Thank you also, for the kind words!! 8) And that was "good news" that you told me the other day!! I am sure that it will turn out to be a good move for you...and we'll be looking forward to you filling in some "blanks" about your new employer!! I'm sure MP will be happy with it also!!! :D

Hello again to everyone. I hope y'all had a very safe, happy Easter. I'm getting unloaded presently, then starting south for "vacation". Just giving a quick update and cheery greetings to everyone. Hopefully I can meet some of y'all along the way sometime as well. As a matter of fact, it looks as though I'm about to be on my way through Atlanta possibly tomorrow :D

Warning: Y'all better be very wary of ol' Grandpa (Skywalker). Don't let him con you into buying him lunch or worse, dinner... He eats almost as much as I can! :P :lol: :P :lol: :P :lol:

Worldisnotenough... Congrats on the new gig. Can't wait to hear of your new adventures!

Week 10
-Jacksonville, FL (hook clean tank)
-Jacksonville, FL to Riceboro, GA (drop clean tank, hook preloaded tank)
-Riceboro, GA to Garyville, LA (drop loaded tank)
-----Garyville, LA to St. Gabriel, LA (hook preloaded tank)
-----St. Gabriel, LA to Lockland, OH (customer unload with driver assist)
-----Lockland, OH to Fairfield, OH (drop dirty tank, wash fittings)
Gross: $2,450.77
Hub Miles: 1,772
Avg.: $1.383/mile

Week 11
-Fairfield, OH to Cincinnati, OH (hook clean tank)
-Cincinnati, OH to Blue Ash, OH (live load)
-Blue Ash, OH to Cedar Rapids, IA (driver unload)
-Cedar Rapids, IA to Westville, IN (drop dirty tank, wash pump and fittings)
-----Westville, IN to Huntsville, AL (customer unload)
-----Huntsville, AL to Valparaiso, IN (drop dirty tank, hook preloaded tank)
-Valpo, IN to Huntsville, AL (customer unload)
-Huntsville, AL to Valpo, IN (drop dirty tank)
Gross: $3,981.59
Hub Miles: 3,050
Avg.: $1.305/mile

Superior Carriers, (Dedicated Account) Independent Contractor Totals, January 1st to Mar. 16th, 2008:
Gross: $30,935.23
Hub Miles: 24,571 (ALL ODOMETER miles off-duty and on-duty.)
Loaded Miles: 13,513 (55%)
Empty Miles: 11,058 (45%)
Avg.: $1.259/mile
Days Working: 45 (59%)
Days Off: 31 (41%)

Year-to-date costs up to Mar. 16th, 2008
Gross: $30,935.23
Total expenses: $18,673.98 ($5,577.25 Fixed and Variable Costs, $13,096.73 Fuel for 3,982.111 gallons.....6.1 m.p.g. and $3.288/gallon)
Taxable Net: $12,261.25 (Avg. .499/hub mile)
Days Working: 45 (59%)
Days Off: 31 (41%)

Y'all be safe and have fun! :wink:

Yeah....and I can still remember the look on the cashier's face when you paid the bill there in Savannah..... 8) She had a hard time believing the two of us ate all of that!!!

I'm looking forward to hearing about it as well. I spoke to him the other day...he's out training...I mean "learning how to be a REAL slacker"!!

Speaking of "SLACKERS".....are you or did you have fun down there in Jax?

"bump".....

8) You know who.....is into a major "slacking" routine right now.... 8)

I guess he'll get off his duff and show up here again one day....... :lol: :lol: :lol:

I'm not slacking. I am out with my trainer and don't have access to a puter much. except when at a hotel.

Eeeeek!! In a motel!!! 8) How dare they treat you like a "human being"!!
The nerve of them!!! :shock: :D :D

I take it all is going well? 8)

I know you're "earning" your pay right now.....its "Cyanide" who's doing the BIG SLACKER routine right now..... :P :P :D :D

Okay enough already! Hell yeah I was slacking and enjoying every minute of it!!! :D Spent the better part of two weeks off having a blast with my son, other family, and friends during the break down in Jax. But yes, I'm alive and very well, and just getting back into the swing of work again. I hope everyone else had a great last (almost) three weeks. Presently stopped by the house (Indiana) for the next day on my way to Wisconsin, then back to Westville and into the groove. Guess I'll cut this short and update everything so this is up to speed. Y'all be safe and have fun... :wink:

Week 12:
-Valparaiso, IN (hook preloaded tank)
-Valpo, IN to Elizabethtown, PA (driver unload)
-Elizabethtown, PA to Valpo, IN (drop dirty tank, hook preloaded tank)
-----Valpo, IN to Huntsville, AL (customer unload)
-----Huntsville, AL to Valpo, IN (drop dirty tank, hook preloaded tank)
-Valpo, IN to Bristol, VA (customer unload)
-Bristol, VA to Kingsport, TN (drop dirty tank)
Gross: $4,256.04
Hub Miles: 3,006
Avg.: $1.415/mile

Week 13:
-Kingsport, TN (hook preloaded tank)
-Kingsport, TN to Marietta, GA (customer unload)
-Marietta, GA Morrow, GA (drop dirty tank)
-----Morrow, GA to Jax, FL (time off.....yep, drove home all the way from Marietta!)
Gross: $595.71
Miles: 692
Avg.: .86/mile

Week 14
N/A due to time off.

Superior Carriers, (Dedicated Account) Independent Contractor Totals, January 1st to Apr. 06th, 2008:
Gross: $35,786.98
Hub Miles: 28,269 (ALL ODOMETER miles off-duty and on-duty.)
Loaded Miles: 15,576 (55%)
Empty Miles: 12,693 (45%)
Avg.: $1.265/mile
Days Working: 53 (55%)
Days Off: 44 (45%)

Year-to-date costs up to Apr. 06th, 2008
Gross: $35,786.98
Total expenses: $21,588.07 ($6,543.05 Fixed and Variable Costs, $15,045.02 Fuel for 4,500.111 gallons.....6.281 m.p.g. and $3.342/gallon)
Taxable Net: $14,198.91 (Avg. .502/hub mile)
Days Working: 53 (55%)
Days Off: 44 (45%)

8) 8) About TIME you got back to work SLACKER!!! 8) 8)

Ooooops....double post. :shock:

Skywalker wrote:That's what you get for being a smartazz! Talking about being a slacker, try this on for size..... After six months, still works for me :wink:

Superior Carriers, (Dedicated Account) Independent Contractor Totals, Oct. 08, 2007 to Apr. 06, 2008:
Gross: $67,590.76
Hub Miles: 55,947 (ALL ODOMETER miles off-duty and on-duty.)
Loaded Miles: 30,393 (55%)
Empty Miles: 25,554 (45%)
Avg.: $1.208/mile
Days Working: 105 (58%)
Days Off: 77 (42%)

Total costs Oct. 08, 2007 to Apr. 06, 2008
Gross: $67,590.76
Total fixed and variable expenses: $42,051.00 ($12,466.41 Fixed and Variable Costs, $29,584.59 Fuel for 9,056.151 gallons.....6.177 m.p.g. and $3.266/gallon)
Taxable Net: $25,539.76
Avg.: .456/hub mile
Days Working: 105 (58%)
Days Off: 77 (42%)

Who? Me??? You must be confused..... 8)

I spoke to "World" today....he's having fun....and hopefully soon he will update us on his newest "adventure"..... I know a little about it.....but I'll let him fill in the blanks!! 8)

i heard on sirius last week that quality carriers laid of 600 people. they did not say if any were office people.

Just a quick update about the last week. Did get some work done on my truck that added up a little $$$, but nothing I couldn't handle. Back in the groove for a few weeks, and enjoying things as always! Last week was business as usual with three Huntsville loads. Actually taking it easy this week and gonna take a few more days off (er, slack) later in the week. Have some plans that just can't be broken!!! :lol: :roll: :lol:

Y'all be safe and have fun!!! :wink:

Week 15
-Jacksonville, FL (hook clean tank)
-Jax, FL to Garden City, GA (drop clean tank, hook preloaded tank)
-Garden City, GA to Kingsport, TN (driver unload with customer air, drop dirty tank, hook preloaded tank)
-----Kingsport, TN to Milwaukee, WI (customer unload, driver assist)
-----Milwaukee, WI to Westville, IN (drop dirty tank)
Gross: $3,172.24
Miles: 2,237
Avg.: $1.418/mile

Superior Carriers, (Dedicated Account) Independent Contractor Totals, January 01 to Apr. 13, 2008:
Gross: $38,959.22
Hub Miles: 30,506 (ALL ODOMETER miles off-duty and on-duty.)
Loaded Miles: 17,059 (56%)
Empty Miles: 13,347 (44%)
Avg.: $1.277/mile
Days Working: 58 (56%)
Days Off: 46 (44%)

Year-to-date costs up to Apr. 13, 2008
Gross: $38,959.22
Total expenses: $24,553.57 ($8,150.68 Fixed and Variable Costs, $16,402.89 Fuel for 4,846.111 gallons.....6.294 m.p.g. and $3.384/gallon)
Taxable Net: $14,405.65 (Avg. .472/hub mile)
Days Working: 53 (56%)
Days Off: 46 (44%)

Great thread. On a side note, your a big mother effer. Superior looks like a company Id like to get with, too bad im a newbie :cry:

DDCavi wrote:Thank you! Glad that I could help you out. On the second note, you'll never know if even as a newbie you could get hired on unless you call the terminal manager at the terminal closest to you and ask if you could go ahead and apply or if you must wait until you have experience (Auburn, ME.....800-777-2026). Give them a call, ya never know what may happen. We have several drivers here that contribute to this thread and another in this forum who either had little experience or came right from school and were hired on.

Now if I could just get around to meeting all of ya!!! :lol: :wink:

Based on reading your many posts and Skywalker's I have been bugging the Morrow terminal to death trying to get a job :lol:
I have just acquired my Class A from a school Superior recommended and I believe there's a reasonable chance that an opening will come up. At least that's what the Terminal Manager suggests. I should know within a week or so. Thanks for all of your posts Cyanide.

pd wrote: :wink: You are very welcome. Remember, the squeaky wheel gets the grease!

Speaking of wheels, I better get rolling again.....I'm done in Huntsville and on my way back to Indiana now. Go drop this dirty tank, then get home and take off 'til at least Tuesday morning. :D I have a very important date I simply cannot miss, or Baby Bullseye will have my azz in a sling!!! :roll: :lol: :roll: :lol: :roll:

Congrats on getting your CDL.

Thanks BHG! Now I need to put it to use. I'll be speaking to Rusty on Monday and hopefully visiting him later in the week. He's trying to find an empty seat for me.

I hope all is still going well for you.

Yea things are great here. I got home Wednesday night from an 8 day adventure. Gotta pick-up at 1am Monday for Ohio. 8) After 4 days off cant wait to get back on the road and start makin some $$$$

That sounds strange, that you're anxious to get back on the road - I thought everyone was after more hometime, not less! :)
I guess life on the road in a Superior truck is not too unpleasant for you. I had assumed that the sleeper berths were on the small side and might be a bit cramped for extended stays. I hope to be given the opportunity to find out first hand.

Has freight recovered pretty much now to normal levels?

I got hired right out of school. Had no experience what so ever. What worked for me was my dedication to my jobs. I had two, the first the Coast Guard and the 2nd a cop of which I retired after 20 yrs. dedication and professionalism is what their looking for in no experience.

Now if I could just get around to meeting all of ya!!! :lol: :wink:[/quote]


They seem to keep sending me to WI., KY., MS., OH and Canada. Can't seem to get to the South East which is where I want to switch terminals. But I'm in 8959 for now till my new truck gets here next month. I'll be on the look out for your truck.

I'm not excited or anything to be back on the road. Trust me I would rather be right here in my recliner watching TV all day, but that just isn't reality.8) I'm not lazy and I enjoy making money. Its all about of what you make of it out here. I run that truck the way I feel it should be ran. I take a full 10hr break every day and I will not drive illegal for anyone, I don't care who it is. I drive like the DOT wants me to. I like my CDL/job too much to jepordise it.

I like to travel a great deal. I'm headed to Costa Rica again in late May and Thailand in December and probably a couple places in between. I can't do those things sittin here in my lazy-boy :lol:

All I can see about freight is that I have not sat longer that a few hrs since I have been here. Most of the terminals have their stuff together.

I understand, and I'm glad to get the reassurance that driving legally with a good company will still earn you a good paycheck.

That's good news. If Morrow can't find an empty truck for me in the next few weeks I may check with Augusta to see if there is any possibility of running out of there. I'd hate to miss out if there's any chance of getting on with Superior.

I heard another driver say Volvo has been on strike. Superior has ordered a bunch of Volvos that haven't been delivered yet. That may be part of the truck shortage problem. I be once they start going out to drivers terminals will start hiring again to fill the better ones that are replaced.

Very interesting. My local TM said he had a truck coming in shortly but didn't know if he'd be able to keep the old truck in the fleet or not. I'll find out more next week.

It seems that the timing is not so good for me to have just acquired my CDL and try to get on with a quality company. I'd hate to have to go to one of the mega-carriers just to turn some miles.

If Superior doesn't have a seat available for you, and you want to work for a decent tanker outfit, then either one of these company's will fill the bill just as well as Superior;

Groendyke Transport, http://www.groendyke.com/
http://www.groendyke.com/operations/...ns/winder.html

Highway Transport; http://www.hytt.com/wwwroot2/hyttMain/hyttFrame.htm

http://www.hytt.com/wwwroot2/hyttMain/hyttFrame.htm

Thanks for the suggestions - I've previously checked both of those sites out and they both say they want a minimum of 1 year of OTR experience. I know that exceptions can be made but in this slow freight environment I suspected they could be very picky about who they interviewed. Do you know how firm they are on the experience requirement?

That "1 year of OTR" requirement is always subjective. Terminal managers have wide lattitude when it comes to hiring. If you walk into a building looking like a bum, talking like a thug, and acting irresponsible, your experience is negated. If you walk into a building in presentable attire, express yourself in a confident and business like manner, and show that you are a worth-while individual, worthy of the opportunity....they are going to give you a look, regardless of your experience. That is why companies set up different styles of road tests, different styles of training sessions, and variable "Probationary" periods.

Groendyke and Highway Transport are just like Superior, in the regard that, both want to train an "Individual" in "Their Way" of operating. Rookies usually have fewer "habits" that are bad, and need to be corrected. Instead of calling on the phone, take time one day and drive to the terminals of each, introduce yourself, and ask about what "They" can do for you....and tell them what "You" can do for them.

Thanks for the response guy, good information on the companies and good advise on making the best impression on them.

Hey PD u got your tanker and Haz-mat right??

Indeed I do BHG. I knew that if I hoped to go with Superior I'd have to have them so I wasted no time - the background check was completed a couple of weeks ago. If Superior can't find a seat for me I will do my best to get with some company that can use both of those endorsements.

Does anyone work out of the Carry Transit terminal located in Vassar Michigan?

Wondering if they take on student grads

please pm me and let me know

Superior gave me the bad news yesterday: no trucks available anywhere in the Southeast that they could put me into. Very disappointing.

As a recent grad my choices seem to be limited to Schneider or CTL for tankers. I spoke with Highway Transport, Miller Transporters, Tidewater, Transport Service and Groendyke but their Safety departments won't let them bypass the minimum 1 year Tractor-Trailer experience requirement.

I've spoken with a small tanker outfit that might be able to find an empty truck, but I'm concerned that they might not meet the "verifiable" requirement of the larger companies. Does anyone know what they mean by that? What I mean is that the larger companies stress that as if there are a lot of drivers with unverifiable experience.

pd....Verification of experience comes in several ways: One is through a DAC report, the other is through proof of pay receipts....weekly check stubs, etc. There are other ways to prove experience as well.

Non-verifiable experience problems are often caused when a driver takes a job where he gets a 1099 not a W-2...or is paid in cash, or works for a "fly-by-night"....or works for a company that doesn't report to DAC/USIS.

Were I you....I would seriously consider Schneider or CTL....if for no other reason than the overall training aspects..... You can make reasonable pay with either of them....and after you get some experience you may want to explore your options. Then again....you may find that one of those companies may be where you want to stay. Anything is possible.

That is some good information Luke, thanks for the response. I believe you are right, I should probably stick with one of the bigger carriers who will give me much better training, which I certainly need at this stage of my young career.

You're welcome. 8) One other reason to stay with a larger carrier in the beginning...is the "benefits". If you need health insurance....generally speaking you will probably find that it will be more reasonable being part of a large pool of employees, than it will be with a much smaller company. I could be wrong, but I suspect I'm not. If health insurance is not a concern then that caveat is not important.

Better late than never!

I'm updating the info from my old company driver pay, as I was able to locate my original starting odometer reading on old 8919 from when I was issued it back in Aug. 2006...

Superior Carriers, Company Driver (July 31, 2006 to Oct. 07, 2007)
Gross Pay: $61,343.70 (All mileage pay, training pay, orientation pay, hourly pay, holiday pay, personal day pay, vacation pay)
Hub miles: 115,898 (Avg.: .529/mile)
Paid Miles: 109,115 (Avg.: .562/mile)
Mileage Difference: 6,783 (6%. All miles incurred driving to/from home and off-duty time, and out of route)
Hazmat Loads: 28
Days Working: 318 (72%)
Days Off: 124 (28%)

:wink:

Still loving it...
 

I hope this finds everyone well as always. Just the same ol', same ol' here. Doing my Huntsville's, getting a little bit of very minor work done on the truck here and there, and taking time off. Will update more once I get my other settlement sheets, but the next couple of weeks after what I have reported below are fairly simple... A couple of Valpo to Huntsville and back loads followed by five days off, and this week has a Valpo to Colorado and back, and then Westville to Huntsville and back which is finishing now. Going to run a couple more loads before going home to Florida for a few more days off. Had the opportunity to take a load out to North Dakota for Tuesday of next week but, it will just have to wait until my next time out. I will not chance something happening and being delayed from being able to get my son Friday. There's always next time to do a new, long-mileage load.....

Week 16
-Westville, IN (hook preloaded tank)
-Westville, IN to Huntsville, AL (customer unload)
-Huntsville, AL to Valparaiso, IN (drop dirty tank, hook preloaded tank)
-----Valpo, IN to Huntsville, AL (customer unload)
-----Huntsville, AL to Valpo, IN (drop dirty tank, hook preloaded tank)
-Valpo, IN to Huntsville, AL (customer unload)
-Huntsville, AL to Westville, IN (drop dirty tank)
Gross: $4,203.16
Miles: 3,411
Avg.: $1.232/mile

Week 17
-Westville, IN (hook preloaded tank)
-Westville, IN to Huntsville, AL (customer unload)
-Huntsville, AL to Valparaiso, IN (drop dirty tank, hook preloaded tank)
-----Valpo, IN to Huntsville, AL (customer unload)
-----Huntsville, AL to Valpo, IN (drop dirty tank)
Gross: $2,777.79
Miles: 2,248
Avg.: $1.235/mile

Superior Carriers, (Dedicated Account) Independent Contractor Totals, January 01 to Apr. 27, 2008:
Gross Revenue: $45,940.17
Hub Miles: 36,165 (ALL ODOMETER miles off-duty and on-duty.)
Loaded Miles: 19,878 (55%)
Empty Miles: 16,287 (45%)
Avg. Revenue: $1.27/mile
Total expenses: $29,389.25 ($9,239.10 Fixed and Variable Costs, $20,150.15 Fuel for 5,838.211 gallons.....6.194 m.p.g. and $3.451/gallon)
Taxable Net: $16,550.92
Avg. Taxable Net: .457/hub mile
Days Working: 69 (58%)
Days Off: 49 (42%)

Compared to what I did as a company driver so far...

Superior Carriers, Company Driver (July 31, 2006 to Oct. 07, 2007)
Gross Pay: $61,343.70 (All mileage pay, training pay, orientation pay, hourly pay, holiday pay, personal day pay, vacation pay)
Hub miles: 115,898 (ALL ODOMETER miles off-duty and on-duty.)
Avg.: .529/mile
Days Working: 318 (72%)
Days Off: 124 (28%)

Superior Carriers, (Dedicated Account) I/C Totals, Oct. 08, 2007 to Apr. 27, 2008:
Gross Revenue: $77,743.95
Hub Miles: 63,843 (ALL ODOMETER miles off-duty and on-duty.)
Loaded Miles: 34,695 (54%)
Empty Miles: 29,148 (46%)
Avg. Revenue: $1.217/mile
Total expenses: $49,852.18 ($15,162.46 Fixed/Variable Costs, $34,689.72 Fuel for 10,394.251 gallons.....6.142 m.p.g. and $3.337/gallon)
Taxable Net: $27,891.77
Avg. Taxable Net: .436/hub mile
Days Working: 121 (60%)
Days Off: 82 (40%)

:wink: