Comments By James M.

Hi Turtle. Yeah, I know now...lol.

I think I aged my driver trainer Robert at least a good 5 years...lol.

Sphincter pucker is a real thing. And those routes will do it

Hey all. Everything has been going great. Putting a lot of miles down. The last 2 days were.....interesting, to say the least. Went through West Virginia and back...twice. I can't remember the exact routes, but there was 30 and 33. Oh my. I had no idea my sphincter could tighten up that much. If you've been on 30 and 33, I'm sure you know what I mean. It was definitely a learning experience.

I guess that's all for now. It's past 2am and I'm beat.

Everyone drive safely and I'll TTYL 👋

Hi Bobcat Bob. Will do. My trainer Robert has been saying the same thing. I'm just hoping that things will get a little better later on down the road.

Glad you had a good week, keep it up. 👍

"Keep my eye on the prize and just concentrate on driving and nothing else."

Yes sir. Do that and your first year will fly by.

Hey all. Yeah, I hear all of you. Keep my eye on the prize and just concentrate on driving and nothing else. 10-4.

I'm on my 34 off now. I had a pretty good week of driving, mainly bouncing from Georgia to either NC or SC then back again. We went as far north as Syracuse, NY from Connecticut and now we're heading back to Georgia again.

I figured out something that remote IT and trucking have in common, but is vastly different at the same time. With IT and trucking you sit in a chair. With IT you don't go anywhere, but in trucking you go everywhere....lol.

Once again, thanks for all your advice and suggestions. I really do greatly appreciate them.

Drive safely and I'll TTYL 👋.

Hi Klutch. Thanks for your advice. I know I need to concentrate on my training. It's just that I'll never have a life if I'm slapped with an alimony payment for 9+ years. I'll figure it out. Thanks again!

You need to focus on finishing your training and getting accident/injury free experience under your belt. I’ve read through your other post without commenting but you have to keep your eye on the prize. Look at this first year as an investment in your future and learn as much as you can. You’re not going to get rich your first year, period. There are plenty of really good paying jobs available to drivers with a good/safe track record. If you don’t stay focused at the task at hand you’re never going to succeed. Get your year of safe driving and then find something that fits better.

FYI I make a lot more than the lease driver you mention… as a company driver that’s home daily and weekends off.. so yeah. Focus on your training, good drivers will always be in demand so become one and your have the opportunity to make plenty of money.

Doesn’t seem like your focused on what’s really important right now.

Hey all. That's exactly why I love it here. Lots of people with sound advice. That's all I was really looking for and I got it in spades.

It definitely sounds like there's too much risk and not enough reward. I guess that's all I need to know.

I know the debts will just sit there, but there was one other thing that I didn't mention. As much as I'd like to just let my apartment go, I kinda need to hold it for now, simply because of an agreement I have with my wife to hold all her things and send it when I can. I know with just starting out with Western Express I'm sure I simply can't ask for 3 days or so to take off, find a storage facility, move everything in there, find scrappers to take out my old sofa and bed, clean the entire apartment, etc. If I don't keep her things safe and send it all to her.....she's gonna hit me with alimony. Well, that and put her on my insurance as well. I wish I could hit the lottery...lol!

I'll just hang out as a company driver and do the best I can and pray I have enough for rent and expenses on the road.

Everyone drive safely and I'll TTYL 👋.

Hi Old School. Actually, I've been trying to do the math myself. I'll be making 40 cpm. I'm 25k in debt. I'd like to pay that all off ASAP and start saving towards what I dream about. Owning some nice land, getting a nice modular home built and I don't know....enjoy life. I know I'm going to be living in my truck; literally; and I know it will take getting use to, but I don't want to spend the rest of my life in a truck.

Realistically, the only way that I think I can possibly make that happen is if I brought home at least 1k a week...after taxes and benefits.

Realistically, can I do that on 40 cpm? I'm thinking it's not possible. I know there's risk with what he is doing and I'm just asking others other than Robert about the risks, but also if anyone has really been successful at it. I have no clue if he's being honest, but at the same time, why would he lie? He's told me that he usually pockets; after expenses; $1300 to $1500 a week. He said his best 2 weeks were around $1800 and $1900. He's always talking to other LP drivers. I'm pretty sure they are all with Western Express. He's always asking them how they are doing and they all seem to ask him for advice. He's not trying to talk me into anything. TBH, he said he thinks it would be a good idea to be a company driver for a while and inform myself on the price of diesel in different states and areas, comparing diesel from the big chains like Pilot and small Mom & Pop stations, learning the shipping routes, how to tell a good load from a bad load, etc. I think he honestly wants me to do my homework and make an informed decision.

So, has anyone here went through the process of being an LP driver and were successful?

James, you've got maybe ten or twelve days in with a LP trainer. I could have predicted this outcome with 100% accuracy. You're now making comments like this...

I know I'm not really going to make any decent money as a company driver...at least not with Western Express.

Where in the world did you get this kind of mentality? From your trainer!

Here's a guy who is making so much money that you'd think he'd be making plans to lease another couple of trucks and start hiring drivers. But no, what's he doing? He's having to be a trainer just so he can realize a little much needed cash flow.

Why do you think the trainers are always the LP drivers? It seems it would be the company driver's who are needing that extra money.

I'll never tell you it can't be done successfully. I'll always tell you it should only be attempted after having about three years experience. Please don't get distracted with that notion at this point.

I personally think it's a bad idea from a business perspective. Who wants a business where the people you are contracted to control the price you can charge and the volume of work you get? That's outrageous and wrong.

Disclaimer... I've never been a LP driver. I know you wanted to hear from some, but I just couldn't help myself.

We have a few drivers here who are trying it, but I don't think we have any that have been at it for very long. The longer one does it the more liability they are exposed to. That's why it really feels good at the beginning. As time goes by, the realities of business start to weigh down the initial joy of independence.

Hey all. Not like I'm thinking of doing this right away, mind you, but maybe some time down the line.

My training has been going great. Robert is an excellent trainer. He's been talking a lot about the business side of trucking. He's an LP driver. He started on day one as an LP driver for Western Express. He seems to be making some good money as one and even though I haven't even got my first check, I know I'm not really going to make any decent money as a company driver...at least not with Western Express.

So, anyone else here an LP driver? How has your experience been with it? Does the rewards outweigh the risks?

Like a said, if I were to take the plunge, it wouldn't be any time soon. Just wanted some honest feedback about it. Thanks!

Hi Chris. Even though I started with TMC and they let me go, I really don't have anything bad to say about them because I understand why they let me go.

But, if you wanted to go into flatbed you need to understand that it's a pretty physically demanding job. I'm not sure how old you are, but I tried it out and I'm 54 and sat on my butt the last 8 years doing IT work. I found out the hard way that it was waaaaay too much for me. If you're younger and in decent shape, it might be a good fit for you.

Whatever you decide to do I wish you all the luck in the world 🌎!

I've got employment offers from TMC,Roehl and keller trucking. Each have there own pros and cons and I'm kind of torn. They all the same kind of home time, roughly same pay and benefits, at this point I'm just looking for some opinions. I trust the opinions of yall more then what I can find anywhere else Thank you.

Hey all. Thanks everyone for your well wishes! Saturday was my 1st day out. I met my driver trainer Friday. I got a text from my recruiter and he wanted me to go back to orientation to get the fuel card and fill out some paperwork. While there, I met my driver trainer; Robert. He's been trucking since '93. Extremely knowledgeable; not just about operating a truck, but also the business as well. He's an LP driver (I think that means Lease to Purchase).

Our first day was a little messed up. We had to trade and empty trailer for a loaded on at a Target distribution center in Suffolk, VA. Right at the gate, they refused the empty trailer and said there were too many holes in it. What I didn't know or really understand is that there is another Target; I'm assuming distribution center; maybe 1 to 1 1/2 miles away. Anyway, Robert said that the other one never even checks the condition of the trailers and the one we went to seems to want to turn everyone down. We went to the other center and they said that we couldn't trade our trailer for another one there. Ugh! So, we went to a Pilot station in between the 2 centers and Robert called his agent and explained the situation. He said he'd get back to him when he found another trailer. About 2 1/2 hours passed by and there was no call. I could see Robert was getting frustrated and he went up to another Western Express truck that was right in front of us. He found out that they were going to Target as well, but the one that never checks the trailers. He asked nicely if we could switch trailers and the driver agreed. Problem solved. We both just wished it didn't take 2 1/2 hours to find someone to switch with.

We're now near Savanah, GA and we're set up for tomorrow. Some tile manufacturer right down the street from us. We're at a Pilot now. Just got a shower 🚿 and feel human again. Getting up at 6am for a 7am appointment.

Everyone drive safely and TTYL 👋