I'm doing a little research and would like to ask about 10 questions relevant to you first yr drivers. The research isn't for any publication or anything like that, it's for my own "note-2-self" project I'm currently working on and pertains to first year drivers only at this time.

How 'bout we keep this pretty simple:

1) If you're grossing $45k a yr as a first yr driver, did you go to a truck driving school? YES or NO

2) Multiple choice question...You drive OTR, Regional or Local?

3) Do you primarily run NE, SE, SW, NW, Midwest or elsewhere?

4) How many miles per week do you drive on average? If you're paid by the hour, how many hours per week are you paid to drive?

5) How often do you get home? For how long?

6) What kind of product(s) do you generally haul?

7) How many trucks does your company have?

8) Would you recommend your company to another driver? (assuming your a happy camper)

9) If you could have any driving job in the transportation industry, what would it be?

10) If you were asked to answer some questions about your job and the trucking industry in front of a mixed panel of students, professionals, educators and blue collar individuals, what would you say about the industry if you had to sum it up in one sentence? Good, bad, love it, hate it, it sucks, you take alot of pride in it, you'd quit if you could, stay in school, be a doctor instead, ....whatever. Let 'er rip.

Thx for your time and happy trails!

 

1) If you're grossing $45k a yr as a first yr driver, did you go to a truck driving school? YES or NO

Yes

2) Multiple choice question...You drive OTR, Regional or Local?

Well, I just came off a route where I would make a couple of local pick-ups, come back, unload, get loaded and head to Columbus, OH and back. This was a mon-fri route home every night. I just started a team run this week going from Indy to Hanover, PA to Langhorne, PA and back to Indy. This route begins Wed. morning, get back Thurs. morning, leave again Fri. morning, get back Sat. morning. Then off the rest of Sat, Sun Mon, and Tues.

3) Do you primarily run NE, SE, SW, NW, Midwest or elsewhere?

See answer to question 2.

4) How many miles per week do you drive on average? If you're paid by the hour, how many hours per week are you paid to drive?

This new route the way it is currently configured will pay me about 60 hours per week.

5) How often do you get home? For how long?

Off Thurs. morning to Friday morning. Off Saturday morning, through next Wed. when the run starts all over again.

6) What kind of product(s) do you generally haul?

U.S. Mail

7) How many trucks does your company have?

We have 9 tractors at our Indianapolis, IN facility.

8) Would you recommend your company to another driver? (assuming your a happy camper)

Yes

9) If you could have any driving job in the transportation industry, what would it be?

IMHO the best driving job out there would have to be a feeder driver for UPS.

10) If you were asked to answer some questions about your job and the trucking industry in front of a mixed panel of students, professionals, educators and blue collar individuals, what would you say about the industry if you had to sum it up in one sentence? Good, bad, love it, hate it, it sucks, you take alot of pride in it, you'd quit if you could, stay in school, be a doctor instead, ....whatever. Let 'er rip.

In one sentence... This is the one American industry that cannot be sent overseas, so as long as you keep your nose clean you'll always be able to provide a decent living for your family.

 

Mail hauling is a good gig. I do it part-time on Sundays because the guy who runs Mon-Sat burns out his hours for the week and they need a guy with fresh hours.

The best thing about hauling mail is that there's none of that OTR mileage pay garbage. It's all HOURLY. You still run a logbook but it's like a meter in a taxicab...whatever you put on line 3 or 4, you get paid. Stuck in traffic? Paid. Weather? Paid. Breakdown? Paid. Fuel the truck? Paid. Waiting at the sorting facility? Paid. You can go 50 mph or 60 mph and make more going at 50 mph...the complete reverse of OTR c00lie trucking.

I work one day a week and take home $250.00. That's $12,500 per year in my pocket that I salt away into savings.

 

1) If you're grossing $45k a yr as a first yr driver, did you go to a truck driving school? YES or NO

Yes (PTDI Cert Prog w/ all avail endorsements)

2) Multiple choice question...You drive OTR, Regional or Local?

Regional

3) Do you primarily run NE, SE, SW, NW, Midwest or elsewhere?

My Terminal: Central TX - south & east primarily w/ some nifty money-makin' dodges, Central OK +- w/southeast, AR southwest, Louisiana west o I49

4) How many miles per week do you drive on average?

Hi avg: 2400 Lo avg: 1800 All miles paid same. Flat rate for local runs, (which can add up fast)

5) How often do you get home? For how long?

Weekends off. Industry Std: From Fr nite/ Sa AM to Su takeoff for Mo AM delivery point.

6) What kind of product(s) do you generally haul?

Building mat'ls, steel wire coil

7) How many trucks does your company have?

650 +-

8 ) Would you recommend your company to another driver? (assuming your a happy camper)

Recommendation would be based on more lengthy interview of potential candidate first.

9) If you could have any driving job in the transportation industry, what would it be?

Seriously, I don't have all the info I need to answer that one with any alacrity...

10) If you were asked to answer some questions about your job and the trucking industry in front of a mixed panel of students, professionals, educators and blue collar individuals, what would you say about the industry if you had to sum it up in one sentence?

"This industry is no different from any other, really... all have their advantages and disadvantages.. and all require some research followed by some Soul Search before an individual can make any worthwhile decisions as to what's right for them - and what probably won't work if you use any sort of realistic approach to your decision making process as goes career choices."
:wink:

 

you are right mail hauling is just as good as ups or the other ltl companies. i make 22.26 an hr and i drive a straight truck. I work 5 days a week but i can work a six day if i want to but i know the relief driver like a brother and he wants that one day so i let him work it. when christmas rolls around we work six or seven days sometime this is when you can make some serius money mail hauling pays every single holiday it is (10). when one driver goes on vacation the other drivers have the option to keep on working or let the relief drivers work the other hours. I made a little over 55,000 thousand last year and i was home every day no over the road. you get paid for every single thing you do while on the truck even taken it to the shop or picking up a rental. i have been driving for 19 yrs and this is my retirement job right here. if you are a rookie it may be possible that you can get on without experience but the company i drive for wants two years over the road even for straight truck jobs. 55,000 may not sound like a lot to some guys but for me it is well enough for me to pay my mortgage and truck payment with. those are the only bills i have my wife pays the other ones.

 

Diesel Power, I take it you are an O/O if you have a truck payment to make??? or are you talking about your personal PU? My wife's first hubby was a driver and when I talk to her about my desire to become one, she tells me that getting on with the company that hauls the mail is the way to go. I've never made $50K in my life and have been working since 1-77, so to this man $55K sounds pretty gosh darn good. Any ideas how to get info on the companies working for the post office in a major area, as I live just north of Columbus, OH.

Thanks

 

hello. i am not an o/o i am a company driver. i meant my personal pickup. you can try mail contractors of america they have a web page and so does pat salmon and son those are like the big ones out here. the company i drive for has just over 200 tractors. you may have to start at the bottom and work your way up but you can still make good money. one of our relief drivers made right at 45,000 last year keep in mind he is a relief driver. he doesn't work a full schedule just when other drivers are off he works their off days. i am on pace to make over 55,000 this year because the contract renewed and we got a raise. the work is to easy it is all rolling carts and pallet most put on the trailer with a forklift by a post office worker contractors are not allowed to use post office equipment. i go to 2 post offices unload and reload and the same process at the other one and head back to my starting post office then unload do my post trip and off the clock. you can send me a message or something and i will give you my companies name and see if we contracts in your area. they don't hire off the street anymore they let the drivers know when a run is open and you can bid on it are let someone know about the opening.

 

hello. i am not an o/o i am a company driver. i meant my personal pickup. you can try mail contractors of america they have a web page and so does pat salmon and son those are like the big ones out here. the company i drive for has just over 200 tractors. you may have to start at the bottom and work your way up but you can still make good money. one of our relief drivers made right at 45,000 last year keep in mind he is a relief driver. he doesn't work a full schedule just when other drivers are off he works their off days. i am on pace to make over 55,000 this year because the contract renewed and we got a raise. the work is to easy it is all rolling carts and pallet most put on the trailer with a forklift by a post office worker contractors are not allowed to use post office equipment. i go to 2 post offices unload and reload and the same process at the other one and head back to my starting post office then unload do my post trip and off the clock. you can send me a message or something and i will give you my companies name and see if we contracts in your area. they don't hire off the street anymore they let the drivers know when a run is open and you can bid on it are let someone know about the opening.

 

Diesel,
Appreciate the info and unfortunately I can only reply to PMs and can not initiate one yet, as not enough posts I guess. I just want to drive and the sooner the better. Yes I have a family who, just like everyone else, I would like to see each and every night, but that still doesn't mean that I don't want to be driving as my career. My Mrs' ex drove roll-offs here in the Central OH area and then got hooked up with Ashland Chemical. So she is up on the subject of driving and has given me some good advise. She also has told me that once you have a CDL, that you can even find good driving jobs without having to hit the OTR time.
All I know is that I want to get my CDL and I want to find a good paying, good hometime, driving job. I don't mind long hours, I don't mind working outside, (I actually love being outside in all weather.) Just pay me a decent wage for my efforts, give me benefits for my family, and give me the chance to see them often, or at least regularly, and that company will get a hell of a great driver......

I need to find a company willing to give me a break into this industry... As. I'll Make Them PROUD....

 

1) If you're grossing $45k a yr as a first yr driver, did you go to a truck driving school? YES

2) Multiple choice question...You drive OTR, Regional or Local? OTR

3) Do you primarily run NE, SE, SW, NW, Midwest or elsewhere?

NE,SE,Central

4) How many miles per week do you drive on average? 2,700

5) How often do you get home? For how long?

every 5-6 weeks for 2-3 days. thats by choice

6) What kind of product(s) do you generally haul?

anything 53' dry van

7) How many trucks does your company have?

2,500 OTR many thousands LTL

Would you recommend your company to another driver? (assuming your a happy camper)

Yes for the right person

9) If you could have any driving job in the transportation industry, what would it be?

well a first year can't have any job but maybe i would do a dedicated run with a couple days off a year

10) If you were asked to answer some questions about your job and the trucking industry in front of a mixed panel of students, professionals, educators and blue collar individuals, what would you say about the industry if you had to sum it up in one sentence?

Thats hard... I enjoy it but I know it is not for everyone. it can be mind numbing. I wont give you any illusions, there is many reasons why the turn over is so high.