they pulled the load. They then sent me a shuttle load that paid $45 and went from the yard in Memphis about 2 miles. This would be on monday morn then I would pick-up a dropped trailer at the yard and head to Lafayette, LA for Tuesday morn. Paid 429 loaded miles. So I sat for the weekend mt in Memphis.

First week: 1,296 miles.

Here's the thing. I was told when I started that I would be out 5 - 5.5 days a week, home on Friday and out Sunday or Monday AM. I would also average 2,000 miles a week. My first week I was stuck out on the weekend and didnt even come close to 2,000. I was also told that I would be home Saturday and out Sunday night/Monday morn.

I knew when I took the job that I wouldnt make as much as I did OTR. Thats a trade-off. Either your on the road and make money or your home more and make less but I couldnt find a good local job here in NC with the economy the way it is so I took what I could find. I might not last the winter at this rate with JB Hunt.

But you're not home or making money....


I get 56 hrs a week at 18.00 hr ...This is not the highest paying job ,but it's more than what any of the OTR guys pulling the trailers out of this brewery are making reliably ,And we have Swift,CCC,CRE,Central, And just about every mega carrier except Werner pulling out of here...Infact a guy making 14hr who does 56hrs a week during peak season may-sept and nov-jan makes more than most OTR drivers do reliably...

I think if I am out for even a 5 day week and home for a 34hr restart that I should be earning more than a yard dog who works 8rhs a day on a set shift and home daily ,and certainly more than the warehouse worker...But $450-750 a week with an average of about $600.00 gross are all to common with most big carriers ...Yes there are good mile weeks ,but you can't buy a house or pay monthly bills with the rare 3000k mile week ... I worked in the Coors brewery as a Coors employee years back not a 3rd party contract worker ,and made $22.50 to drive a fork lift ,and Coors is non union ,So these OTR wages are really pathetic for the time/effort put in ,but that's because the OTR company gets hours/days of their drivers lives for free .

[TimberWolf]

Big jeep,
Are you working the Fort Collins Bud Brewery? Coors? or at one of the micro's in Denver? Got to love the drive from Bailey into Denver.....
For one season back in 96 I made the drive from Winter Park to the mouse trap to work at the Regency Hotel, an hour and a half one way and that was if the pass was clear...

Timberwolf

[BIG JEEP on 44's]

Big jeep,
Are you working the Fort Collins Bud Brewery? Coors? or at one of the micro's in Denver? Got to love the drive from Bailey into Denver.....
For one season back in 96 I made the drive from Winter Park to the mouse trap to work at the Regency Hotel, an hour and a half one way and that was if the pass was clear...

Timberwolf

Coors Golden ...I work for their 3rd party contractor...B4 I drove a truck OTR I worked as a forklift operator as a direct Coors employee I made about $22hr doing that, But I was not popular with the one OCD prozac presribed nut job on the shift who made it her lifes work to harass me and constantly defame my character ,Oh and she hit me 4 times on the job ,and on the 4th time I just had it ,and as she drove away on her forklift I said out loud to another employee " I can't beleive this **** ...f-ing crazy lying bit@h I can't take this f-ing lying bit@h's ***** anymore "...Well she heard the b-word and made a big stink about it ,which I admitted to saying ,but she admitted nothing on her end ,So with a new plant manager...ROBIN LUDKE...who was very symathetic to every complaint made by a woman about a man,regardless of truth or facts to support the claims...I was termed,and watched a $50k base pay job get taken away by a POS ass bag who slammed me verbal daily and assaulted me...looking back on it I wish the day she smacked me with her shoe in my face with 2 witness standing there that I would had filed complaint with HR after calling the police ,But that was not my nature then,so I got screwed.

[belpre122]

First week: 1,296 miles.

Here's the thing. I was told when I started that I would be out 5 - 5.5 days a week, home on Friday and out Sunday or Monday AM. I would also average 2,000 miles a week. My first week I was stuck out on the weekend and didnt even come close to 2,000. I was also told that I would be home Saturday and out Sunday night/Monday morn.

I knew when I took the job that I wouldnt make as much as I did OTR. Thats a trade-off. Either your on the road and make money or your home more and make less but I couldnt find a good local job here in NC with the economy the way it is so I took what I could find. I might not last the winter at this rate with JB Hunt.

Yeah, that really sucks jon! This is a prime and shining example of how the industry is evolving to mostly short and medium haul runs, yet the coolie carriers have found it even more profitable to continue paying the CPM scam. In this case jonp hobos around all week away from home for $400.00 to $500.00 a week running shag runs for next to nothing. JB Hunt is among the worst.

Take a good look at the writing on the wall............ Get out sooner rather than later. The only thing you are doing by delaying the inevitable, is running yourself into debt. BOL

[jimjim]

You could always call in and "offer to run a load or two outside of the region" Or maybe not. Things are slow everywhere, not just in the SE. Hate to say it, but it might be best to take what you can get for a couple months and see what happens.

[fireman932003]

I currently work for JB. All I can say is Welcome to JB Hunt! LOL that is typical. You will hardly ever see a week of 2000 miles or more. 1500 is the norm. You will be out till Saturday evening and back out on Monday AM. That was a typical week from what you posted!

[Eightstack]

I'd have to agree with jimjim!! You really ought to consider yourself lucky to even have a job!! I'm leaving the construction business in Florida to go OTR. Figure that one out.....but without house ONE being built anywhere, what else can I do. I think at $500 to $700 a week will at least keep me out of bankruptcy. And like I use to say in construction.....you have to learn to take the bad with the good!!! Hang in there.....something will happen one day....something good hopefully.

Seeeeeeya........

[repete]

I'd have to agree with jimjim!! You really ought to consider yourself lucky to even have a job!! I'm leaving the construction business in Florida to go OTR. Figure that one out.....but without house ONE being built anywhere, what else can I do. I think at $500 to $700 a week will at least keep me out of bankruptcy. And like I use to say in construction.....you have to learn to take the bad with the good!!! Hang in there.....something will happen one day....something good hopefully.

Seeeeeeya........

Ever think about heading to Galveston TX? Building trades are HUGE down there right now, if you can swing a hammer your hired.

[belpre122]

I'd have to agree with jimjim!! You really ought to consider yourself lucky to even have a job!! I'm leaving the construction business in Florida to go OTR. Figure that one out.....but without house ONE being built anywhere, what else can I do. I think at $500 to $700 a week will at least keep me out of bankruptcy. And like I use to say in construction.....you have to learn to take the bad with the good!!! Hang in there.....something will happen one day....something good hopefully.

Seeeeeeya........

Try more like $400.00 to $500.00 if you are to operate like jonp is. Factor in your road expenses ....meals/laundry/coincidentals (of which there are many many in the OTR gig).

I appreciate your positive attitude, but time and experience show me that in short order you will be back here completely frustrated and defeated wondering "how in the hell" am I supposed to make $500.00 a week, and be away from home/family/friends for days/weeks at a time. You will be saying $500.00 is barely enough to cover my personal road expenses! Much less trying to cover all of the responsibilities at home! (which you will NOT see much of anymore). No way Jose! It's a house of cards/Ponzi scheme where these companies run you for for less than minimum wage pay, require you to live in a box for free, expect you to pay for all of your road expenses and treat you worse than you could have ever expected.

Let's see $500.00 for a full week in a JB Hunt hot-box......7 days x 24 hours= 168 hours of your time given to JB Hunt for that $500.00
= $2.97 per hour that you are gone from your home/family living in a truck.

My friend the McDonalds full time Breakfast employee. Works 4AM to 2PM, Monday thru Saturday at $8.00 per hour............
40 x $8.00 hour = $320.00
20 x $12.00 hour = $240.00
Total = $560.00 per week gross.

He shows up for ten hours a day, six days a week, and the biggest stress on his shoulders is whether he put cheese on a biscuit. He is off at 2PM daily to do whatever, whenever and however he wants to do until reporting to work at 4AM the next morning. He has every Sunday off to do as he pleases to include spending that with family. No "under load," no nothing. He is free to do as he pleases. I only use him as an example because he is a former JB Hunt scrub regional driver that saw the light and got out. He even has some benefits from being a MickeyDs full time employee.

So...in the end. $560.00 a week, home every day. Zero stress. Job stability for sure) I will let you guess what his reaction is when asked if he would ever consider going back with a coolie carrier situation like JB Hunt.

The MickeyD's analogy is actually much closer to home than most would like to admit. If I were to lose my local job and was looking at only a scam situation a la JB Hunt, etc. Without thinking about it a second, I would have spatula in hand and be asking the proverbial "fries with that?" before I would go back to coolie carrier OTR trucking.

[Double R]

Belpre122,

When you use this analogy, quit doing this way:

Let's see $500.00 for a full week in a JB Hunt hot-box......7 days x 24 hours= 168 hours of your time given to JB Hunt for that $500.00
= $2.97 per hour that you are gone from your home/family living in a truck.

NOBODY IS PAID TO SLEEP WHEN THEY ARE AWAY FROM HOME. That includes business people who travel weeks at a time for their jobs. They have road expense too. The 24x7 is inaccurate. And yes, I know the BS reply that you come back with about have to babysit the freight and all that.

Yes, MC D's does pay more but the way things are right now, everyone should be happy that they even have a job and at least are getting some kind of money.

[belpre122]

And yes, I know the BS reply that you come back with about have to babysit the freight and all that.

Yes, MC D's does pay more but the way things are right now, everyone should be happy that they even have a job and at least are getting some kind of money.

OK Double R.......we could probably find some common ground. But the "having to babysit the freight and all that" is far, far, far from BS.

BTW..........be back in about 8 or so...........going to bed..........in the bed......in my bedroom.....at my house....

[Double R]

OK Double R.......we could probably find some common ground. But the "having to babysit the freight and all that" is far, far, far from BS.

Agree

[Mike Hunt]

NOBODY IS PAID TO SLEEP WHEN THEY ARE AWAY FROM HOME.

You are wrong sir.

Wal-Mart drivers are paid for their sleeper-berth time. How do I know this? My buddy down the street has worked for them for 20 years. He gets paid right off his electric logbook. So do many other private fleets they pay their guys for sleeper berth time too.

Now consider this: a Wal-Mart driver is paid a fixed rate everytime he drops/hooks a trailer. And here you got these franchise carriers pulling Wal-Mart loads you know your JB's, your Schneiders, your Swifts, etc and these guys get nothing.

Nowadays I man the counter down at the local AM/PM and then I work part-time laying tile for my buddy's handyman biz where I get paid under the table. I'm making the same money I made living out of a truck. I eat better. I sleep better. I live better. I spend quality time with friends and family. And I'm paid better. So I figure this lifestyle of actually having a life and eating good food and excersing and not spending all my time alone behind the wheel of a truck will add more years onto my life. Ain't that sad?

[Double R]

You are wrong sir.

Wal-Mart drivers are paid for their sleeper-berth time. How do I know this? My buddy down the street has worked for them for 20 years. He gets paid right off his electric logbook. So do many other private fleets they pay their guys for sleeper berth time too.

Now consider this: a Wal-Mart driver is paid a fixed rate everytime he drops/hooks a trailer. And here you got these franchise carriers pulling Wal-Mart loads you know your JB's, your Schneiders, your Swifts, etc and these guys get nothing.

Nowadays I man the counter down at the local AM/PM and then I work part-time laying tile for my buddy's handyman biz where I get paid under the table. I'm making the same money I made living out of a truck. I eat better. I sleep better. I live better. I spend quality time with friends and family. And I'm paid better. So I figure this lifestyle of actually having a life and eating good food and excersing and not spending all my time alone behind the wheel of a truck will add more years onto my life. Ain't that sad?

WALMART is a private carrier. There is a BIG difference between PRIVATE carriers and common carriers. I drive for a PRIVATE carrier. Guess I should have said most but then again not everybody on this board is as anal as you. Everyone can't drive for WALMART or get the pay and benefits that they get.

Now consider this: a Wal-Mart driver is paid a fixed rate everytime he drops/hooks a trailer. And here you got these franchise carriers pulling Wal-Mart loads you know your JB's, your Schneiders, your Swifts, etc and these guys get nothing.

Have you ever worked for a common carrier that has trucks DEDICATED to Walmart? If not, then are you sure that they don't? Some common carriers that have dedicated Walmart trucks DO pay the drivers hub miles, D/H pay, backhaul pay, and delay pay.

[fireman932003]

My average pay check AFTER road expenses, taxes and insurance is around 350.00. That sucks for being away from my family and friends. BUT, on the other hand, I do have a job in an economy that is to say the least, lacking in the employment sector! Everyone in my town is on a hiring freeze! No one is hiring. My advise to anyone looking to change jobs right now is you are better off staying where you are at. Now, 350.00 a week is nothing when it comes to truck driving but when you have been in another field for yrs and now there is no work available then it does not seem so bad to only make 350.00. Its better than nothing! Just my 0.02!

[Double R]

My average pay check AFTER road expenses, taxes and insurance is around 350.00. That sucks for being away from my family and friends. BUT, on the other hand, I do have a job in an economy that is to say the least, lacking in the employment sector! Everyone in my town is on a hiring freeze! No one is hiring. My advise to anyone looking to change jobs right now is you are better off staying where you are at. Now, 350.00 a week is nothing when it comes to truck driving but when you have been in another field for yrs and now there is no work available then it does not seem so bad to only make 350.00. Its better than nothing! Just my 0.02!

[Jimbpard]

Yes, MC D's does pay more but the way things are right now, everyone should be happy that they even have a job and at least are getting some kind of money.

Amen!
It would suck BIG TIME to have to look for a job in the Pittsburgh area right now..
I've never seen it this dead in the 3 or so years that I've been looking to get in/been in the industry.