Comments By tripletdad

So, I know that everyone here agrees that lease purchases are bad. But what about straight up owning? I’m nearing the end of my one year contract with my training company I found through this site. I’m looking seriously at my options, and I keep coming back to owner operating. I am looking at something in the 2-3 year old age range, and then signing on with someone. I will NOT have a truck payment in this scenario, and I should be able to maintain a good maintenance buffer account. I’ve never owned a business before, but I think it could be worth the risk. Once I would feel it out, I would potentially be looking into buying a second truck and having someone drive it, but that’s not anything in the near future. I’d want to give owning my own truck a few years first.

TL;DR—is owning a truck outright with no payments and arbitrary fees ever a good idea?

So it’s hArd to believe, but I’ve been doing this for almost a year now. I started with Millis. While I’ve learned a lot and been happy, I’m looking for something where I can get more options. I’m looking at Crete as a short list. I’d get a pretty substantial raise, and from the numerous drivers I’ve spoken with, the miles are there and they seems to be a company that treats employees well. Since millis got bought out by heartland (before I started) I’ve heard a lot of changes, none that have really affected me, other than losing my safety bonus for a year because i tapped a stop sign. $0 in damage, but I had my speed dropped to 62 mph and lost the quarterly and annual bonus. Not cool, but it happened my first week solo, so I’m used to it now. Anyway, thoughts on Crete? Anyone?

Flying J in Hebron, Indiana for the night. Parked next to a guy who’s reefer desperately needs something oiled.

I missed your earlier posts, but congrats on moving into your own truck. This group has been great for me from the beginning when I didn’t know where to start the process and they still are now.

Thanks! I’ll post pics of I knew how to on here. I felt like an old man trying to figure it out lol. Definitely glad to have gotten over covid.

Well y’all, I just passed my six month mark since officially being hired after Cdl school at Millis.

I love this job more every day. The stuff that used to worry me are small potatoes now. It’s amazing the things that just happen now without me getting nervous or worried. Just today, I took wrong turn and ended up on a side street leading to a residential neighborhood. Instead of worrying, I pulled over, looked on my phone at aerial map of my location and found an easy and safe way out of it, and made it look like it was my intention still along.

I’ve been to 20 states in the past 6 month, and one of them, I was not driving. Hospitalized with Covid pneumonia. For 1.5 of those months, I was running with my trainer, so I’ve only been on my own for maybe 3.5 months. I’m still happy they gave me a brand new kenworth with 40 miles on it, and I treat it like my own. I’m at 35,000 miles now, so 10k per month, 2500 a week, and stop home every weekend.

I’m looking at other options to learn once I finish my year here. I may end up staying. I’m happy here. I rarely hear from my dispatcher, I plan my own route and schedule, as long as I’m on time, I hear nothing. If I’m going to be late, as long as I let dispatch know, again, I hear nothing. I’m wondering though if I might like flatbed or tanker though.

I’m taking my daughter out for her spring break. She wants to go see the Gulf of Mexico. Asked my dispatcher and he says he’s gonna do setting he can to make it happen.

Wow, tripletdad!!!!! Hope the KIDS are well, glad YOU are too!

OMG I'm so sorry about the Covid crap. Happened to a FEW of the guys on here, dangit! Glad you bounced back!! Nice new truck, to boot!!! Bet its awesome ..... Pix someday ?!?!? :)

Re: the 'hiccup' / wrong turn ~ That's the way do do it; act like a CAT (feline) and be like "I MEANT to do that!" Hahahaha!!

I'm SO happy for you, good sir!! ENJOY the kiddo, most of all. It's phenominal. We did it for a small while; memories for sure!!

MAJOR CONGRATS!!!! MANY milestones. . . . so glad to hear !!!

~ Anne ~

Well y’all, I just passed my six month mark since officially being hired after Cdl school at Millis.

I love this job more every day. The stuff that used to worry me are small potatoes now. It’s amazing the things that just happen now without me getting nervous or worried. Just today, I took wrong turn and ended up on a side street leading to a residential neighborhood. Instead of worrying, I pulled over, looked on my phone at aerial map of my location and found an easy and safe way out of it, and made it look like it was my intention still along.

I’ve been to 20 states in the past 6 month, and one of them, I was not driving. Hospitalized with Covid pneumonia. For 1.5 of those months, I was running with my trainer, so I’ve only been on my own for maybe 3.5 months. I’m still happy they gave me a brand new kenworth with 40 miles on it, and I treat it like my own. I’m at 35,000 miles now, so 10k per month, 2500 a week, and stop home every weekend.

I’m looking at other options to learn once I finish my year here. I may end up staying. I’m happy here. I rarely hear from my dispatcher, I plan my own route and schedule, as long as I’m on time, I hear nothing. If I’m going to be late, as long as I let dispatch know, again, I hear nothing. I’m wondering though if I might like flatbed or tanker though.

I’m taking my daughter out for her spring break. She wants to go see the Gulf of Mexico. Asked my dispatcher and he says he’s gonna do setting he can to make it happen.

Hey, you updated your pic, kearsey!

As for OP, prior to starting, I’d never even heard of Millis. I waded through the bs, recognized that my recruiter there not only answered my questions, she answered in writing, and in detail. No empty promises. I’ve got a regional job where I’m home every weekend, and I’m still getting the miles I need to keep me happy. On my weekends when I don’t have my kids, s long as I let my dispatcher know early enough in the week, he can keep me routed out over the weekend for a change of scenery or bigger check. Trust YOUR gut when researching. Some places sound great at first but you’ll notice they glaze over details. Dont be afraid to be your own Advocate. This forum is a great reference though. I’ve been out of training and on the road for 6 months now and while I learn something new every day, I love the job more every day, too.

Like Scott...i am.completely biased. I got trained at Prime and almost 6 years later I am still here. Love it!

I hear peo people say all the time that they failed at Prime...and I just shake my head. I am treated like royalty, literally. The mechanics know me and hug me hello.... The dispatchers want me on their fleet and the owner of our 15,000 employee company knows my name. Its a great feeling to belong.

Keep searching.... It takes hard work on your part to build a reputation like that...but when it happens..you never went to leave. Good luck

Somehow I ended up on a text list for Swift, and a phone/email list for hirschbach. I did talk to them once but politely declined when they said 34 hour reset at home instead of the whole weekend. I know I’ve got it good where I’m at. Get home Friday afternoon, leave Monday morning. As long as my kids are small and I only get weekends with them, I’ll be staying where I can have that schedule. Lol.

Seems like common sense, but unfortunately, there are so many entitled people in the world that this is entirety believable. The sad part is that the guy will probably never own up to his part in this.

I did the paid Cdl training from this page. I got my training, I have my Cdl and a job, so I guess you’d say I was successful. I went through millis. They pay for food and hotel during the training. I’d be happy to answer any questions you have