Comments By Solo

I guess I may be ahead of the curve. I had those hard lessons learned here in my first 4 months. Especially w/ that Navi-DON'T GO!

I run marathons for fun, so I have NO problem setting that brake and taking a walk. That's how I maintain my 160lb figure I tell people.

Have been Solo flatbedder for TMC for 4 months now and my lowest take home (after taxes) has been $1339.32 and my largest week (after taxes) has been $2202.49.

I'm staying in the $1500-$1600/wk after taxes range as an avg.

If you take my gross pay and just divide it by ALL miles (not including tarp and bounce pay), it works out to $.55/cpm

If you take my gross pay + tarp pay + bounce pay and divide it by dispatched miles, it jumps up to $.65/cpm

If my suspension gauge is over 70psi AND my trailer gauge is over 60psi, I'm hitting a scale.

These 2 metrics and 1/2 tank fuel put me right around 79k gross.

Starting from this past Sunday heading from Iowa -> NE -> SD -> ND -> MN -> IA -> MO -> AR I've only seen 2 open Scales and was pre-pass on both.

Lets' see what the rest of the week brings.

I bought a Sleeper Number Varicool topper, and it's MUCH better than the factory mattress. If I knew I was going to be in this truck for an extended period of time, I would go the route Rainy did and get a proper mattress and shoe horn it in the side door.

I'm too new to really provide you any insight. That being said, I do find myself getting faster with securing/breaking down each week. The key is to find a method to your securement (and breakdown) and fine tune it. Repeat it. Become more efficient at it. Don't keep going back and forth (each side of the truck). Work down one side and then the other. For tarps don't work all 4 corners. Work one end, fold it up the middle, then work the other end.

I've been OTR 4 months now and only 3 of my loads have been untarped...but I still feel I'm leaving a lot of time on the table w/ regards to my securing and breaking down, but I DO see time being shaved off, so I'm starting to finally be consistent and subsequently a bit more timely.

As for securing different types of loads...well, I'm probably not the best one to ask. TMC by default exceeds DOT requirements, and I exceed TMC requirements...it's just what makes me feel comfortable knowing that if something happens to the freight I'm hauling, then the trailer and tractor are going w/ the freight because it's not just falling off my deck due to poor securement. Does that come at a time cost? Sure does...but I've not had any loads shift, that's for sure.

As for backing? Ha...Ya, again...I'm too new. It's a struggle. Maybe one month I'll start to feel like I "get it", but the spread axles are just tricky to me. I GOAL A LOT and pray that with time, I get better.

I really believe it's all in the set-up and unfortunately, during my 5 weeks of OTR training, we didn't really practice backing. Did I back? Sure. A lot. But I just did what my trainer said to do vs me trying to figure it out. Time is money...trainers like money.

During my 3-weeks orientation, we just practiced the 3 types of backing maneuvers to pass DOT test, but didn't really explain how they would be applicable...and if anything, I've paralleled a HECK of a lot more than straight line back and off-set thus far... but should have REALLY spent time doing truck/rest stop backing maneuvers at both orientation and OTR training, since both of those are what cause the most preventable accidents for TMC per safety, but yet that's not their focus.

It's going to be a lot at first, but it does get better. People told me that ahead of me starting, and I didn't believe them but I am finally beginning to breath a bit more easily.

Grats! I for one would appreciate the year in review.

Be careful with UPS as "real addresses". I tried that route and was denied in TN. They do not accept UPS "Real Addresses" for the purpose of residency, so make sure you find out what your state approves of or not.

I've been homeless for nearly a year now and set up a legal residence via a mail forwarding service in Sioux Falls, SD and it has been perfect for my needs. I have a " Real ID compliant" DL/CDL from SD and my W2 from TMC shows my "legal address" and thus I do not pay state income tax, since SD doesn't have any.

I feel guilty, but I left my moms a day early this weekend to get to my Tues am consignee.

I just couldn't get any sleep in that dark/cold, and for all intents and purposes COMFORTABLY soft bed. I just tossed and turned all night Friday and Sat.

Hit the NB 75 KY welcome center last night, and Slept my butt off! dang I had some catching up to do. Even fell BACK asleep for a few more hours after eating some cereal and having a cup of coffee. My truck just gives me the sleep I need.

TMC's FM's sent out a similar message as well.

I'm marked as a "Runner" and thankfully haven't been slowed down by anything real or perceived.