Profile For TwoSides

Davy, it's the same. We are paid zip to zip also. But the calculations for paid pratical miles are running the turnpike. They then set our paid miles and route us going around the turnpike. The route suggestions are routes avoiding the turnpike but our pay does not reflect that. Ending up with us driving an additional 50 to 100 miles more without compensation. It wouldn't be a problem if they paid us pratical miles avoiding the turnpike but they don't. Our paid miles are based on us running the turnpike.

I have asked other Knight drivers from different terminals if they are going through the same situation and they say they are not. But to be fair, the drivers I asked were dry van, not on a dedicated account and from out West.

Rob T, of course Old School is right. What he said is spot on about my terminal, DM and TM. Yes, I have approached my DM with facts and logic. It's hard for me to figure out the exact cost to run the truck on each load but I have shown him from my records how avoiding the turnpike is not logical. You are correct in saying they have blinders on and from my records I can only assume they are being "a penny wise, dollar foolish" but I'm pretty sure I'm not wrong in my assumption. My DM cares nothing about the drivers 70 because it is up to us to, and I quote "manage your clock better"....

Everyone's input has been greatly appreciated. I first want to say I'm not trying to bash my company, I'm just looking for information and knowledge on this topic from different drivers. And you all have provided that.

I just want to vent and say this is insane. It's insane that billion dollar companies disrespect, rob and take advantage of drivers. Dont they know without drivers they wouldn't have a business? The driver is the foundation of the company. Take away the driver and the whole thing crumbles. The body cannot walk without legs, cannot function without a brain, cannot move objects without arms. It's foolish for one part of the body to degrade another part. Everything has its function to make the body whole.

I was employed in Nov. 2021 and my first solo run was Dec 2021. My DM told me the turnpike was unauthorized in mid Jan. of this year. From Dec. 2021 to mid Jan 2023 I have ran the turnpike with no problems. While I was in orientation they did not mention anything about "unauthorized" routes. Nowhere in writing did I receive notification about the turnpike being unauthorized before mid Jan. The economy is bad and the companies solution to save money is to make the drivers do extra miles for free? That is ludicrous! Oldschool you are 100% on point about my terminal and my DM. There is no forming a relationship with him, I tried. He is only concerned with himself and I have come to the conclusion that he despises drivers and his coworkers in the office. I say that from what I have observed being here.

I am a very productive driver. Im not saying im the best driver at the terminal but I am a hard worker and I bust my ass at this company. Productivity is not an issue for me. I have told my DM that avoiding the turnpike is unproductive and not efficient. I have a notepad where I have taking notes for 6 months and shown him the difference in time, miles and I did bring up the fact that it is unfair to the driver. Also that it is burning more fuel and putting more strain on the trucks with those hills on I-80. But he response in the utmost corporate way.

From the responses I have received here I understand that this is a trucking issue. Some companies are worse than others but all in all this is a industry situation. This has to change, it is very unfair to the driver. Also how is this not illegal? Do the labor laws not apply for OTR truckers? I do understand being paid pratical miles over hub miles, I don't like it but I can eat that. What I can't do is drive 60 plus miles for free. So now I have a decision to make.

Thank you all for the responses. It truly helped

I'm having misunderstandings about "route suggestions" Oldschool, Davy, you guys have been with the company longer than I, so maybe you can explain their policies better. But I really need feedback on this topic from everyone...

The issue with the route suggestions, specifically is with running the pa turnpike. My DM says the pa turnpike is unauthorized, I cannot run it and I must take the way I am routed. The problem I see is it adds an astronomical amount of extra miles and it kills the clock.

For example, I get loaded in Cressona, pa delivering to Cincinnati, OH. Instead of starting my trip heading West towards Ohio via pa turnpike to I-70w, they route us to go North to I-80w then come South using I-75 to get into Cincinnati. Also going to St. Louis, MO from Cressona. Take I-80w to I-71s to 70w into Ohio. Another route that is suitable for them is to take 81s to 68w to 79n to 70w.

Apparently I am having a hard time seeing the logic in starting my trip heading North to I-80w when I have to go West and deliver to a place that is South of Columbus, OH. The explanation my DM told me was because the economy is bad, the pa turnpike is too expensive and the company has to save money. I told him that taking the route suggestion way adds an additional 50-100 miles onto the trip. His response was I get paid pratical miles....

About pratical miles, I have delivered freight to the Northwest and South where taking the pa turnpike was not an option. I have compared the paid miles with my hub miles and they are never more than a 30 mile difference. Is that not pratical miles? Is it still pratical miles when they calculate our pay by taking the turnpike, then route us around the turnpike and add 50 to 100 miles extra? I don't think that as a fair deal....

So now I have made this into two questions. Pratical miles and route suggestions.

Is there a cap to pratical miles or is it at the company's discretion?

Am I wrong for not thinking a route suggestion provided by the company is mandatory? That the word "suggestion" is actually a suggestion?

I appreciate everyone's input on this. It's becoming an issue with the company I am with.

Yea OS, I'm still surprised we haven't ran into each other yet. It would be a pleasure to meet a legend. I keep an eye out for you and Davy also, just not sure if Davy runs the East coast and Midwest. And Slick is my guy over there at Cressona lol, always an interesting conversation with him.

And I'm still with Knight because I don't want to rage quit lol. I understand trucking is frustrating at times and every company has its own set of problems. You know what I'm going through over there at Carlisle so you understand. I try to be understanding of the job the office folks have but it's really frustrating dealing with them.

Banks what's up man! Bad days starting out is an understatement lol. It was rough but it could have been worse. Things have calmed down since then and yes I have become more familiar with what it takes to be a professional truck driver. Learning and adapting everyday is a must.

I will also try to stay in touch more often. Stay safe out there drivers. Keep the rubber on the road!!

Howdy Old School!!! Turtle what's up man!! Yea it has been quite some time since I last posted. I really appreciated all the help from this site and I still use what you guys taught me out here on the road. I'm staying safe with no accidents or incidents.

Okay, so an update on my situation lol. I'm still with Knight and yes still skateboarding. A lot has happened and I don't know where to start.... Of course there have been many stressful days, times I wanted to quit on the spot. Seems like its been more bad days than good but I'm pushing through it. The only thing keeping me in good spirits are the friendships I have made at Knight with the other drivers.

Had my job threatened from my TM over "route suggestions" which are actually mandatory according to the TM, that meeting did not go well. A lot of back and forth with my DM, I can admit that sometimes I need to just stay quiet and not respond back to him. And im also taking into account that he has a stressful task with dealing with drivers and other things but his incompetence cannot be ignored any longer.

Waiting 2 or more hours for a backhaul after every single run. Problems at the Hydro plant in Cressona, "I do not Iike that place" problems with equipment, freight, 4 wheelers, dumb drivers on the road and my settlements. Yes!, my checks are still continually missing tarp pay, detention pay, layover and reimbursements to this day. But hey, that's trucking right?

Okay I know I'm whining but I had to get that off my chest lol. I did get my triple/doubles and tanker endorsements, studying for the hazmat now and should receive my twic card my next home time. Thinking about trying out tankers but I love flatbed, just hate the summer time and tarping most days lol.

All in all I'm good though and I can't thank this site enough from what I have learned.

Hey drivers, its been a while since i was on this site. Just came on to say hello. Hope everyone is safe, well, getting good miles and enjoying life! Keep the shiny side up!!

Great to read that you have stuck with it in flatbed for an entire year. That's a major accomplishment! Sean still your DM?

How did th hose two tires problem happen?

Thanks Pack. Yes Shawn is my DM. I remember when I first started and drivers were telling me bad things about him. I ignored them because I thought they were disgruntled drivers but now I see the truth.

I have no idea how the tires blew. Maybe I ran something over in the street?? I was on US-30 in Indiana carrying 40k. I heard two consecutive pops. The second being louder than the first

I have been driving for a year now and what is funny to me is that everytime I hop in my car to go home I still think its the truck. I have noticed on many occasions that I keep a healthy following distance. Something I have never done before. I also stay in the right lane on the turnpike and I reach for the jake break that isn't there when I slow down. All I end up doing is turning on my wipers which makes me laugh.

Well, it is now time to put this thread to rest. Thank you all for following my journey and for the support. I appreciate all of the advice I was given throughout the year. This site has been a major help to me. Again, thank you all!!!!

Ah, almost forgot about backing.... My backing has greatly improved. In the beginning I couldn't get in between two trucks and now I can't park straight unless I am parking between two trucks.... go figure....

Happy New Years everyone. Stay safe out there. Shiny side up!

Well the first year is now completed. It went by faster than I thought. A little late with the post because I was sick last week. Not sure if it was Covid because I never got tested but I felt horrible. Feeling much better now, just have a runny nose.

The end of the year didn't end in a good way. I got into a argument with my DM before the New Year because he gave me a backhaul on my scheduled hometime. I put in hometime for Dec. 29th, 2 weeks prior to that date. I was in Illinois on the 28th and when I completed my run he gave me a load assignment for a pick up on the 29th in WV. I refused to get it. The entire time of working here he always gave me a backhaul on the day I requested to be home. I never complained about it. I just did the backhaul and went home the following day. But since this was the holiday, I had plans with family and I told him no. I told him he never respects my hometime requests and his response was "because I never give a specific time I wanted to be home" He also said I only stay out for 2 weeks and my production is low. I lost my cool after he said that. The truth is, I stay out for 4-5 weeks. I was able to pass 100k miles before my year anniversary, I average 10k miles a month and I netted a little over 80k. I don't think those numbers are possible only staying out 2 weeks at a time, doing flatbed... I refused the load and he threatened to remove me from the flatbed division and said I wouldn't get paid if I came back empty. At the time it was fine with me because I will always pick family over this job. His threats were obviously bull**** because I got paid those empty miles and I'm still on the flatbed division. My DM is a condescending, arrogant, selfish A-hole. I can no longer work with him. This week I will be actively putting in applications to other companies. My time here is quickly coming to an end.

But on a brighter note.... This year was very interesting. I have learned a lot and there is still much more to learn. There have been good days and of course not so good days. There have been days I felt proud of what I was doing and days where I wanted to quit. But overall this experience has been good. Flatbed is a different kind of animal. I'm always dirty, my truck has to be cleaned everyday and the weather can make working unbearable. The rain and snow make the tarps 10 times heavier. The cold freezes the tarps and they are hard to fold. The wind will disrespect the progress you made when folding the tarps and the summer heat makes it feel like hell on earth. Can't ask for anything better haha.

I should have posted pictures while posting but I will do it now.

Big thanks to Chief Brody and others for introducing me to the fold technique. I can say with confidence that this is the one thing I have mastered...

Now onto my tarps. They are hit and miss some days but I have gotten a lot better as time went on. The taller loads still give me some problems with air pockets though.

This happened a few weeks ago. Scared the crap out of me

Sometimes I think if we aren't hearing from TwoSides11 then he's doing fine. I hope that's the case.

I appreciate the concern. All in all I am well. Of course I have those frustrating days but I try to push through. Happy New Years to you all