Fugg me. Change and not for the better.

Been two years doing it one way, and getting by more or less, now loosing lots of flexibility and it ain't looking good. Over the road trucking ain't all glamour boys! LOL.

One change, loosing my "PC Miles". Personal Conveyance. Was allotted 20 miles per day on my off duty time I could drive to do stuff like go to a grocery store, restaurant, F'off etc.... Didn't use it much, but, it was key to survival. Now, on my daily 10 hours off duty, and weekly 34 hour resets, I can not drive even across a truck stop parking lot without it putting me on duty F'ing up my break time, resetting it to zero. Pretty well fugged IMO. Used to go onto drive time at 1.8 miles rolling, now activates at 5mph, no distance requirement and no ability to edit and no PC.... Lookout for the slow motion truck headed to Wally World!

Dammit all to hell. Had it made six months ago, then it got worse, lost a lot of miles and long range good money trips, now it's worser, even less options and more BS. Dammit. Looking at other options, many companies say 4 weeks out at a time. SOB!


I do not really feel better having expressed this. SOB! This, truly sucks balls. Did I mention a new chain of command too? Giving it some time but darn skeptical. Chit!

Is this company changes or new federal regulations?

Your comments are very interesting to me. My company builds semi truck parts and I often wonder about the guys who get our products. Could you explain exactly how the allotted hours works? I think there is much confusion about this among people who dont drive. Thanks

Sorry to hear this, MB.

Really both, I believe the gripe is with the company's implementation of the regs.... (And there's a Company buyout, run it into the ground, and shutdown a division involved. Over a 1000 people just got fugged by the parent company....)





It's too convoluted to fully 'xplain here. But, basically, on a daily basis I have 14 work hours to complete a maximum of 11 hours of driving. Then I must take a minimum of 10 hours off to start another day. Then a max of 70 work hours in an 8 day period (some do 60 per 6 days). Must take 34 hours off to reset the week. Could work 8.75 hours per day and not run out of time but it don't pay.... Drive like heck to maximize 11, takes about 12 hours. Ten off, go again. Can burn 70 hours on duty time in 5, 6 , 7 days real easy.

This change means my trip to get groceries will count against my allotted time to make money. And no play.... And more, which I will not go into....

Thanks. There's more not mentioned. It's no bueno.... Looking for a solution.

There's been, as of a few months ago, no more taking off from Montana to the east coast, circling back out west to grab a load to to Cali then OR or WA then rolling back to Montana.... @ 2 or 3 weeks usually, or 1.5 sometimes..... I guess those were the good ol' days!

Sounds like a damn good excuse to find an uber at each stop

Wont be long and the self driving trucks will change your job again.

That sucks. Maybe Uber or hauling a small 49cc scooter would help?

Frog snacks.


Sorry to hear.

For starters, I'm not sure how you guys do it. Stay out for days, or even weeks at a time. You really have to like to drive.

You've got to love the ELD's. They're one cause of inflation. Last year, when they mandated the ELD's, my freight rates went up by 25% to 50%. I lost my ass because it was right after I set all of my prices for the year. All of the small trucking companies that I deal with freaked out, and are still freaking out. I hear some stories. I think the worst thing that guys run into, is when they're 30 miles from home or the yard, and they run out of hours. The schedules are all screwed up too. Loads are always late being picked up or delivered. It sucks for you guys, I feel for ya. Ever think of getting a local job so you'll be home every day? Not sure how close to a major city you live though. I know that around here, good drivers are at a premium. Good luck to you, I hope you figure it out.

Might want to start looking into a sage grouse job again?

Corporate work sucks.

Nearly as bad as Gooberment work.

"We're moving operations to Georgia, your job will be there if you want it." when you live in MT and like it there.

Good luck with working something out. Maybe get an E-bike to get around on when you're stopped for a bit.

No wonder these OTR companies can't find good drivers, or the ones that are willing to work those conditions are foreigners.

Wishing you the best.

Geno

There haven't been any negative changes to the Federal PC rules in a while, several positive ones last year, so this one is a company rule. Do you have a driver retention office? I'd go talk to them about your future plans.

In the meantime, Uber, Lyft, local girlfriend would be the ticket. You do know that there are several options now to get groceries delivered to the truck stop through several apps? I know guys do it with Walmart groceries.

We have a full time driver, and he makes more by half than any other employee. The guys will bitch, until I ask them if they want his job, and they all start staring at their shoes and back peddling. The guy earns every freaking penny we pay him. You guys are the backbone of this economy.

If you're not happy, lots of guys out there making really good money doing LTL line haul (Old Dominion, Estes, etc). Home more nights than out. Other places to look are companies that ship their own products (like we do). They typically run out and back. Think window manufacturers, that sort of thing. Finally, industrial suppliers, tanker yankers like Praxair etc, usually pay very, very well and home every night.

That blows goats, Boomer. Sorry to hear that.

If I was an experienced driver, I'd look into getting a job driving a feeder for UPS.

Leave from a destination,...drive to a destination,...drive back to the original destination during a single shift.

They're hiring seasonal drivers around here right now. It could be a way to get your foot in the door.

Boomer,

Bristoe has decent idea there if you can get on with them and they have a transfer spot nearby.

Southern OR/ Northern CA/NV guys swap trailers up the road about an hour from me. I'm thinking, by estimating drive time, the CA/NV folks get back to the Reno area every night/morning. OR guys likely going to Ashland/Medford/Grant's Pass areas. Maybe Bend. Not sure where UPS has their depots up there.

Again, good luck.

Geno

I worked loading trucks at UPS way back in the day and the feeder (semi) driving jobs were the holy grail.

The package car drivers have to run their asses off. But the big rig drivers had it made. Decent pay,...good benefit package,..home every night,..

Tons of driving jobs in ND. Probably could get on a 2-1 or 3-1 rotation. I bet it pays more than OTR driving also.

FUGG! I don't abide company work, chain of commande OR pecking order bullchit, God Bless you guys that can/do.......................I love my farm!

Yes.




=====================================================================================================
Dutch, What's occurred is our company's transition to final rule ELDs from a "grandfathered AOBRD" system. But, the kill-off of our little company by the big company is what has dic'd me the most.... Specifically the PC miles, which to the best of my understanding was never allowed by the parent Co.... I am not sure I can take it, standing upright.... All in all it's a loss of pay overall, significantly over last year.


Just got assigned to a female boss! Good gawd, what are they thinking?

I don't know where you're going,.....but it's time to figure it out.

There ain't no reasoning with a bitch boss.

Think of a short man with one nut and a nubbin dick that goes schizo for one week every month and hates your guts for the other three.

That's a bitch boss.

Women are for fuggin' and making BLTs.

Make 'em a boss,....it'll never end.

Any man working for them is going to pay the price for every bad fug and every BLT in their history.

Besides that,....any woman in the trucking industry is gonna be ugly.

That means lots of bad fugs and enough BLTs to wipe out every feral hog in Texas and Florida.

Take an ugly woman who has spent her life hovering over a skillet of bacon in order to get a series of fugs that have always turned out to be bad ('cause that's the only kind ugly women get),...she's gonna have some serious baggage.

,....I'm just sayin',......*shrugg*

First day on the job,....here comes some squatty little bowlegged woman with one titty the size of a golf ball and a golf ball duct taped to her chest where the other one is supposed to be,.....but never showed up,..

"GATHER 'ROUND" she hollers as her mouth gapes to expose the 11 yellow teeth that she still posesses,....

That's when you know your world has been flip fuggin' flopped.

hmmmmmm,.....no response.

Everybody on here must let their wives access the campfire these days.

They're all thinkin',..."Who-eee,...I hope she don't read that'un".

Grace to you friend.
Went through big shakeup last year.
Very hard on my soul.
Hope you can get a good deal somewhere.

Lot Lizards gotta eat too......
have her bring you a wing and a Dew.




Good Luck.

Life is a shakeup.

That's what it's for.

no option to bring a moped along in the truck? probably not.

It's like a slow motion horror movie playing out.....

I could not be a driver, sorry your gig isn’t as good as it was!

Boomer, old advice, a good man lands on his feet. The best to you.

Thanks all ya'll.... It has actually helped to get it off my chest. Had some fun with some previous travel threads but the past few months it's been no good, OK but just OK.... Sure seen a lot of country.... Local stuff I can get into doesn't quite get us what we need..... Big companies suck in my experience.

Dump truck drivers are getting $42.50 an hour here in West Washington.

In 1987 I almost went that route!

Was thinking about this “big companies suck” today driving around Great Falls. I truly don’t understand how people survive in that world.

Not for me ...ever.

Yah, Great Falls is yuge!

No, just happened to be down there and was contemplating how all businesses these days have gotten too big.

Sad situation IMO.

Truck drivers are a vital piece of america....hats off to you for staying with it this long....
As a farmer I move all my own grain with truck about 100 miles or so to market....so I I really respect a guy who does it every day...
Problem as I see it...is the public perception of truckers....in my 100 mile trip inverably I will meet 1 trucker knot head who wants to pass on a hill or tailgat some little car for miles....even tho I meet 2 or 300 nice curtious drivers....that one gives them all the same Image..so there will be absoutly zero support fro reducing these crippling regulations that has turned the industry into somthing no one wants to do...

Ohhh....

Two words- - - - - -"Owner Operator!" When I drove I had a bumper sticker- - - - -"I'd rather have a sister in a whorehouse than a brother in the Teamsters!"
Jerry