More Miles If I Stay Out Longer?

but to get back to getting there trust and all that, I don’t think they I exists, I’m just a damn truck number rite, everything is qualcom , **** this communication you speak of doesn’t really make any sense to me, I’m a social person, I would love to actually talk and get to know people I work with, not in trucking I guess

Jakester, first of all keep your cool. Don't get yourself riled up and start making wild assumptions.

When someone is new it's always frustrating. People who are highly successful will give new folks advice, and when they can't seem to make it happen right away they decide it must not be possible or someone must be lying to them. Don't make that mistake. You'll create misery for yourself and cost yourself a lot of money.

Old School has plenty of years as a top tier driver. He consistently gets top miles and makes top pay every single year. The information he's giving you is gold. He told you that having a great attitude and communication are keys to success and you start cussing and saying it doesn't make any sense. If you follow the advice of anyone who has been highly successful in life they will not tell you to start cussing and denying the advice of the people who have been there.

One of our moderators, Trucking With Kearsey (formerly known as Rainy) has fantastic relationships with the people she works with at Prime. She is very well-known there because she has always been a top performer and goes out of her way to get to know everyone. She makes that a priority in her life. Make it a priority in your life to get to know the people you work with and you'll find a way to make it happen.

The other type of communication that's critical is with regard to your availability. Keep dispatch updated continuously with everything that's going on. The more accurately you can give them information about when you'll be available for your next load, the better. Being on time or early for every single appointment goes hand in hand with communication. If they know that giving you an assignment is like money in the bank because you're always on time or early, they'll be far more comfortable planning ahead. Planning ahead, or pre-plans, are the key to turning big miles without staying out long. If they can keep you rolling, which they can and they will if they trust you, you'll turn big miles and get home more often.

I worked a regional fleet with U.S. Express and I was home every weekend for an average of about 36 - 48 hours. I would get home either Friday or Saturday, and leave out Sunday or Monday. I averaged 3,000 miles per week. They knew I was as reliable as any human being can be. If you give me an assignment, you can take that check to the bank. So they always had me pre-planned on loads, oftentimes several loads in advance.

It was not uncommon to get my entire week's plan on Monday morning all the way through Friday. Most of my loads were overnight, some were two-day loads. So I would get 3 or 4 loads per week, and sometimes they would stack em up at the start of the week for me. I can promise you less than 5% of OTR drivers get that sort of treatment. You have to be rock-solid, as dependable as the sunrise for a while before that will happen though. At least a few months of perfect on-time or early appointment times.

Hey Jakester, to be fair with you, as a new driver I held to the same idea about staying out longer producing better miles. I think it's a common rookie misperception. It's easy to see it as a means of getting more miles because that's what it seems to be doing for us. The reality is that we've got to build a relationship with dispatch based on trust. That simply means we've proven ourselves reliable under all sorts of circumstances. That takes time, effort, and commitment.

When you hear me talking about relationships and communication, it has little to do with being best buds with your dispatcher. I seldom talk to my dispatcher , and maybe see him once a year. The communication I want people to grasp is just that your dispatcher is constantly aware of your progress. That's accomplished quickly and easily with the macros your company has set up on your on board tablet or Quallcomm. They learn how you work and how they can best utilize you from those onscreen communications and by the accurate execution of those communications.

Brett summed it up beautifully in one of the paragraphs in his response. Here it is. Read it again - it's vital information.

The other type of communication that's critical is with regard to your availability. Keep dispatch updated continuously with everything that's going on. The more accurately you can give them information about when you'll be available for your next load, the better. Being on time or early for every single appointment goes hand in hand with communication. If they know that giving you an assignment is like money in the bank because you're always on time or early, they'll be far more comfortable planning ahead. Planning ahead, or pre-plans, are the key to turning big miles without staying out long. If they can keep you rolling, which they can and they will if they trust you, you'll turn big miles and get home more often.

It sounds like you are a really committed driver. That's great! Keep up the great work. We just don't want to see you burn yourself out. Learn to relax a little and take the time to get away from the truck a little. I get creative with my own ideas. I have rented vacation houses for a few days, gone hiking, or spent time on various beaches. I got myself a hotel room this past weekend for a 34 hour reset. It was very relaxing. I took about six nice hot showers just because I could.

Just as I started my weekend break I sent in a macro informing my dispatcher that I would be available @ 0300 Saturday morning. At 0100 Saturday I got my load assignment - a 1,600 mile load to jump start my week off real nice.

I get creative with my own ideas. I have rented vacation houses for a few days, gone hiking, or spent time on various beaches. I got myself a hotel room this past weekend for a 34 hour reset.

Great idea vacation home. Staying in hotel now usually find a resort but I like your style. Just went from Seattle area to NYC area and tired didn't think of that though.

Going to Maine tomorrow hope that goes well that's #48.

Yeah OS now that I will be running solo within a week, I plan to take any resets I have like that.... Get a nice room, relax check out the area. Maybe find a fishing hole to drown some worms in lol

For now to prove myself to my new DM and new company. Told DM when I met him, I am here to run! don't care bout weekends off, I'll do 6 days a week as long as he keeps me running.

Time will tell

Thanks guys, you know, this company has done everything for me, just don’t want to let them down, thanks for all the advise I really appreciate it

I got that man, just trying to do the rite thing, loyalty is everything to me, this site, this job, I’m all in.

but to get back to getting there trust and all that, I don’t think they I exists, I’m just a damn truck number rite, everything is qualcom , **** this communication you speak of doesn’t really make any sense to me, I’m a social person, I would love to actually talk and get to know people I work with, not in trucking I guess

Jakester, first of all keep your cool. Don't get yourself riled up and start making wild assumptions.

When someone is new it's always frustrating. People who are highly successful will give new folks advice, and when they can't seem to make it happen right away they decide it must not be possible or someone must be lying to them. Don't make that mistake. You'll create misery for yourself and cost yourself a lot of money.

Old School has plenty of years as a top tier driver. He consistently gets top miles and makes top pay every single year. The information he's giving you is gold. He told you that having a great attitude and communication are keys to success and you start cussing and saying it doesn't make any sense. If you follow the advice of anyone who has been highly successful in life they will not tell you to start cussing and denying the advice of the people who have been there.

One of our moderators, Trucking With Kearsey (formerly known as Rainy) has fantastic relationships with the people she works with at Prime. She is very well-known there because she has always been a top performer and goes out of her way to get to know everyone. She makes that a priority in her life. Make it a priority in your life to get to know the people you work with and you'll find a way to make it happen.

The other type of communication that's critical is with regard to your availability. Keep dispatch updated continuously with everything that's going on. The more accurately you can give them information about when you'll be available for your next load, the better. Being on time or early for every single appointment goes hand in hand with communication. If they know that giving you an assignment is like money in the bank because you're always on time or early, they'll be far more comfortable planning ahead. Planning ahead, or pre-plans, are the key to turning big miles without staying out long. If they can keep you rolling, which they can and they will if they trust you, you'll turn big miles and get home more often.

I worked a regional fleet with U.S. Express and I was home every weekend for an average of about 36 - 48 hours. I would get home either Friday or Saturday, and leave out Sunday or Monday. I averaged 3,000 miles per week. They knew I was as reliable as any human being can be. If you give me an assignment, you can take that check to the bank. So they always had me pre-planned on loads, oftentimes several loads in advance.

It was not uncommon to get my entire week's plan on Monday morning all the way through Friday. Most of my loads were overnight, some were two-day loads. So I would get 3 or 4 loads per week, and sometimes they would stack em up at the start of the week for me. I can promise you less than 5% of OTR drivers get that sort of treatment. You have to be rock-solid, as dependable as the sunrise for a while before that will happen though. At least a few months of perfect on-time or early appointment times.

Thanks guys, I M just tired that’s all, nice to have y’all to vent with , love y’all