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Increasing Your Take Home Pay By Maximizing Your Mileage Potential

Tips from several high producing NTB drivers

• First, when the alarm goes off I pray, and give thanks to God for the miles HE gives me; I thank him for the work ethic he has given me, and I pray that he helps me to keep a positive attitude.
• At least 30 minutes before my out time I get up, brush my teeth, shave, and get ready for the day. When the clock clicks 10 hours, I’m ready to go.
• Plan stops early. Tie all needs into one stop (fuel, food etc.)
• Plan my 30 minute break well; I always try to tie my 30 minute break into a delivery or pickup. You can take a 30 minute break while on a peddle load, as long as you are in the bunk. You need to make sure that you show time on duty going to the dock and then time on duty departing the dock.
• Whenever at a vendor, once released from duty, show time off duty.
• At the end of my day, if I’m inbound to a DC with limited hours, I send a note to dispatch, “I’ll have xxx hours left, if you can use me on store xxx, or xxx” This gives ideas to dispatch of what I can do with my remaining hours, so they can plan me better.
• When I take off with a load to a store, I send a note to dispatch asking “What should I look for at the store, returns, empty DV or RF?” I don’t always get an answer because they don’t always know, but it helps.
• Be willing to adjust clock to a different shift. You can’t always plan for a long delay, you have to be able to work when work allows.
• Remember dispatch is your friend. They have a job to do -- it’s not personal.
• Don’t stop all the time.
• You will have good days and bad days; send a note to dispatch when you have a bad one “asking” for help the next day.
• If I am going to work a 6th day (because I’ve saved enough hours) tell dispatch ahead of time, so they can keep me working.
• Don’t waste time calling and fighting with dispatch about what you can’t do. Understand that they have a job to do and are trying to put out the best plan to cover all the freight and keep all drivers working.
• When picking up backhauls, I run all the miles I can today. Don’t short your day by stopping early. On a live unload backhaul, I call the vendor to see if they can take me early. If not, I take a longer break and arrive just before the appointment, to conserve hours. When you get to a DC, plan your route on the complex, know where you are going to drop your trailer, and where your next trailer is. Save a lot of time, by taking the most direct route on complex that gets you on and off as quickly as possible.