[Ghost_Rider]

Here it is, I have been hired by a driver leasing company (Transforce). the gentleman from transforce calls me about a job that they need to fill, the job meets the criteria that I mentioned I was looking for. I ask for a regional driving position. I am willing to travel a little bit, for a weekly run. Job that stays out for 5 days, home on weekends. He told me about this run because he was told it was a Monday thru Friday run. Fits don't it.

Now I show-up for the run, the company tells me it is a slip seated run, one driver drives, completes one run, then the other driver gets in the truck and does another run. Now it is a 6 day run not 5 day run, I can get 3 runs in a week. Now the money is good but I have to travel 70+ miles to get to the truck, I have figured out that the cost for travel is $120 a week or so.

My beef on this job is, the cost of travel to the job. I have to drive there, run the run, then drive home. Then I have to do it all over again. This run would be great if I lived locally to the terminal.

There is a 24 hour turn around for this run, looks like they need 6 runs a week, I could do it myself and do 5 runs a week, I would need the weekend for the 34 reset.

Should I continue to seek a better run?

[BanditsCousin]

AS long as the other driver doesn't have pets or is a slob, why not?

Its a dedicated job (more or less) to get you home on the weekends, For me, that wouldn't work, because I am in the truck at all times and have wayy too much paperwork (hhg moving forms of EVERY type), tools, etc All in all, I have too much crap when OTR.

For a guy only taking 5 days worth of stuff, it shouldn't be an issue. What kind of freight is it?

[Ghost_Rider]

The run is with Toys-r-Us. So the freight is toys, games, and other TRU items. My concern is the cost to get there and back. I'll only be able to pull 3 loads a week, with it costing me $120 in gas a week to travel there and back. These loads are drop-n-hook, no touch freight.

To make it easy to understand I drive 3 times in 6 days.

OK, lets say I make $250 per round trip, there and back, times 3 round trips.

250x3=$750
Gas= $120
Total= $650 per week after expenses to get there.

This run isn't permanent either, so it will probably last till after Christmas.

[BigDawg]

AS long as the other driver doesn't have pets or is a slob

be my luck i would get the truck that the other driver had a pet and craps all over the place,or is a big fat slob and leaves his food containers all over the floor where you can't even see the interior and it smells of crap and and rotten food also a funky azzed driver No Thanx.

[BanditsCousin]

If you make $750, after tax you make?? The subtract $120 in gas, so its less than 650/week!

Why is it $120 in gas? How many miles and what vehicle are you using to make the trek?

[Ghost_Rider]

It is $120 a week in gas: 2000 Chrysler Voyager uses 1/4 tank to get there, 20 gallon tank.

Trip is 72 miles.

The amount I put in the last post was before taxes.

At today's gas prices, $2.09 a gallon, 20 gallons = $41.00 per tank.

Every two days I have to fill the tank.

[traveler15301]

You are in Cheswick, where do you have to go that is 72 miles away??
Like Youngstown, OH or so. You have many options if you do not mind slip seating.

First things first, make sure you and the other driver can share a truck....like eveyone else said, smoking, cleanliness the pet issue all come to mind. Also realise you both will be driving the same truck and if either (or both of you) are a "HOE" (Hard On Equipment) then the company will want to blame someone. That is another disadvantage of slip seating. Frequently, if one driver breaks something and the company gets peeved there is a bunch of finger pointing and we play "who shot John". Almost like driving team, you must know, like (well, at least tolerate), trust and be able to work with your partner or it will just never work.

As for your "commuting" problem you have choices to make.
See if it is possible, depending on the runs & times of course to maybe have the other driver pick you up and drop you off somewhere other than all the way to the terminal on his way back...it will all depend on the circumstances.
You could also consider relocating, again, your circumstances will determine this for you.
Another option is to get a little "beater" just for your commute. This way you do not rack up the miles on your nice ride, save money on fuel and leave your nice car at home for the wife (significant other, or whatever)
Personally, I once had a non-trucking job that was over 100 miles away. I picked up an old Geo Metro (still the mileage champ at over 50 mpg highway) for $250. The thing ran like a little raped ape (well, more like a raped chimp!!!), hardly ever broke down even with 150,000 miles on it, and when it did, it was cheap and easy to fix.

I am sure whatever you do you will figure something out.
It takes a special kind of person to be a trucker. We all are creative, ingenious and very flexible in out thinking. It is the only way we can survive the myriad of crazy situations we are forced to encounter.

If you still want something esle pm me. I am in Washington, PA and have many contacts around here and know some people who are alwys looking for drivers.

[BanditsCousin]

If its 1/4 tank 1 way at 72 mi, then its 144 miles round trip, which must be done 3x a week?

1/2 tank X 20 gal = 10 gallons

10 gallons at $2.25 = $22.50

3 trips a week at $22.50 = $67.50, nearly 1/2 what you estimated.

If 72 miles takes 1/4 tank, thats 5 gal or 14.4 mpg, which is way under what my buddy gets in the 91 Grand Caravan

This isn't a who's right or wrong, but rather a new way to look at your weekly expenses. I calculate the tollways to my agent and the fuel involved as part of my weekly expenses too.

I guess the question is, after you figure out your slip seating issue, is:
is this job worth $70/wk out of pocket? :wink:

[Double R]

ghost_rider you have a PM

[jjh1001]

I slip seat daily and while its not the best situation in the world its tolerable.. the only thing i get annoyed by is always trying to get the seat back how i like it, but the person i slip seat with is pretty good about fueling the truck etc.