Mileage Per Week

Okay, something else I haven't been aware of. What is this Lightweight and Heavyweight distinction between trucks and the CPM difference in pay?

Don't have a clue what this is about.

Thanks,

DSTURBD

The reason for the difference in pay is that with a Lightweight truck because it weighs a lot less you can haul more weight at a time. So Prime has tried to make it enticing to go with the smaller truck. The down side is that you have less storage room for all your personal things.

So you have to decide what is more important, making a littler better money or creature comfort?

Ernie

Thanks for the answers guys! I now realize that I have zero interest in the whole "lightweight" thing. As you are probably getting tired of hearing me say, I drove OTR for a few years many years ago. Back then, the only guys, pretty much, who had the really nice trucks were the O/O's. I always wanted to run a truck like that! For me, being single and of a more "mature" age LOL, money is not the most important thing. I plan on this probably being my last career change and am the most interested in being out there logging miles, seeing new places all of the time, being comfortable, all while having the kind of truck that I can be really proud of. I have no reason not to be working as many hours and miles as are legal, as I have no tethers to home or a particular place, and time off will be time off wherever I am. If I am off for a day or two where there is something to see or do, I will do so and enjoy it just as much as others might enjoy being home with family. I have owned many Corvettes over the years and always had to look back at it as I walked away and just enjoy how it looked and feel the pride of it being my vehicle. Have felt that way about most of my vehicles, and very much want to feel that way about my rig! It is one of the things that keeps me jazzed and excited about what I am doing and that is (almost) every bit as important to me as money. I want to enjoy the entire experience! I know that Brett and everyone here always preach against leasing a truck and I completely understand why and mostly agree, but these are reasons for me why I might eventually think seriously about it a couple of years down the line. For me, it's not just about money, a big portion for me is the simple, and rather substantial, pride of ownership!! Now bear in mind that I am no dummy and will definitely wait for at least a couple of years until the experience and scheduling skills have thoroughly set in, but I might go that route somewhere down the line unless I find that I get a new company truck every couple of years, I get to choose (to some extent) what it is and how it is equipped, and so on and so forth with no cash outlay or risk on my part. Obviously, that would be the ideal set-up!!! The bottom line is that it is NOT just about the money for me. It is as much the experience as anything for me at this point in my life. This will be what I call my working retirement. I want to travel, see things and people, and my two favorite scenery things are Interstates and golf courses. When we were little and traveling with family, my mom would look out the window and ask, "Oh, isn't that so beautiful?" I would say, "Yeah, it's alright, but show me a green, finely manicured golf course. Now that is beautiful!!"

Oh well, I've rambled on enough.

DSTURBD

ChickieMonster who do you drive for

ChickieMonster who do you drive for

TransAm

I think you'll figure out that being a company driver is the perfect "working retirement". Personally I always loved the large carriers because they have such a huge variety of freight, beautiful equipment, and a gigantic support system that makes life on the road so much easier. They have national accounts for mechanic services, towing, motels, tires, fuel, lumpers, and all kinds of perks like travel discounts, health hotlines, and gym memberships. So it's like they have their own AARP built right in!

I completely understand pride of ownership, but obviously there's a huge difference between owning something fun like a car versus committing massive amounts of time and money and energy to running a business, especially a commodity service like trucking where you have to go, go, go all the time to keep your head above water.

I'm confident you'll figure it out easily enough.

She drives for Trans Am. Sounds like a really good company from her posts.

DSTURBD

I think you'll figure out that being a company driver is the perfect "working retirement". Personally I always loved the large carriers because they have such a huge variety of freight, beautiful equipment, and a gigantic support system that makes life on the road so much easier. They have national accounts for mechanic services, towing, motels, tires, fuel, lumpers, and all kinds of perks like travel discounts, health hotlines, and gym memberships. So it's like they have their own AARP built right in!

I completely understand pride of ownership, but obviously there's a huge difference between owning something fun like a car versus committing massive amounts of time and money and energy to running a business, especially a commodity service like trucking where you have to go, go, go all the time to keep your head above water.

I'm confident you'll figure it out easily enough.

Thanks Brett! I like that..."Their own AARP"! That's a good one! All of those percs and benefits are definitely going to make it nice and are part of the reason I describe it as a working retirement, not to mention the outstanding health insurance benefits, although I do have VA health coverage as well. Also, my name doesn't have to be on the title for me to take pride in it. If I'm responsible for it (operating, cleaning, polishing, and maintaining) and it is mine everyday to work with, that's the same for me.

My two preferences would be KW T680 or Pete 579, with a 13 speed as that tranny is what I drove the most, but I know how that goes...If wishes were fishes, the seas would be full!!

DSTURBD

Isn't that cute... wonder what it will look like when it grows up?