Sleeper - Non Sleeper
Ran into a younger driver and his buddy the other day at my favorite coffee shop. This fellow had a Cascadia day cab towing a hopper. He was complaining about the ELD and the fact that he's run out of hours frequently while running our four state area and, of course, can no longer fudge log books. He admitted that he built a box with a cushion on top that sits between the seats and uses this to stretch out on, with the seats, when he puts himself in the "sleeper". So far he's kept his nose clean and has not been audited at a scale, or had run ins with other law enforcers. He's been lucky. We all know how illegal this is not to have a proper sleeper and he can't afford a motel every night. Nor can he afford to buy a light tractor with even a 40 inch bunk behind it. It made me wonder how many other drivers operating day cabs are doing the same thing.
I was spoiled. Dad tought me the industry well. I was discharged from the Air Force early, when dad became critically ill. After he passed, mother and I liquidated his cartage firm and I bought my first rig when fronted the money. I have never had to buy used equipment, thank goodness. And I started out as an outlaw, back in the day when a guy could get away with this, hauling a lot of swingin', before I had to break down and get my own authority.
No, our industry is not a good place to start out in on a shoe string. To do it right takes money, especially if you must buy used equipment. We all know that 9 times out of 10 it is actually more costly to do it this way. I had a good career and enjoyed it. I would like to see more newbies have the kind of experience I enjoyed for forty eight years.
Newbies, DO NOT HAUL CHEAP!!!! DO NOT USE THE WORDS "BACK HAUL"!!!!! There is no such thing. Back Haul is synonomous with the words "CHEAP FREIGHT"!!!! A LOAD IS A LOAD IS A LOAD!!!