Truck Driving Jobs

gbtrucker · #41 10-20-2007, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CB JR.

Truth hurts old man.

I may be old you younster but least I am over 13 and allowed on this board.

zipy46 · #42 10-21-2007, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad M

Watkins/Shepard expects their new drivers to drive 10,000 miles a month or more and get up to averaging 12,000 miles a month with experience.

This is odd....I have run into this mileage thing during several chats with recruiters.

I have talked to a company that also 'Requires' the driver get 11K

minimum per month.(no big deal right?)

What confusing is why are they telling the driver applicant this ??

If the company is that effecient in their dispatch systems then they should be able to dispatch the driver legally from the QualComm
and the miles will happen.(be it 10,11,12K etc)

Dispatch is generally one of the weakest links in a trucking company...they are at the mercy of the shipper and the factory production lines.
Shippers dont have log books.

It keeps throwing me off when its presented as 'my' responsibility to
make them XX K a month.

Something smell fishy

Oh well :roll:

RottsATruckin · #43 10-21-2007, 10:32 PM

Well, I think its best described this way (or not)
As a new driver you’ll be fairly inefficient with your time, you’ll drive slower, stop more, arrive at shippers/receivers early or late, get lost, make wrong turns, run out of hours etc. Your dispatcher only knows about the hours you have available by what you qualcomm them, not when you have those hours available. As you gain experience you’ll know if you can make a certain load on time or not, you may even be able to shave several hours off of your time to get there based upon when you begin your day or when you pass through large metro areas. I had a dispatcher tell me “start your 10 hour break now, then drive from 1am until you get to the drop at 7am” I told her to KMA (it did happen, once) I am in charge of when this truck rolls and only then if it’s safe to do so.
Some of these dispatchers have never driven before, they’re clueless about life on the road and they (the good ones) will trust in your judgment to maximize your productivity.
With experience they will “push” you to drive more miles in shorter periods of time, it’s up to you to let them know what you’re comfortable doing, I know some drivers who only drive 8-9 hours per day, I prefer to max mine out, some drive at night, I prefer the day. I don’t think they care how we get there, as long as we arrive on time and safe.

Goin Fer It · #44 10-21-2007, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RottsATruckin

Well, I think its best described this way (or not)
As a new driver you’ll be fairly inefficient with your time, you’ll drive slower, stop more, arrive at shippers/receivers early or late, get lost, make wrong turns, run out of hours etc. Your dispatcher only knows about the hours you have available by what you qualcomm them, not when you have those hours available. As you gain experience you’ll know if you can make a certain load on time or not, you may even be able to shave several hours off of your time to get there based upon when you begin your day or when you pass through large metro areas. I had a dispatcher tell me “start your 10 hour break now, then drive from 1am until you get to the drop at 7am” I told her to KMA (it did happen, once) I am in charge of when this truck rolls and only then if it’s safe to do so.
Some of these dispatchers have never driven before, they’re clueless about life on the road and they (the good ones) will trust in your judgment to maximize your productivity.
With experience they will “push” you to drive more miles in shorter periods of time, it’s up to you to let them know what you’re comfortable doing, I know some drivers who only drive 8-9 hours per day, I prefer to max mine out, some drive at night, I prefer the day. I don’t think they care how we get there, as long as we arrive on time and safe.

Hey Rotts,

It is great to see you are still around and doing well. Did the dogs ever get to go out with you?

Glad you still like W&S! You sound like a pro now! It is funny how fast you learn in this business.

Goin Fer It's Wife