Quote:
Originally Posted by BIG JEEP on 44's
When you drive a truck for a company like Swift...you haul the freight they tell you to and where/when it goes...And even in trucking you will purse your lips now and then...And then you have the DOT regs that you follow and can restrict what you make...In short trucking is hardly the free spirited adventure you paint it to be.
Really? When i get a pre-plan, do i not have the choice to accept it or decline it? I might not get to pick and choose where I want to go, but i can choose where i don't. Granted loads have deadlines, etc. But i know this when i get the preplan. And what i plan to do, is get on my DMs good side. I'll start out for the first month busting my tail for him. When he sees that I want to roll....and earn money, he will almost let me pick where i want to go. If a DM has 10 loads, and 2 drivers he KNOWS will get them there, and 15 others who will puzzyfoot, who do you think he will call on first? and pretty sure he will let them pick which ones they want (logisticly speaking).
Your CDL is nothing more than a contractors license. If you show you are willing to work hard, more doors will open for you. Want to start out being hard to work with, or give the impression that you can't go anywhere without mom and dad holding your hand, then you're going to get the crappy loads....if any at all.
As far as the DOT regs, sure they govern how many hours i can drive, etc. But they dont govern how much i make. I get 70 hours to drive in 8 days. I should be able to drive 3500miles in that time if i have the freight available to move. does the DOT rule of 10 minutes to put out my triangles when you breakdown, limit how much i make? no. Me being broke down on the side of the road will though. Next time i get a paystub, ill look for FICA, state tax, and DOT witholding. ;-)
and the point of my post, was saying my 'office' is the open road.....not some 9 by 9 cubicle cluttered with paperwork, and the need to wear slacks and tie.