Question:
Went kinda like this:
pick up preloaded trailer Conway, AR. .... except upon arrival shipper running late & turns into a live load a 6 hr live load
split load in Bloomington, IL. and deliver Indianapolis. Then snatch another load from dropyard and off to Chicago. Hour and a half driving around looking for the location because of BS directions A shag run to top it off left me sitting at the consignee out of hours for the day. Damm dispatcher
Then Chicago to Columbus, OH. Unloaded, caught a few hrs sleep and picked up a load of Bud going to Jacksonville, FL. My 1st experience fighting to balance the load out. 44,400 lbs but must have been the way it was loaded. Had to slide both tandum and 5th wheel & still 80lbs over on the steers. Close enough, soon burned that much fuel off.
Had to swap the load in Tifton, Ga because another driver could not make his delivery time. Well, OK, but I was down to 3.75 hrs myself
Tifton to Savannah in 3.75 hrs?? Had my doubts & told dispatch so. Somehow barely made it BUT.
Now sitting at the TA in Savannah for 34 hrs.
Oh well, chance to get on line, clean the truck, do some laundry, and a pleasant shock is that my Flying-J WI-FI account works here.
Think I'll even get some extra sleep and maybe try the steakhouse across the street.

Answer:

Answer:
Whats the expression????
Oh yeah.
Welcome to trucking.
Answer:
It's OK, best response I've ever seen from Zig.

Answer:

I liked you post,honest actual discription of a work week.
Not something,like doing great got 3000 miles or whatever and leave out the rest of it.
shag for those that don't know is a short local run,most times the pay ain't worth the time involved in doing them
sometimes they are easy,go grab a trailer and move it,in and out no problem,more offen it's only a few miles and takes lots of time,the companies throw a few extra $$$ at the driver for doing them,but in many cases the time involved for the pay received turns the deal into minimum wage work.
Answer:
You brought up an interesting point. I would like to express some thoughts on.
[quote]but in many cases the time involved for the pay received turns the deal into minimum wage work.[/quote
Almost all companies think that the 30 or so cents a mile is not just for driving down the road or city. It often includes today, giving 2 hr min at dock. Part of it includes shagging, even if you are given an extra $25 for doing it. Some pay extra for going into certain larger cities for additional pay.
That is the mis-conception of many of drivers with their employers. And should have been cleared up at interview. Is my mileage pay strictly for my driving?
Most companies consider the additional pay for stops, shagging, extra pay for going into large cities. Just that. Additional pay. Not total compensation for that work done.
That is why in interviewing a company it becomes difficult to compare or figure ones wages. How many hours am I having to give for what I receive. Unions of course simplify this and make it very easy to understand.
If one goes to the labor board they must be able to answer that question, before filing for min. wage. That so many taunt they are getting for what is done. Such as Zig mentioned here in relation to shagging. They are far from the $6 wage. But also are not getting the .30 times 60 mph=18 bucks an hour they think they are getting.
The union diffidently clarifies ones wages. And it is difficult for the non-union driver to clarify this before employment. But an attempt should be made, because if one wants to file with labor board they must know this fact. What money I am being paid is for what and it is additional compensation or the total amount for that duty performed?Dreams my future
charley

Answer:

File what with the labor board??? How about elaborating on what you're referring to.

Answer:

So you were at 20,080 on the steers?
I'm just being a smart-azz.
Most people do not realize that in most states you can legally have 20,000 lbs. on any single axle.
The 34, 34, 12 rule only applys when your tractor/trailer is at 80,000 gross. (since you can not go higher than 34,000 on a set of tandems that leaves 12,000 for the steers---that's where the number came from).It's apparent this place is never going to change....then again; why should it? It gets the clientel it deserves.
Bette Midler

Answer:

In order to run 20K on the steers, you have to have the correct rated axle, tires and wheels.
Steer axles can be spec'd to specific needs for the type of application you're using the truck for.
Most OTR truck steer axles are rated for 12K lbs.
For heavier duty applications, you can order steer axles in 16K, 18K & 20K ratings.
These ratings are more for dump trucks and heavy haul quad axle tractors.
Example, most State Highway Dept. dump trucks have 20K lb. steer axles to accomodate the weight of the plow, the wing plow and the load of sand/salt. The drive axles are most likely rated at 44K lbs. each.

Answer:

A driver is compensated well above the minimum wage law. It is figured by the min. wage hourly times the time worked (straight time) or by the hours allowed to work by the HOS. This has already been figured by the best of them so there is no reason to hit the wage and hour division for pay amounts.
The only successful complaint may be accessorial work not paid as stated in the carrier's pay rate, but you would have to have a copy of that and find the correct state to file the complaint in. Then you would be fired.

Answer:
Also computed into the OTR drivers mileage would be time lost waiting between loads, time spent waiting for repairs to equipment, time lost due to inclement weather (why slow down for fog driver???), risk for driving in inclement weather, time lost due to driving in heavy traffic and/or construction, risk for same, time spent getting lost because of bad directions, time spent pretripping all equipment and/or risk assumed since driver will be responsible for all fines and accidents.
I do have to say this for Werner ... my understanding is that the company takes responsibility for it's equipment. They do NOT want you fiddling with their brakes or re-wiring their equipment. Short of replacing an occasional head light ... you don't touch their equipment. The DOT has access to their safety lane inspections and the officer may sign off on equipment based on how recently the equipment was last inspected by the COMPANY. If the DOT does fine for equipment Werner will pay the fine (assuming it isn't a case of obvious neglect, abuse,and/or negligence on the driver's part)

Answer:
What can one file with the labor board. There is many laws on the books. But as I have said before. Sometimes it costs more then the return. Secondly remember the Labor board will only discuss or arbitrate may be a better word for you. If not settled. Your in the courts.
If a company is paying you to do a job. Such as shagging a trailer. And says we pay $25 plus mileage and the miles. If you spend more time doing the job then the mini wage. You can file with labor board for reimbursement.
There is several things to remember.
1.If your company has established a pay rate. Such as 13 bucks an hour for detention time or some other form of work you perform hourly. That is your pay and not mini wage. In all duties performed unless they are specified under a rate in your handbook or verbally well known by drivers.
2.You must log it as driving and on duty not driving. Just like detention time must be logged on duty not driving in most cases. Or documented preferably by dock or guard shack.
That is the basis. But many more things one can file if they know the law. It is wise to know the basics of law. I had the priviledge to study 10 hrs a week for almost two yrs and a lawyer that gladly explained the more difficult stuff when I was a union steward in Ohio. But the law still applies weather one is in the union or not.
I hope this helps. Must run. Headed to Florida by Mon.Dreams my future
charley

Answer:

the key is probably per week
sinse weighing you truck pays zero and you could spend an hour doing it,the companies would be wide open to all sorts of claims,but they most likely aren't because the law probably says per week,not per work assignment
Answer:
All excellent posts. Even from Ziggy !!!!!
I have had a few tandems kick my rear a few times. One trick I learned when I was pulling the 53' van was if my load was over 42K I made sure it was loaded at or forward of the 48' mark. Gives you more "room" to slide your tandems. I slid the fifth wheel twice after I learned that one ( Thanks T-Bob)
Remember the old Miller Lite commercials where the announcer said "it doesn't get any better than this" It really doesn't. Plan on more days like that, but it sounds like you handled it like a pro!

Answer:
Just a clarification on the steer axle question:
You can run up to 20k on the steers in most (not all) states, provided that the axle is rated that high, it is registered for that weight, and the tires are wide enough.
The reality about OTR tires is that, at 295mm width, you can safely and legally load 13k to 14k (depending on the state), provided that the truck meets the previous requirements.