I still think you haul for PEANUTS as a O/O or lease operator , But prove me wrong , And list exactly what you are hauling for per mile ,And all your over head expenses like insurance ,truck payment ,Authority , maintence funds ...and what you are brining home to you not the truck .

 

Homealone3

I agree with your husband, it's not a good idea to jump around. But it doesn't hurt to check around and see what else is out there.

As far as Greatwide goes, it depends what part of the company he was talking to. There are dedicated fleets, over the road fleets, heavy haul, and whatever else. 100% owner operator except for a few shuttle drivers. I get the 2200 miles a week in 5 days because I'm dedicated to a certain group of stores. That's the minimum, sometimes they add a back haul and that pushes my miles up to 2500-2600. Still, about 40% of my miles are empty, and it all pays the same.

Even at the Wal-Mart fleet, it takes a while to get where I am. New contractors start out on a rolling board. Loads are called out twice a day, going down the list of drivers until the loads are covered. You have your choice of loads, if you don't want what's offered, you go to the bottom of the list again. Problem is, it might be 2 days before you come up to pick again. You learn real fast to take whatever load you can. Then you start learning which loads pay best, etc. It takes a while to get used to the system. It's totally different than what most people are used to. But if you're ambitious, you can make good money on the board. Some of the contractors have turned down dedicated packages because they can make more with the board. Some people pick a 200 mile load, 5 times a week, and wonder why they only have 1000 miles.

I hope I've answered your questions!

 

I'm not going to prove that you're wrong, you are actuallly pretty much right. Anyone that leases on to most of the major companies out there is pretty much just buying themselves a job.

But on the other side of the coin, that company provides support in the form of finding loads, taking care of road taxes and permits, and a lot of other little things.

A person can get their own authority, and go out, chase down their loads, try and keep up with mountains of paperwork, run empty from Denver Chicago out of their own pocket. Yes, a person can make some really good money in trucking, but a lot of guys lose their butts.

After all the dust is clear, I make about 50 cents a mile, I have more freedom than a company driver, and most of the crap I hate to deal with is taken care of by Greatwide.

I'd rather have a secure 50 cents a mile than go through risk and hassle to make 70 or 80, maybe a buck.

Just the way I see it, others may not agree.

 

So you clear 50 cents a mile after all your payments ...that's not bad what I see most guys at the big companies clearing is more like 25-30 cents and taking home about 650-700 gross from 2700 miles ...what is your truck payment like ...If I could get with a good company that would allow me to make .50 cents to the driver I would be driving a nice 387 or T-2000 of my own .

 

That's more than my hubby makes! He works side by side with Greatwide drivers delivering to Wal-marts and he doesn't get 2 days a week off!
He's company driver and the lease operators get the lion's share and the pick of the litter when it comes to loads.
He wants to get 2 yrs experience driving before he looks around for a better company. 6 more months and hopefully he will get on with a better company.
Wish us luck!

 

BigJeep on 44s

My truck payment is $1400 a month. I'd rather have it around $1000. But it'll be paid off a year from now. I don't see how a person can make it with some of the truck payments that are being charged out there.

To do well, you have to really watch expenses, especially fuel. Being home nearly every night saves me a fortune on fuel, since I'm not idling. My MPG averages 7.5, because I'm not idling, and because I run a lot of empty miles.

You take a truck payment that's $1000 more than mine, plus a 5 mpg fuel average, you'll end up back down to making the same or less than a company driver.

I'd like a T-2000 or a 387 myself, but doing what I do, my IHC 9900I with the short sleeper is more practical. Some of those Wal-Mart stores have a lot of crap out back!

 

Being home near nightly sure would off set your operating costs .

 

I appreciate your coming on and sharing with us DSLdriver. I thank you for all your comments, its good to hear both sides. You are right I do not see as many GW's as I did last week. But by far the truest statment you made was Well I take that back, I would replace "some of those", all are bad some worse than others. Thanks again

 

No problem, Okie!

I was with Crete for three years before I moved to CRL/Greatwide. I'd still be there, but I needed to stay closer to home due to my wife's medical conditions. If I ever went back over the road, that's the first place I'd apply.