*Deleted and reposted*

I just wanted to give a +1 to Cyanide for all the great info.
a lot of people are just terrified of a tanker, and if i only talked to them i'd only drive a dry van.
But all the great input has opened me up to other options and possibilities in the trucking industry.

I pulled an orange box for just under 2 years, and I recently got a call from a chemical and waste tanker company with a local terminal. when I had to make a decision, i had a well thought out pro/con list that allowed me to accept the offer.

I think it's going to be a really good move and a great experience hauling chemicals. I've been with the company for about a week, and monday i'm set up to take a tank to the washout on my first solo run.

So far it all seems pretty straightforward. I think i'm a little anxious to get in the saddle, but i don't want to rush them. My new boss seems to be a bit tightly-wound.

But I wouldn't have made the move without all the great info on this board and all of Cy's prolific postings.

All I can say is don't fear the tanker.

Thanks Phreddo!

Please keep us posted on how things go for you there. If only more drivers shared your view regardless if they try tanks or not.. People build up this huge, terrifying fear of tankers without ever giving it a try due to hearsay and preconceived notions of how dangerous it is. I hope you find this to your enjoyment once you're solo, and that it is all you expect of it. BTW, who'd ya go with up there? Be safe and have fun!

:wink:

Dadgum slack-azz corn syrup transporter...
 

A little bit of info now concerning Carry Transit (and not all of it good, depending upon how you view it). Was told earlier in the week that Carry may be implementing a hiring freeze at several terminals very soon until further notice. It seems for the time being that just about all of their trucks are filled at certain yards. :shock:

And another note: Baby Bullseye and I went through all of her paperwork from last year and in a nutshell, she made some pretty decent change for the amount of work she did (or rather lack thereof).....just at $36,000 gross and, with 132 days off! I will admit though that unfortunately, almost five weeks of that said time off was due to two separate family emergencies. However, she was given no grief whatsoever being able to take that amount of time off to care for family needs.

She wanted me to pass along a warm "Hello" to everyone and as soon as she can get the time, she'll be stopping by to drop in on all the rest of us slackers again. Also, I'll be (occasionally) posting her numbers as I have done with mine. I can tell you this much for now though, up to May 11, 2008 she was at $15,871.86 gross and with 39 days off (according to her, her average week is around 1,900 miles and, since I share the time with her, home every weekend). I do have several of her settlement sheets here now, and I will share the basics of them (after being granted permission) :roll:. Please note these are varied by date between July 22, 2007 through May 11, 2008, and also that the lower pay weeks were during time off being taken. What, did you think that I'm the only one who slacks all of the time! :lol: :lol: :lol:

Gross: $497.30-----Miles: 1,335-----Avg.: .372/mile
Gross: $920.40-----Miles: 2,264-----Avg.: .406/mile
Gross:$1,461.80----Miles: 2,296-----Avg.: .636/mile
Gross: $720.00-----Miles: 320-------Avg.:$2.215/mile (No, that's not a misprint!)
Gross: $630.56-----Miles: 1,405-----Avg.: .448/mile
Gross: $481.80-----Miles: 993-------Avg.: .485/mile
Gross: $983.20-----Miles: 2,281-----Avg.: .431/mile
Gross: $539.90-----Miles: 1,314-----Avg.: .410/mile
Gross: $684.95-----Miles: 1,518-----Avg.: .451/mile
Gross:$1,092.60----Miles 2,255-----Avg.: .484/mile

Not too shabby considering that I dare say almost 95% of the loads she does are out-and-back, half loaded, half empty which would make her base mileage rate .35/mile (.40 loaded, .30 empty). Remember as well, she also runs more regionally in nature, whereas a true system driver (O.T.R.) will turn more miles and bounce between the company's terminal network wherever for loads much like Superior drivers. However, Carry drivers unload almost 100% of the products they transport, unlike Superior where the customer does much of it.

Finally, I'll refresh a point that I and others have made on here and on other boards over the years, accessory pay adds up and makes it nice when you don't have to worry about how many miles you can cram into a week! So I call bullschitt on any driver who says you can't make a good living turning lower miles, especially when you get paid for other job-related tasks. More to come later from this side of the "Superior" house..... Time to go swimming, see "Iron Man" (again), and barbeque. Y'all have a great weekend!

:wink:

10-fo on that.

You have my truck number, just look for me. I think I will be working local next week-Thursday, as I have a flight to catch on Friday that I cannot be late for. Costa-Rica awaits me.....

After all the good info and reviews I called the TM in Auburn, ME for SCs about 2 weeks ago. We had a 25min conversation (about 10 mins in he decided he wanted to sit down with me) and this Thursday the 22nd we have a meeting WOOT! Im guessing all Entry-level drivers follow the same scheme. He said if I get in, im with a trainer for 60 days, off to Kingsport and back for another 2 months local. Wish me luck guys, I really want this and im gonna work my ass off for it!

Good to hear keep us posted brotha. 8)

Re: Dadgum slack-azz corn syrup transporter...
 

Hit me up when you are back on the road brotha.

Just got in this afternoon, I'm takin Sunday and Mon off then off to do some local work till Thursday.

I went with Transwood. I never heard of them before, but they have a terminal 12 miles from my house. The company has a lot of drivers, not sure of the number, but they have like 30 some terminals up and down the midwest.
This terminal has like a dozen drivers, and they primarily service 1 customer here. They seem like a good buncha guys. They're real old school, but they're getting up there in years. I worry about the old guard retiring out and new people coming in and spoiling the fun.
I get the impression they don't take many walk-in hires. The pay is better than what i was making, and i would consider it around or above the industry average at 36 cpm and $13/hr.

the funny thing is that during my first week i got a call from Saf-T-Kleen to drive a local tanker. Odd.

That seems a long time with a trainer. I went 2 weeks with 1 trainer then 2 weeks with another trainer and then to Kingsport and then another 2 weeks with a trainer then I was on my own. They kept me local for a bit and gradually started sending me out. I'm out of the Springfield terminal so I'm sure we'll be running past one another. BOL