Truck Driving Jobs

TxChristianDude · #1 02-10-2007, 11:15 PM

I read that Knight Transportation offers a program where you are on the road for 4 days, then off for 4 days. What is the salary like for this program? About how much per week can you make? I live only 30 mins from their Katy, Texas location.

Thanks.

crankyazz · #2 02-12-2007, 01:15 AM

ok here you go, back at the beginning of November I also jumped at the 4 day on 4 day off thing. It is called the express fleet. you don't actually have to do 4 on and 4 off. for example... I do mon-friday and am home every weekend usually. Of course right now freight has been a little slow, as this is the case I am somewhat flexible because I do want to make money, so sometimes I don't get home until sat night for example...

as far as money goes, there is no difference. On an average week I average 2500 miles.... sometimes closer to 3,000 sometimes closer to 2200. either way I usually net between $650 and $800 per week.

Knight pays on a sliding scale.. I really do enjoy the freedom to stay out as long as i like and come home when i want. Of course its at the mercy of the freight to get you home.. when freight picks up again its easier to get home.

one con to express fleet is slip seating. however due to the fact that I go out usually every mon-fri my dispatcher let me keep my truck.... overall I enjoy it and find Knight a very good company to work for. the only time i will make a change is when I purchase my own truck and do it on my own authority... other then that I will stay where I am at. I hope this response has been somewhat helpful.

NevadaJim · #3 02-12-2007, 08:14 AM

I also heard of a company that does 7 on 7 off. How does someone make any money if they only drive for half a month on these programs? Are these programs for part-time drivers? It doesn't seem like a driver would make squat taking all those days off.

Smooth · #4 02-12-2007, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crankyazz

ok here you go, back at the beginning of November I also jumped at the 4 day on 4 day off thing. It is called the express fleet. you don't actually have to do 4 on and 4 off. for example... I do mon-friday and am home every weekend usually. Of course right now freight has been a little slow, as this is the case I am somewhat flexible because I do want to make money, so sometimes I don't get home until sat night for example...

as far as money goes, there is no difference. On an average week I average 2500 miles.... sometimes closer to 3,000 sometimes closer to 2200. either way I usually net between $650 and $800 per week.

Knight pays on a sliding scale.. I really do enjoy the freedom to stay out as long as i like and come home when i want. Of course its at the mercy of the freight to get you home.. when freight picks up again its easier to get home.

one con to express fleet is slip seating. however due to the fact that I go out usually every mon-fri my dispatcher let me keep my truck.... overall I enjoy it and find Knight a very good company to work for. the only time i will make a change is when I purchase my own truck and do it on my own authority... other then that I will stay where I am at. I hope this response has been somewhat helpful.

What's the point of a 4on/4off if you are home just every weekend ? 90% of companies offer weekend home time .

As far as 7on/7off . Roehl has it , so does Transport America . You just have to commute to the nearest terminal or share a truck with someone close by . You definately can make good money doing the 7on/7off , almost as much as there 11on/3off program . I did beween 3,000 and 3,700 miles most week at Roehl at .38 cpm . You can do the math on that one , they have trainers that are 7on/7off also , the one I talked to made 42k working half the year , not to bad .

Sheepdancer · #5 02-12-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

I also heard of a company that does 7 on 7 off. How does someone make any money if they only drive for half a month on these programs? Are these programs for part-time drivers? It doesn't seem like a driver would make squat taking all those days off.

I talk to quite a few drivers who have done these 7 days on 7 days off runs, and you are right, they dont make that much money a year. The strange thing is that they dont care that they arent making that much money. They are just happy to get home and get part time work pay. Go figure.

Bigmon · #6 02-12-2007, 03:54 PM

With the off days some people have a local job they go to.

Alan D · #7 02-12-2007, 05:53 PM

Quote:

I talk to quite a few drivers who have done these 7 days on 7 days off runs, and you are right, they dont make that much money a year. The strange thing is that they dont care that they arent making that much money. They are just happy to get home and get part time work pay. Go figure.

Actually there are many, many reasons that these positions are attractive.
Consider the older driver, kids grown up and gone, house paid for, but too young to retire. If he/she still enjoys driving, but not spending 90% of his/her life in a tractor, these are great options. I think these positions are gonna be very popular in years to come. The 7/7 or 4/4 options are in my near term future.
The 10-14 straight days on the road get old, as you get older.

Sheepdancer · #8 02-12-2007, 06:30 PM

I know what you mean...As a recruiter I have no doubt that I could fill those kinds of jobs pretty easy.

Alan D · #9 02-12-2007, 09:33 PM

Quote:

I know what you mean...As a recruiter I have no doubt that I could fill those kinds of jobs pretty easy.

From my POV, the 7/7, /4/4, 4/3, 7/4 & 7/3 positions work for the company as well as the driver. Let's face it, the truck needs to be moving, and it does when slip-seating drivers that aren't that territorial. I understand that historically the VAST majority of drivers want their own dedicated tractor. But that comes with the requirement that it needs to be moving, hence the typical longggg string for tours of duty.

Given the aging of the American work force, and our insatiable appetite for consumer goods, the demand for workers in the shipping business is likely to remain strong.

I don't know the age breakdown in terms of truckers, but I'd hazard a guess that there are hundreds of thousands over the age of 50, and a fair number over the age of 60.

Again, let's face a few facts. Generally speaking, older workers are as a rule very conscientious, less apt to move from job to job, don't have the financial demands and family pressures that many younger folks do.

Im pleased to see companies developing these limited hours/days on the road positions. Moving equipment, and well rested older drivers permitted the enjoyment of a well rounded lifestyle can be a win-win for employer and employee alike. Win-lose and lose-win arrangements will ultimately fail. Perhaps someday, turnover will once again be a bakery product and not trucker speak.

JollyWhiteGiant · #10 02-16-2007, 08:29 PM

I have been running out of the MN terminal with Knight for a little over a month now, so far whenever I need home dispatcher gets me there. Kinda settled on a 10 on then 4 off deal, working out fine for them and me. talk to them the requiters then talk to a coule of the dispatchers. can't speak for other terminals but mine has been working well with me for home time and they knew comming in what I was looking for.