Just thought I'd get some crap off my mind as far as being a company driver (this is directed to those in charge of those trucks):

As a company driver, we're at the mercy of what the company provides us, whether it's trucks, trailers, loads, whatever. We have no control over this. YOU do.

If you're going to complain to me about my truck only getting 5mpg, then stop putting 45,000lb loads on me that only go across the mountains in WV, MD, PA, VA, KY and TN. The truck weighs 80,000lbs loaded with a 12 liter engine - it's not a damn Prius. With a 5,000lb load going from Indianapolis to El Paso, I can get 7.5-8mpg. You don't put me on those loads, so stop complaining.

If you're going to complain to me about my idle time then do something about it. You can put me in a motel every night or you can put an APU on the truck. Until that happens, then I'm going to idle the truck anytime I feel the need to have heat or A/C when I'm trying to sleep.

If you're going to complain to me about only getting fuel at our terminal, then have more than one terminal. The truck holds 210 gallons of fuel and gets 5mpg. If I run 2,700 miles in a week and not at the terminal through the week at all, where do you think I'm going to get fuel? I've yet to see a magical fuel ferry flying around making deliveries.

Here Here brotha.

I'll 3rd that!

These the same one's that jumped on you for filling up at 1 location when an hour away it was 1 penny cheaper? As any of us with a brain knows, driving that extra distance to save 1 penny over a tank of fuel is silly. The difference works out to what, maybe $2.

The last 2 times I came into the terminal and fueled up, I had 10-15 gallons of fuel in the truck. That's WELL below my comfort zone. I like to keep a minimum of 1/4 tank in it at the very least.

mal might be time for you to go O/O. your smart enough to do it thats for sure!

The problem is that I've looked into buying a truck multiple times. When I figured up the income vs expenses, it usually works out that I would make almost the same money as an o/o but with the added "benefits" of having to deal with the extra issues that come with owning the truck, such as breakdowns, added paperwork, etc.

You need a desk job

Sounds like a good idea. But, where is the gearshift?

what i've found out is. if you stay on top of the paperwork it only takes 10-15 min a day. if you are organized fuel tax and stuff is a breeze!

The bad part about buying a truck is trying to come up with the money to do it. I've had anything but good luck this year in regards to my income - it all started the end of last year when Celadon's miles dropped in half (while they were constantly buying companies). Since then, yuck. Because of that, I'm so far in debt right now I'm wondering how I'm going to pay the bills this month, let alone save up enough for a down-payment on a truck. I honestly wouldn't even consider it until I wipe out another $10k of my debt, at the very least. I know I could go to companies that do the fleece deals, but I'm definitely not that stupid or hard up.