WHY WORK FOR A OTR COMPANY GO LTL
#101
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Northern NV
Posts: 707
Originally Posted by Smooth
Yeah , some people don't get it . There are 415 road drivers where I work , the top 200 have been there 10 years or more , that should say enough about the job itself . The thing is it's more the the .54 cpm , it's the $22 an hour where you make money to , guys rountinely get 10 or 20 hours a week on the clock either waiting on loads , broke down , sitting at a hotel or doing a drop and hook . But you don't have to believe any of this but I'm just stating a few more facts that all the other LTL guys can confirm. From my barn in Reno the "best" run on straight mileage is meet & turn for Salt Lake City for 528 miles. But going to Oakland (432 mi) and getting 3-4 hrs of dock is the biggest money maker.
#102
I have 28 years seniority with Brown. I run a Phoenix/Tucson combo bid. I work 4 days per week. I only work OT when I want to as I have enough time in that usually I'll pass on it. I average 75K a year. There are people at UPS that make more, I'm sure, but 90K would have to be a severe "clock milker" where I work. And those guys usually get fired....I feel what I make is more than fair and I have put in my time (and my sweat) to get to that rate. If I wanted or needed more money, I'd volunteer for OT runs, but I'm just too da#n old to be greedy anymore....
__________________
"What did BROWN do TO ME ?????
#103
Originally Posted by Ian Williams
Originally Posted by Smooth
Yeah , some people don't get it . There are 415 road drivers where I work , the top 200 have been there 10 years or more , that should say enough about the job itself . The thing is it's more the the .54 cpm , it's the $22 an hour where you make money to , guys rountinely get 10 or 20 hours a week on the clock either waiting on loads , broke down , sitting at a hotel or doing a drop and hook . But you don't have to believe any of this but I'm just stating a few more facts that all the other LTL guys can confirm. From my barn in Reno the "best" run on straight mileage is meet & turn for Salt Lake City for 528 miles. But going to Oakland (432 mi) and getting 3-4 hrs of dock is the biggest money maker. You can work the dock as long as you want, you just cant drive again untill you have 10 hrs off!
__________________
#104
Originally Posted by DRIVERMAN77077
WHY WOULD ANYONE WORK FOR ONE OF THOSE CHEAP OTR COMPANIES LIKE USA WERNER SWIFT OR JB HUNT THAT ONLY PAY AROUND 30 CENTS A MILE? WHY NOT GET A HAZMAT AND DOUBLES ENDORSEMENTS AND GO TO SAIA AAA COOPER FED EX FREIGHT COMPANYS THAT PAY 42 TO 52 CENTS A MILE OR DO YOU GUYS LIKE TO WORK LIKE ILLEGAL ALIENS :twisted: :evil: :P
#105
Board Regular
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
Posts: 209
I thought the way the per diem worked was that they would take the .13 from your base of .43 and tax you on the .30, then reinburse you for the .13 or as some companies steal .02 from you, only .11 back tax free. No?
Sorry if I'm wrong, but that's how it was at my company. Have a safe trip.
#107
Rookie
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 37
Originally Posted by ssoutlaw
Originally Posted by Ian Williams
Originally Posted by Smooth
Yeah , some people don't get it . There are 415 road drivers where I work , the top 200 have been there 10 years or more , that should say enough about the job itself . The thing is it's more the the .54 cpm , it's the $22 an hour where you make money to , guys rountinely get 10 or 20 hours a week on the clock either waiting on loads , broke down , sitting at a hotel or doing a drop and hook . But you don't have to believe any of this but I'm just stating a few more facts that all the other LTL guys can confirm. From my barn in Reno the "best" run on straight mileage is meet & turn for Salt Lake City for 528 miles. But going to Oakland (432 mi) and getting 3-4 hrs of dock is the biggest money maker. You can work the dock as long as you want, you just cant drive again untill you have 10 hrs off!
#108
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: In the bunker
Posts: 2,676
Originally Posted by DRIVERMAN77077
WHY WOULD ANYONE WORK FOR ONE OF THOSE CHEAP OTR COMPANIES LIKE USA WERNER SWIFT OR JB HUNT THAT ONLY PAY AROUND 30 CENTS A MILE? WHY NOT GET A HAZMAT AND DOUBLES ENDORSEMENTS AND GO TO SAIA AAA COOPER FED EX FREIGHT COMPANYS THAT PAY 42 TO 52 CENTS A MILE OR DO YOU GUYS LIKE TO WORK LIKE ILLEGAL ALIENS :twisted: :evil: :P
Fist thing lose the caps, second thing, did you ever hear of different stokes for different folks. :roll: Not everybody likes the same things, and you got to get your start somewhere. :wink:
__________________
#109
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Sulphur Springs, TX
Posts: 528
I had my start several years ago and am back on the road again. Currently I'm being courted by Southeastern and FedEx LTL, but I just enjoy what I'm doing now too much. It's technically OTR, but I pretty much only run four states, Texas more often than not and am home every weekend, all weekend. But I don't have a family so I don't really care about being home every day. I have most of the comforts of home in the truck and I know what LTL trucking is all about. I don't know... Maybe someday I'll go LTL, but for now I'm happy doing what I'm doing. And I love my black Pete! No LTL company I know of runs 379 Petes so that really rules it all out for me. 8)
__________________
CPFR: Certified Professional Freight Relocator
#110
Well, I do know of a tanker company that runs 379's...but they ARE daycabs, so i don't think that counts!
![]() I like my OTR gig, because I can sit and STILL make money Plus, my layovers are always in big cities and I get out of the truck more than freight haulers (generally) do.Higher cpm doesn't mean squat if the miles aren't there. Its all a balance, or for some, OTR is a starting point. I do agree that clearing 6-700 bucks a week OTR is horscrap.
__________________
Mud, sweat, and gears |


