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The trucks will only run 68 miles an hour top speed before the engine shuts down.
Still other companies have transponders and laptop computers on their trucks that record distance, speed and
location of the trucks and allow the company dispatchers to communicate with the drivers at any given time. It’s
kind of like having a leash on the trucks and in fact, many drivers refer to their trucks as “Dogs”.
The majority of drivers work for large trucking companies that have dispatchers who coordinate loads to get them
from one place to another. The company pays the driver in a company truck either a percentage of what the load
pays or a flat cent per mile rate.
The company will also pay for truck tags, insurance, maintenance, fuel and tolls. A driver who owns his own truck
leases in with a company and will be paid a larger percentage or mileage rate but has to pay for his own tags,
insurance, maintenance, fuel and tolls. The trucking company generally furnishes the trailers although an
owner/operator may have his own trailer and is paid a little more for its’ use.
Either way,the company usually makes most of the money. The company may have it’s own product to ship out or
the dispatcher might call a broker who has access to multiple companies and loads across the country.
A driver in south Florida might load oranges going to Virginia. Then he will call his dispatcher who will send him to
pick up a load in Baltimore, Maryland which is bound for Ohio. The dispatcher will look for loads coming out of
Ohio going to one of the company plants in Texas.
From there, the driver will probably go right back to Florida.
Some drivers dress their trucks up and compete in national truck competitions. The fancier trucks are decorated
with elaborate paint jobs, murals, “chicken lights” or auxiliary lights and as many chrome accessories as possible.
Some drivers put large train horns on their trucks. Talk about all the bells and whistles! “Yeah driver, I’m styling
and profiling, looking ever so cool sitting on the stool of my store bought large car! 10-4?”
Still other companies have transponders and laptop computers on their trucks that record distance, speed and
location of the trucks and allow the company dispatchers to communicate with the drivers at any given time. It’s
kind of like having a leash on the trucks and in fact, many drivers refer to their trucks as “Dogs”.
The majority of drivers work for large trucking companies that have dispatchers who coordinate loads to get them
from one place to another. The company pays the driver in a company truck either a percentage of what the load
pays or a flat cent per mile rate.
The company will also pay for truck tags, insurance, maintenance, fuel and tolls. A driver who owns his own truck
leases in with a company and will be paid a larger percentage or mileage rate but has to pay for his own tags,
insurance, maintenance, fuel and tolls. The trucking company generally furnishes the trailers although an
owner/operator may have his own trailer and is paid a little more for its’ use.
Either way,the company usually makes most of the money. The company may have it’s own product to ship out or
the dispatcher might call a broker who has access to multiple companies and loads across the country.
A driver in south Florida might load oranges going to Virginia. Then he will call his dispatcher who will send him to
pick up a load in Baltimore, Maryland which is bound for Ohio. The dispatcher will look for loads coming out of
Ohio going to one of the company plants in Texas.
From there, the driver will probably go right back to Florida.
Some drivers dress their trucks up and compete in national truck competitions. The fancier trucks are decorated
with elaborate paint jobs, murals, “chicken lights” or auxiliary lights and as many chrome accessories as possible.
Some drivers put large train horns on their trucks. Talk about all the bells and whistles! “Yeah driver, I’m styling
and profiling, looking ever so cool sitting on the stool of my store bought large car! 10-4?”
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