But i have another question to ask of those of you who really know... paid by percentage of load...?? Simple concept really, but obviously one has to consider the length of the trip in order to determin whether it's worthwhile (dispatch not withstanding). So how exactly does this work? Would I simply divide what the load pays by the miles to get a cpm or what? There's got to be something more to this?! Any coment welcome as usual. Thanks.

I won't be any help here. When I was in a day cab I was paid hourly and by the drop. When I was OTR I was cpm. I was never on %. I only know of one company that offers miles or % driver's choice. I would say that the miles will not be that big of an issue as I have heard O/O's say some short runs pay better. If the freight charge is decent and your % is right you might do better on %. I would be concerned with what the freight bill is though. I would not want to get stiffed on my pay.

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My childhood dream of becoming a truck driver turned into a nightmare!

Just have to divide your pay by number of miles (add 6%). Then ask yourself if you are being paid "what your worth". Sometimes, being paid a percentage is a PLUS, sometimes you get out the KY.

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This question is indeed a good one. But if you get paid by the percent of the laod, that's all you get paid, by the load, not empty. So, you got to hope that what you get paid will cover all those deadhead miles you will or might drive to get your next load. And if you drive several hundred miles then you got paid probably next to 15 cents per mile. So, is it worth it to be paid by the percentage?

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I like my job. Nah not really. I'm just crazy

It probably is if you work a tight area, like regional.

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Z-Lady's devoted hubby.

Great point Mack. It just so happens that a few of the flatbed companies I really want to get on with are regional. If I understand you correctly, the miles I may have to deadhead would be shorter due to smaller range. But wouldn't I run a greater risk of having to dh in the first place for the same reason? Probably unknowable... which by the way brings up something else, and was just talking about this with s/o. So much seems to be made about cpm, and % rate and so. But it seems to me that I really have to try to consider the other half of that equation (sp), the miles I get for cpm, and the deadhead miles for % rate. The problem is of course... How do I really know until after I jump in with both feet and commit to a company for a reasonable length of time? I know research and comparison are important, but I also realize there are going to be some factors that aren't known. Come to think of it, that shoe fits the other foot too, no? I mean they're taking a chance on me too...

Well, the thing with percentage work is to keep a load on the truck the highest percentage of the time as possible. That's easier to do when you work a smaller area, like regional, as opposed to the entire lower 48.

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Z-Lady's devoted hubby.

If you aren't a little lazy like me,you will take the short mile loads,a little more work but the shorter the miles the higher the freight rate,of course you have to consider,does that company reload right away so you won't sit long,does the company pay to deadhead to get the load,does the shippers and receivers take care of you right away. A good serius buck can be made thais way if some of the above are met. Also you want to consider ltl,less than truckload,you may never be empty and make really good money. I know LTL is the way to go these days with the fuel so high.It is alot easier to succeed this way tnan taking long trips and sometimes ending up in a non freight area and deadhead 200 or 300 miles.

Thanks $1.50. I wouldn't have thought of that on my own. We had a recruiter from Gordon (or was it May?) The ones who supply tacobelle, mickeyD's etc. 10-20 stops per day. Get paid by "units" which are miles, boxes, stops, pounds, etc. I wouldn't mind the physicality of it, but wouldn't do well spending alot of time doing paperwork and counting pieces all day. Seems less about driving and more about delivering, but not about to burn that particular bridge just yet.

I went out for 6 weeks training at TMC and during those 6 weeks all trainees are required to list their loads and backings and to keep track of the miles. All loads were also figured by CPM and by percentage to compare the differences. Only when I got my own truck did I make the decision to go percentage.
Most bounce miles were between 0 and 60 so there was no pay there. Over 150, which I did twice, the pay is $.20/mile for all miles. This usually occurs in the west. For example a trip to Albuquerque left a bounce of 300 miles to Silver City, NM. Another trip to Denver the bounce was only 100 miles to Pueblo, CO. Loading and unloading is almost always within a two hour period.
If you stay in the midwest and east the percentage is generally a better pay at TMC although they have raised their starting CPM to .37/mile recently.

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Paul