I only lasted a month as a company driver, in a lightweight. A lightweight truck has a small sleeper and no storage space and being out on the road for 30 days at a time...well...it gets very uncomfortable. Belle was a good truck, I had no problems out of her and she pulled heavier loads like she was pulling a light one. I also did not like the fact that I was forced to go places that I did not want to go. The pay sucked. I was at one shipper with a bunch of lease guys, we all had the same load going 2 blocks...literally...down the street...I got paid 18 cents for that load...they got paid $1400. That was when I decided to form a company and lease a truck.
Texas Native Trucking, LLC was formed in Missouri on April 12, 2012. I leased a 2010 Peterbilt 387...I figured what the hell, Peterbilt is a Texas manufactured truck, (manufactured in Denton, Texas for those of you who did not know that.) And I had such good luck with Belle. I named the new truck Jade.
Full size condo sleeper...she is nice. The first month of leasing my own truck and having the freedom to pick and choose where I go and what loads I take has been rewarding. The second month not so great...broke down twice and was down for a week each time. The third month is not looking any better have been broke down 3 times and am sitting in Ardmore, Oklahoma right now...waiting...talked to Fleet Manager and told him that something needed to be done about this truck and we are in the process of seeing about getting a different one...will try to update more as this progresses.
Would I trade my new career choice? No! The only drawback to this lifestyle is that I am not home much and I do miss my family...but when I am running the roads and delivering loads and not broke down, the money is good and I am seeing parts of the USA that I never would have gotten to see otherwise and I am having a blast.
Until next time friends...keep the rubber side down, the shiny side up and the hammer down.
