PhatTweaker... here it is simply put... some won't like me for saying this either, but so far in my experience in trucking in general -
Solo's in any co., Expediting and/or regular 18 wheeler operations will be run good during the week.
Come the weekend though, you'll more than likely sit and/or do shorter runs and/or "garbage" runs while the teams do the long golden weekend work. That may or may not be true for every co., every person, and/or every operation -
but, generally speaking - that's how it is.
Go to any truckstop on any weekend and you'll see more solo's sitting than teams sitting. The teams you do see in truckstops on weekends I can put money on will not be there for very long.
I run solo, as a co. driver, for a large trucking co. - it's happened to me and many drivers within and outside the co. I run for.
Bus driving was different for me, because the work week (especially for charter bus co.'s) is basically Thurs. thru Sun. PM. That's when you made your money, and if you knew how to "work the people" then you make money... and good tips.
No benefits though.
I drive for a large 18 wheeler co. and average (so far) 2,500 to 3,000 miles a week, AND I Now Have Benefits! The work I've done so far on the weekends isn't the best, or the longest - but it's work and I don't complain. You gotta do the garbage runs that teams toss aside.
My friend, that is THE BEST ADVICE I can tell you, do the garbage runs (BUT NOT ALL THE TIME) and you will be rewarded later. Dispatchers remember you for that, they don't remember you for doing the 800 mile loads or the 1,200 miler loads, they remember you for doing the 150 miler that came up quick and no team would touch it, but you gladly took it.
Whether you want to hear it or not, the cold plain hard truth is... You're in it to please the dispatcher, you please them and keep them in your good graces and your golden.
Most teams will rarely touch somethin' that's less than 400 to 600 miles. That's good work for a solo driver though.
Some runs will be less than 150 to 200 miles. You got 2,000 miles by Thurs. and start gettin' tossed 200 miler stuff - take it, it'll add up before you know it.
Now don't get me wrong, I'm not sayin' that Every weekend you're gonna be spending more time in the truck stop TV lounge than in the drivers seat, 'cause you're not. I'm simply saying that while some solo's do good, there's a good many that get frustrated and get out 'cause it's not what they were expecting and/or not what they were told. Don't get frustrated, have patience, and stick it out.
The drivers that can stick it out and are persistant will end up getting what they want and when they want it.
Miracles don't happen overnite, but they do happen.
I can tell you horror stories about trucking co. recruiters.
Most recruiters have never driven OTR trucks of any kind, let alone been thru a truck driving school. Most recruiters will know one thing, they know to tell you what you want to hear.
Keep that in mind.
Take everything amazing a recruiter tells you and write it down, 'cause then when it doesn't come true you have somethin' to get mad at. Write down your recruiters FULL NAME, and all the ways you can get a hold of him/her. There's usually another person that's a step above the recruiter that does the actual paperwork - a processor, driver coordinator or somethin'... co.'s give them different names. Anyways, get that persons name as well and all their contact info.
Also, PhatTweaker, I would consider *and continue to search for, a deal where you don't have to pay for the fuel and tolls. You get up into the New England area's around NJ and NY especially, and you'll quickly burn 50 to 100 bucks in tolls. and I do mean quickly! a co. gets you up there ona weekend doin' short runs and you could put out as much as 200 or more bucks just in tolls.
PhatTweaker, I'm not trying to steer you away from anything - I'm just sharing info with you like the others here. The more you know and the more info you have to work with the better off you'll be to make a good decision. Expediting is great, it's primarily No Touch freight, and small loads - usually not more than 4 to 6 pallets (on average- maybe 8 pallets).
Sometimes you'll have that box filled, but rarely.
Regarding the rig you've been offered to drive...
You do NOT want to be blamed for ANYTHING Wrong...
Look carefully at the rig before you drive it.
I didn't see anybody mention that -
make sure it's clean, check the tires and the brakes, check the cooling and heating systems. Check the windows and window seals (even the ones in the bunk, and if equipped even the vents on the bunk).
Check the stereo, and the CB. You'll use them, you may not think you will, but sooner or later you will.
And when it's time for you to use them, you'll want them to work.
Check all the lights, the wiper system... everything.
Don't forget the cargo box too.
Check that rig over as if you were buying it.
You're paying for it's fuel, you're payin' for it's tolls - do you want to pay for it's maintenance too? I don't think so.
ANYTHING AT ALL WRONG... Write it down on paper (neatly) and have the owner sign that paper, if they kick and scream about fixing it... WALK. if they say they'll fix it later on - get a date on paper.
Why? because otherwise they may just keep putting it off and putting it off. While they're doin' that you may be getting more and more miserable. Choose a rig like you choose a pair of shoes... carefully.
There's an old saying...
always buy a good bed and a good pair of shoes,
if you're not in one, you're in the other.
The rig you'll be driving has got a bed in it right? ok.
By the way PhatTweaker, you got a '95 personal vehicle you think is old? I got an 1986 personal vehicle - fix that 95 of yours up, then you can start on mine.
All I need is paint, and a header gasket on the block.
Hope I was able to help you out - good luck...
Bob
