| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
MikeC
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 10
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:18 pm Post subject: Question for everyone |
|
|
| Would I get more miles driving flatbed, refrigerated, van, or curtainside? home time aside, I'm going with Roehl and would like to get into the area were I would get the most miles. Thanks |
|
| Back to top |
|
Uturn2001
Joined: 10 Jan 2005
Posts: 4623
Location: East Central IL between the corn and the beans
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 8:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Why don't you try to figure out where you would earn the most money instead. |
|
| Back to top |
|
mbadriver
Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 356
Location: I94 Exit 69
|
| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2008 9:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
In flatbed miles don't mean much since you will be running percent of load. Maybe Roehl pays by miles for flatbed, but the norm is % of load, and no pay for deadhead. I started flatbed in february. It's a good gig especially when you get into the oversize stuff.
The way to flatbed is with a smaller carrier that does a lot of oversize. If you are hauling shingles, bricks, and lumber you may as well go van. Same money and less work.
Uturn2001 wrote: Why don't you try to figure out where you would earn the most money instead. |
|
| Back to top |
|
RottsATruckin
Joined: 02 Apr 2007
Posts: 177
Location: Traer IA
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 10:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
I always liked hauling shingles/brick, the loads were low, I could strap just as fast as they could load and IF I had to tarp I could get by using one tarp due to the load only being 25 feet long. (I did get paid by the mile not %)
That being said, I just applied to haul haz-mat tankers locally for about 50K per year and home nightly. :wink: |
|
| Back to top |
|
dle
Joined: 03 Jan 2005
Posts: 731
Location: Texas
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm assuming that you have your cdl and you are going to your first driving job. That's a guess, If I'm wrong tell me.
I have not pulled a flat or curtainside before, so I have no idea. A dry van can only haul non-refrigerated dry-goods. A reefer can haul refrigerated and non-refrigerated loads. Which means that if reefer loads are short they could assign a dry van load.
Talk to the recruiter, find out how many miles you can supposed make in each of those areas. Find out what your pay would be. Do the math to come up with your expected gross. From that take 30-40% off for taxes and insurance, etc etc etc. From the remainder multiply that by 4 to get your expected monthly take home. Can you live on that?
Ok, now for the acid test. Take those miles and reduce them by 40%. Can you live on that? |
|
| Back to top |
|
MikeC
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 10
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 1:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Uturn2001 wrote: Why don't you try to figure out where you would earn the most money instead.
More opportunity for miles, more opportunity for money. It looks great to get .30 mile as opposed to .26. But what if at .26 you get 2500 miles and 900 at .30 which opportunity would you pursue??
It was actually my wife who brought this up. I'm getting ready to start with Roehl and they have all those opportunities. Was just looking for everyones' opinion. |
|
| Back to top |
|
coalregion
Joined: 12 Jan 2005
Posts: 285
Location: NE PA
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
MikeC wrote: Uturn2001 wrote: Why don't you try to figure out where you would earn the most money instead.
More opportunity for miles, more opportunity for money. It looks great to get .30 mile as opposed to .26. But what if at .26 you get 2500 miles and 900 at .30 which opportunity would you pursue??
It was actually my wife who brought this up. I'm getting ready to start with Roehl and they have all those opportunities. Was just looking for everyones' opinion.
Trust me on this. The "most miles" are gonna go to the guy making the least per mile each and every time. They'll run the cheapest earning driver into the ground, if that's what your into..... Kinda like if company A pays you $10 hr but gives you 50 hrs/wk, company b pays $15 hr but only gives 40 hours.Which would you rather work for? Work smarter bro, not harder... :wink: |
|
| Back to top |
|
MikeC
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 10
|
| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 3:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Wow, I didn't realize that. I have exactly zero experience in the business and I am trying to learn what choices would be best so as to make a good living for my family. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Geeeeeezer
Joined: 05 Dec 2004
Posts: 96
Location: North Georgia
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 9:49 am Post subject: |
|
|
Well atleast he didn't ask, "which lease is better?".
That's a few points in his favor right there!!! hehehe |
|
| Back to top |
|
wsyrob
Joined: 05 Aug 2007
Posts: 67
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 12:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Its not always just miles. My last check was about $990 gross. I only had 1600 miles on that check. I pull a tanker for Superior Carriers. There was about 23 hours of demurage pay on that check as well as the sleeper berth pay, loading and unloading pay. I am getting to the point where I hope they are slow loading or unloading me. Chances are I will get the same load despite the delay and I would rather get paid than sit at a terminal a few hours longer. |
|
| Back to top |
|
Mr. Ford95
Joined: 19 Apr 2005
Posts: 1853
Location: Orange, VA
|
| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I might be wrong, but I would think running reefer is the best bet right now. No matter what the economy is, people still need food to survive, there will not be a slowdown there like flats and dry van are seeing. |
|
| Back to top |
|
| |
