Frisco Mike, thanks for this post, and many of the others, very
informative!!
If all would pardon the length of the message, I've been lurking and researching over the last several months, and I could use some
helpful suggestions.
I'm a recently, medically retired airline pilot. I won't be flying
again, however it won't hinder the DOT card. When fuel was reasonable, I'd drive my personal Motorgarage/FTL Columbia loaded with motorcycles, mostly for delivery for friends. I realized that
the similarities with flying were too much to ignore.
That being said, I'm ready to pull the trigger on a new career. As
you know, it's next to impossible to get on the road with no experience, unless you're willing to go to Schneider etal. So, I did, was hired within 10 minutes, (no surprise there) and fired as
soon as they learned I'd been medically retired. The nurse, in a
thinly veiled attempt to pacify me, basically told me I was a walking
potential workmans comp case. So, I've found this to be true elsewhere, as when you're in your late 40's with a medical history,
nobody wants you.
Next step was noticing Conway Now's ad, and inquiring. Very nice
people, (aren't all recruiters?) but seemed sincere, and eager to
answer all of my questions. At any rate, the offer is to complete
CDL training (passed the written the other day, and for other newbies, the LOWEST PRICE TRAFFIC SCHOOL study material contained not
one single question on the FL exams) by selecting a school for the
driving part of the training.
My questions mostly lie in the reasonability for success. I work
my arse off, and despite my age, still have a mind like a sponge.
Is it reasonable to believe that with a minimum amount of experience,
that I can get comfortable within a month or two ? I know from
other boards, there are always the same chronic posters, who are
unwilling to accept that there are people who are driven to learn
and succeed, in addition to be concious of safety and skill limitations. If you consider the military for example, if it weren't
for good training, and selection, they wouldn't turn loose a 26 year old with less than 750 hours of flying, with a $150,000,000 jet.
I'm reasonably well capitalized. I can purchase a late model
Volvo 780 for cash, and still keep about 20K reserved for contingencies. If I had my way, I'd like to train in the truck I
buy, but when I mention that to some of the schoolhouses, well, it's like a dog watching a card trick. Insurance from OOIDA is going to
run around $540.00 per month, which as far as I can tell is reasonable. After 1 year, I get a 15% break, if I don't ding anything.
Now onto the meat. Conway just revamped their pay schedule. They
advertise $1.30 per mile plus fuel surcharge. Several weeks ago, it
was running at .21 to .25 per mile. I don't remember as far as tolls, I think it was they pick up half. It wasn't mentioned until
my latest conversation that I could expect (for the purposes of
number crunching) somewhere around a 50/50 split between expedited
runs, and non-expedited. I found this interesting, as for an
expediter, this seems to be a bit less expediting than I had hoped.
In addition, he quoted, (again for planning) somewhere around
15% deadheading miles. All said, surcharge, plus $1.30 expedited,
$1.05 non-expedited and deadhead at $.90. All of this considered,
if you go over to OOIDA's boards, drivers there are turning down
loads at $1.50. I appreciate the increased cost of having authority,
but, at a $1.50 or more, per mile, and some footwork with brokers,
my question is where would it be smarter to concentrate ? Having
the ability to work under a true non forced dispatch is important to
me, and Conway states they do not force dispatch. We all know that
is true to some degree.
Again, I apologize for the length, as it was time to spew all of
the conflicting questions swimming around in my head when I go to
sleep, and wakeup. I'm ready to work hard, but I'm not sure what
makes the most sense. Again, nobody is going to touch me after
three spine operations, so I must be an owner operator. I will
also say, I'm not against straight trucking either, but it behooves
me to select the best ride I can. I do get sore sometimes.
For all of the armchair orthopaedists, lifting is not a problem,
never has been. Any other Conway types, (thanks again Frisco Mike)
or anyone with suggestions, thanks, and I appreciate your assistance.
Nightflight
