Questions As I'm Researching...

So right now I am gathering all the info I can to decide if this is the right decision for me. I must say this site has been great and I feel it is probably the best place to ask things, and get straightforward answers.

Now I have been scouring TT and know I have seen some links that would probably answers some of these, but I seem to have stumbled on them without paying attention. So if you want to answer or just link some things that would be cool.

- Is there an easy way to understand home time and how it actually works? As an example, Say I've been out for a month and I want, and am eligible for home time. I live in OK but I've just delivered to Ohio. When I ask for the time am I asking to get a load back to OK? Or am I asking to park the truck and find my way home? etc..

-When looking at companies on job sites i have noticed that some have Collosion/load/other stuff Insurance listed as a benefit and some don't list it at all. I imagine that is important to have ;) so should i avoid considering companies that don't list it? or if everything else is okay is that a question for a recruiter?

-Also, while looking at the benefits list for companies, I saw Fuel surcharge, layover pay and pick up delivery pay. Now they may sound self explanatory, but I'm not sure how they work and since they seem to be standard for most companies, not sure how much of a "benefit" they are.

Those are some basic questions that need a bit of clarification for now.

On to the next thing. I live in Oklahoma, married, two kids (13 &11) so I have been using here and another site to look at companies that hire from, or have terminals in, or around, OK. Lucky me, it seems almost all companies like OK. I think ( and I say that because I have no real idea) that I'd like to eventually go Tanker or Flatbed. Why? They seem specialized. There seems more to it than just pick up and deliver, which I know is NOT as easy as I just made it sound. On top of the daily challenge of pick up and delivery I think I'd like some other challenge too. So of course as I'm looking I am paying attention as to who has a variety of transports. Okay, so after that little bit of info, at this point in time I have looked at a some companies and have a few I'd love feed back on if you feel like it. Oh, and yes, i will use the search function on this site to read up on what has already been posted, too.

USA Knight KLLM Prime Werner Swift

Those would be ones I'd list as contenders with Crete, Celadon and Transam possibly being candidates.

Anywho, thanks for reading the wall of text and for any replys. Be safe y'all.

Oh, and if you need any clarification on why I asked something or like a company so you can answer better, ask a way!

-Kyle

- Is there an easy way to understand home time and how it actually works? As an example, Say I've been out for a month and I want, and am eligible for home time. I live in OK but I've just delivered to Ohio. When I ask for the time am I asking to get a load back to OK? Or am I asking to park the truck and find my way home? etc..

Basically you will need to schedule your home time with your dispatcher about a week or two ahead of when you want to take it. Then as you get a little closer to it send a message or make a call to your dispatcher reminding them of your anticipated home-time coming up. They will be working on a plan to get you some freight that gets you close to your home town. Once they get you down close to home they will tell you to go ahead and take the truck home for your home time. That is how it works. Be careful about things like doctor's appointments. They can't always manage to get you home on the exact day you request, but they will try to get close to it, so if you have a doctor appointment, or a child's birthday party on a Thursday, you may need to request being home on Tuesday or Wednesday at the latest if you want to be there on Thursday.

-When looking at companies on job sites i have noticed that some have Collosion/load/other stuff Insurance listed as a benefit and some don't list it at all. I imagine that is important to have ;) so should i avoid considering companies that don't list it? or if everything else is okay is that a question for a recruiter?

Don't concern yourself with that stuff. You will be covered by more than enough insurance as a company driver. What you are seeing is in reference to drivers who are owner/operators.

-Also, while looking at the benefits list for companies, I saw Fuel surcharge, layover pay and pick up delivery pay. Now they may sound self explanatory, but I'm not sure how they work and since they seem to be standard for most companies, not sure how much of a "benefit" they are.

Fuel surcharge payments are again something that concerns the owner/operators. Almost any major carrier has layover pay and pick-up and drop pay. I wouldn't let all those new words get you confused at this point.

On to the next thing. I live in Oklahoma, married, two kids (13 &11) so I have been using here and another site to look at companies that hire from, or have terminals in, or around, OK. Lucky me, it seems almost all companies like OK. I think ( and I say that because I have no real idea) that I'd like to eventually go Tanker or Flatbed. Why? They seem specialized. There seems more to it than just pick up and deliver, which I know is NOT as easy as I just made it sound. On top of the daily challenge of pick up and delivery I think I'd like some other challenge too.

I'm a flat-bed driver in a specialized/dedicated division at Knight Transportation. Flat-bedding does have it's own set of challenges, which is what makes it appealing to me. If my work does not challenge me then I am just bored, and boring is not good as far as I'm concerned. You sound like an ideal candidate for the flat-bed work that I so enjoy. That is one of the things that you should settle first - what type of freight you want to start out with. That decision alone will eliminate many of your choices from your decision, making your decision less stressful. Take a look at this thread on Flat-bed Variety, it will give you an idea of the endless challenges we face on a daily basis.

You may also enjoy reading this thread on Securing a flat-bed load.

Thanks Old School.

I was wondering how much of the benefits I was reading about we're company versus lease. Good info.

Also I am with you on challenge needing to be in the day to day experiences or I'll tend to be bored. I'll peruse those threads, thanks.

Just thought I'd pop in and mention Melton Truck Lines is a flatbed company based out of Tulsa. But there are plenty of good options all over, and you are correct, Oklahoma drivers can get hired on by nearly every major national carrier.

Just thought I'd pop in and mention Melton Truck Lines is a flatbed company based out of Tulsa. But there are plenty of good options all over, and you are correct, Oklahoma drivers can get hired on by nearly every major national carrier.

Thanks for that Skydrick. I'll have to look into Melton. I've seen there name on every site related to Oklahoma and Truck driving jobs, but didn't relise they were based out of Tulsa.

I will say my head is spinning as I keep researching this, it can be a bit overwhelming, LOL.

So, a new question from me concerning the regulated hours. How does the 14/10 and 70/34 work exactly? In other words what counts towards the drive time?

Let's say i start out at 6am and drive for 5 hours, drop a load off and then head out for a new load. Every thing went smoothly so far and I am at a shipper and have driven 7 hours for the day. Let's say it takes 6 hours to load me, do I only have an hour left? or do I still have 6 hours of drive time left? I'm curious about how everything is set and then reset?

Thanks.