Comments By Bel A.

Couple more things. You should be getting a white sheet of paper that lists your trips, miles, accessory pay, rate per mile, total miles for the week etc. They're transitioning to a web/computer system, whether this is just for the trip breakdown, or the physical sealed paycheck - I'm unsure. Seems we're the last to have it implemented - but if you're not getting some pay info then I'd guess they're on the new system and haven't informed you about it.

Ask your compliance/log or linehaul manager about the paper logs - you should have passed the certification period by now.

Got that lesion cut out today and cauterised and stitched, looks like I've been bar fighting again. They're sending it off for biopsy and I'll find out next week if it's malignant or not and wether or not they'll have to remove some more flesh from the lip. Lido caine is wearing off now, so I'll move on to more traditional pain management systems, AKA Rolling Rock, mow the lawns and go split some more of that oak tree up.

Keep safe, have a good week - I called your terminal manager and said you really enjoyed back to back Jersey City runs - he said he'd hook you up. Good of me, right! :) B.

Week 4 completed. I've now been to all the states up in New England. Even took a ferry from VT to NY across a lake ;) One of my runs this past week had me going up to Maine. It was a 500+ mile trip one way, which gave me 1000+ miles in two days - nice. I'm getting to know some of the terminals now, not really needing directions as much anymore. That kind of repetition is what I love about my job; it's only going to get more 'boring.' Which is good for me. The more I do the job, the more comfortable I get. The more I also realize I could never do OTR now. Having to find new customer locations or shippers / receivers on a weekly basis would actually be what I'd consider a negative of the job, besides being away from home for weeks at a time. As I've gotten older, I prefer more routine and the expected. Perhaps when I was younger I would've enjoyed OTR.

If I wasn't doing linehaul for an LTL company, I'd probably look into tanker jobs for local trucking companies. Interestingly enough we have another member here that just recently posted about possibly looking for more hometime, and he's looking at tanker jobs. I always wanted to drive a tanker. But it looks like something pretty major would have to happen for me to leave my cush LTL gig. The company I work for is not one many drivers walk away from.

My company has us on e-logs, but during training we need to also maintain a paper logbook. I'm hoping this will be waived soon enough, not sure how long they need me to do the paper logs until they're satisfied with what they're looking for. I already knew how to do a logbook once I graduate from trucking school. it's just one more thing I have to do while running, but hey, I'm a company man.

My shifting is getting more smooth. I don't use the clutch anymore except for downshifting or starting in gear. I actually find a difference between the Cascadias that have a detroit engine and a cummins. The engine brakes on a detroit kick in faster, which affects shifting while floating the gears. You need to be a little faster in between the gears while moving the stick. Of course this is nil if the jake is off. But then again, I can still notice a difference in shifting. Even having the air conditioning on will affect how the truck shifts and runs.

I'm learning more stuff by experience for hooking up and breaking down sets of doubles, little tips and tricks. I'll try to remember to share these tidbits once I write my doubles tutorial.

I haven't posted much lately about paychecks. As always, I only provide this info so that anybody interested in looking into LTL linehaul will know generally what to expect. My company is one of the top paying companies, so your mileage might vary. Suffice it to say that last pay period I cleared over $900 for the week - after taxes. I'm still trying to figure out how the paycheck is broken down, so I couldn't quite see how many miles I ran. I think I've been close to about 1800 miles per week, which is going to increase the faster I get. I should be eventually running 2300-2700 miles per week. Also, my cpm actually increased lately. Looks like I'm at .57 now. I'll top out at a little over .60 in about 2 years. Unless there's another raise of course.

They'll be a payraise next year, same time as this year. It just went into effect last weeks paycheck, so teams are on .6853 cpm, and I'm going to guess your solo rate will 61 or 62 cpm by the time you hit the top rate, plus the raises over the next 2 years - could be 65 cpm or more by the time that happens.

They pretty much give that cost of living raise every year that they meet or exceed profit. And throw a discretionary amount in your 401k plan in Jan/Feb based on the same criteria. Make sure you get in on the 401k. We put 30% of our plan into ODFL stock from the get go, 7 years ago. The ODFL stock has gone from $16 to $70 a share in 7 years. Putting in 6%, the company match of 3%, has grown the plan to over $220,000 as of this month.

Kind of hard to say AJ. LTL and city would be more stressful for me. I liked being regional and love what I am doing now, (OTL). Not sure there is a lower position on the ladder though. Just depends on what you want to do and if you truly enjoy it, there will be less stress. I think you can consider moving into another division a promotion if you started somewhere you didn`t want to be and worked hard to move to where you did want to be.

Thanks RT ...

btw, what is OTL?

On The Lamb ?

Running from the law sounds stressful to me !!!

Good luck! Wear that sunscreen while you're hogging them fields, that sun is still putting a hurt on the skin!

ODFL will probably look at you when the busy season starts in April/ May - by which stage you'll have 9 months in.

Greasy side down !

10 speed governed at 62 mph. Live load and unload at both ends. Time to make that miracle happen.

Yup. You can't beat solid math. Give it your best crack.

Driver U, welcome to the forum!

You didn't share with us how long you've been driving, but I'm going to take a wild guess that you are pretty new to this industry. Your post indicates a real misunderstanding about how HOS violations not only have a negative effect on the drivers, but also have a negative effect on the company's CSA score. Companies don't intentionally try to mess up their CSA scores. Every successful driver wants to be pushing his hours - I'm bumping up against the clock all the time. It just so happens that when you are up against the clock that shows that you are productive, and it also shows on your paycheck that you know how to play this game like a true professional. If you want to make some real money at this you will always be running out your clock - if you are not you are leaving way too many miles on the table.

The driver makes the final call on whether he will violate the rules or not. There is no physical way that manager can get in that truck and force you to break the rules. You have got to be the professional who knows how to manage his time and know whether you can commit to a load or not. If you get a load that can't be done then you just let them know. It is as clear cut as that. It is not your driver managers responsibility to keep up with your hours, and I sure wouldn't ever count on weekend dispatch to be watching out for me.

I've talked to my safety officer, she just says well you accepted the hours of the assignment so your at fault.

As harsh as it may seem to you, your safety officer is correct. You are the one responsible. One of the worse elements of being a driver manager is the element of having to babysit grown adults day in and day out. They grow weary of this stuff. Be the kind of driver who amazes his manager at getting things accomplished. The top drivers in any fleet do this stuff day in and day out. The managers give them loads and they somehow magically figure out how to make it work. If it is going to be impossible, they tell the manager and they will see if they can get a delivery appointment changed or whatever needs to happen so that it can be done legally.

I'm sure there are drivers at USA Truck who are getting all the miles they can handle, and making top dollar without experiencing the problems that you've accused the company of causing you. The reason I can say that with confidence is because that is true at almost any major carrier. This is where you need to focus your efforts. Work hard at your trip planning and being fully aware of what kind of hours you have available to you. Refuse to run a load that can't be done, but learn to manage those clocks so that you are the guy that they can depend on to be the one who somehow always manages to be able to pull things off. That is the way I built my reputation as a top tier driver, and it will work for you also. Once you have established yourself as a truly professional driver who understands how the game is played the load planners will be looking for your truck when they need some help with some really good loads. The guys who can always seem to get the job done are the guys who keep getting the "good stuff".

my only question is how do you bump up against the clockwhile not having to reset?

8.75 hours a day on duty/driving would give you enough to roll over indefinitely, the reality of that happening is another matter.

One day sitting or only using 2 hours will trip that up quickly.

I burn 60 in 5 days and then reset, though we've managed to run 8400 miles team in 8.5 days before.

Not a lot you can do apart from shoving that puppy in to sleeper or off duty at EVERY available opportunity.

Today's schedual 10 break ends at 11 am hebron ky First Pu 11:30 Dayton oh Drop nashville 1600 Pu nashville 1600 Drop Atlanta 0100

Dayton - Hebron is 70 miles. Unless you've got a 13 speed with 2.64 rears, and a police escort - I'm not sure you'll make that pickup on time - !

A thousand mile journey starts with a single step.

Though small, you've just taken it.

I believe there is a thread on here for company sponsored training.

Prime and Swift come to mind.

Remember - you are starting on your back foot, the company will be offering you everything. Therefore adversity and sacrifice will be encountered. A positive mindset will be of paramount importance.

Good luck. Stand by.

As a company driver -

Miles × CPM = Gross wage.

From your gross, subtract non taxable deductions like 401k contributions.

Then subtract state and federal tax, social security and medicare,

Health dental and vision insurance, short and long term disability plans come out next.

Now take out any 401k loan repayment, cash advances, and any amounts that your employer has deemed you responsible for - load locks, safety equipment etc ( though IMO all equipment should be supplied that is necessy for the job).

The result should be your net figure. And may it be as large as possible, sir.

If you haven't started trucking yet, I'd leave it for a month or two till you're settled in before you up sticks and move out, but it's a great savings vehicle to live in the truck and use a motel or family on your down time.