[BrianR]

I work for a major company (third largest) as a company driver, which means they buy and maintain the truck, it is issued to me and I drie it but do not own/lease/rent it. Loads come from our company load planners and are handed out by my dispatcher. I am paid by direct deposit weekly, by the mile as well as extra pays (load/unload, extra stop etc). Yes, it is common to deliver a load without another out. I am not responsible for that. I do get paid for sitting here (not much tho) but sitting costs me a lot of money.

Trucking has been very rewarding to me, I have been all over, met some interesting people including my wife. I have seen some amazing scenery, something that a desk jockey cannot claim. My view changes daily and varies from dismal city slums to breathtaking mountain vistas. I see lots of wildlife, some still alive. Yesterday I viewed fossils from dinosaurs in a small museum and learned something about the local history from Indian times to the present. This would never have happened had I remained at home, doing whatever I could find to earn money.

The business isn't what it was this time last year but I still have work to do. The company is still hiring new drivers and I still train them. Freight is a little harder to come by than it used to but it is just now coming out of the winter doldrums. This is usual and I was ready for it. The spring merchandise is coming out, I just delivered four stores' worth of Sears. WalMart is another frequent customer as is Home Depot.

Glinda, I just came up near there...Cheyenne to Caspar to Billings and Bozeman. I have been through that stretch of road several times. Next time, I'll stop.