Air Miles? Map Miles? Zip Code Miles

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Cruise Cookie, Mar 5, 2008.

  1. Pardel

    Pardel Light Load Member

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    Jan 25, 2008
    Bernie, MO
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    No I did not think you were challanging my verasity. I was joking around in my previous posting. (per "all joking aside"). However, I do not think it is the same as an 'abusive spouse'. We are not the 'type' of people to just quit a job without another job securely in place. Personally I think that attitude is irresponsible. I may not like not getting paid for all of the miles I drive however, until something better comes along (and I will say from the postings of others about their companies, I think ours is pretty darn good if shorted miles is all we have to put up with!) or we decide to quit driving we will stay where we are at.
     
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  3. Harley

    Harley Light Load Member

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    Jan 13, 2008
    Missouri
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    Hey Pardel, Im just curious. Did you get your training through a company or did you go to SMTDS in Malden?
    Im scheduled to start school in Malden the 24th of this month.
     
  4. Pardel

    Pardel Light Load Member

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    Jan 25, 2008
    Bernie, MO
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    No, I did not go to Malden. I got my CDL in Key West Florida in the early 90's. Don't know much about the Malden school. I grew up in Bernie but moved away many years ago. Just moved back there Oct 2006. I will say my brother and brother-in-law both say it is a good school.
     
  5. Harley

    Harley Light Load Member

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    Jan 13, 2008
    Missouri
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    I have also heard good things about that school and eager to start since I gave my 2 wk notice at work on Friday. Im close enough that I can ride the Harley there and back everyday. It should only be about 1 1/2 hours or a little more. I just wish it would warm up a little more.
     
  6. Pardel

    Pardel Light Load Member

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    Jan 25, 2008
    Bernie, MO
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    I just wish it would warm up a little more.

    Yeah, I just talked to my mom. She said it has been snowing for there for 2 days now. Glad I'm sitting here in Laredo, TX today. It's a nice sunny day. Was 80 degrees yesterday afternoon when we got here. I believe it was high 20's at home in Bernie yesterday. lol :biggrin_2559:
     
  7. Harley

    Harley Light Load Member

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    Jan 13, 2008
    Missouri
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    Yea, this weather is gettn old, Im ready for spring.
    Enjoy the nice weather down there in TX.
     
  8. jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

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    1,089
    Oct 1, 2007
    Duncannon, Pa
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    Abuse comes in many forms. It amazes me that you do not consider being cheated on your pay as abusive. This is how companies get away with "shorting" drivers on a regular basis. I have no problem with a company making a profit but they should be fair on the pay and routing. The routing program should be public knowledge and verifying the pay miles should be very simple. If a company challenges your right to this info then they are crooks pure and simple.

    As for abusive relationships, rest assured I know plenty. Watching a father beat on a mother, brow beat her on a regular basis, treat her like garbage, and watch her crawl back for more asking for forgiveness for some percieved slight, convinced me I would never allow anyone to lie to me, cheat me, steal from me, or take advantage of me in anyway. That applies to personal relationships as well as professional ones. The underlying problem is the one being abused believes they are not worthy and therefore get what they deserve. Sure your dispatcher may not beat you physically but paying you for part of your work and pocketing the rest while telling you: "too bad for you! it's the economy." is also abusive.

    I have no qualms with drivers questioning a companies policies and using this site as a sounding board but if you are unwilling to step up and challenge the company thats ripping you off then why did you bother even asking?

    I see and hear soo many stories about drivers being cheated on a regular basis yet they do nothing about it but complain to their fellow drivers. Realistically what good purpose does this serve? The drivers may lend a sympathetic ear for the moment but they have no say as to wether your company will change its practices or tactics. The only thing these outfits understand is losing good drivers. I think its important you identify the companies that use these practices to forewarn drivers and help them make an informed decision as to wether they should work there or not.

    I believe we all have an inherent duty to our fellow drivers to be as honest as we can be in regard to employers practices. By exposing the abusive ones we can wield a powerful tool in changing the status quo. That tool is public opinion and it does indeed work.

    If I have offended you I apologize. Just really think about wether you want to be lied to, cheated to, and stolen from. There are other companies out there that do take care of their drivers and with a little research on your part I am sure you can find one that will suit you.
     
  9. Pardel

    Pardel Light Load Member

    147
    17
    Jan 25, 2008
    Bernie, MO
    0
     
  10. jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

    1,871
    1,089
    Oct 1, 2007
    Duncannon, Pa
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    Ethics are morals and values we choose to live our life by. We all seem to have a different metric when it comes to "acceptable" practices based upon where we are in our life and tend to compromise ourselves when we are in a difficult situation. I am glad you took the time to let us all know Panther 2 and Tri-State use this "rail routing system." That is too bad too because they both advertise higher pay than other carriers offer, which illustrates to me it is a gimmick designed to recruit unsuspecting drivers.

    I am happy you have a spouse that treats you with dignity and respect. I too have a 20 year relationship with my spouse and mutual respect is why we are still together. 18 years of marriage and 20 years together overall.

    We are running team as well but we work for a small company. We only make .47 cpm right now but should be getting a raise soon. Other teams here at Eastern Freightways are making .50 cpm based on PC Miler shortest 53' routing but they have several years of team experience and my wife just joined me as a team driver in January. Of course we get paid for every drop every hook and every stop which is extremely rare now a days (I lucked out when I joined Eastern a little over 6 years ago and was able to keep the old pay scale benefits). The good thing about our run is it is a dedicated run from Pa to Ca and back now. It pays just under 2600 miles each way which is the exact distance we drive based on the odometer.

    I am a realist and understand I must keep my options open in regard to employment. I do this by comparing and contrasting companies on a regular basis. I look at pay, benefits, equipment, and respect. If a company respects me and my driving skills they will pay me for my expertise.

    I have a couple of applications for top companies I have researched in the past with their information packets in my filing cabinet at home. I know companies close, lose accounts, and get bought out in general. Keeping a clean driving record and safe driving record puts me in a very good position to move to another carrier if I choose. I stay with my current carrier because they allow me to do my job with very little over site, and pay me well.

    Good luck Pardel and best wishes to you and yours.
     
  11. spike123

    spike123 Bobtail Member

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    Dec 6, 2010
    salem,or
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    i work for a major carrier, and up till about 8 month ago everything was fine then it started happening, short miles, you talk all you want about household air whatever miles that come to mind, but i know that the difference isnt going to be 234 miles, you see the computer is calculating the miles for the planners, as the shortest miles, but it's doing that over restricted routes and soforth, there fuel route take you were the fuel is cheapest and sometimes calculated on how much you have on board your last empty call, but tell me this, and this is'nt logical to me, they say, follow the route, but you get paid by the shortest, now i know it's a matter of there economics, but route you 100 miles out of route to save 5 bucks on fuel? well here is my answer, i went over the trips, over the maps went by there fuel route, and went to the labor board, now depending what state your from, the low down is what you work you get paid, carriers, and i dont know how they get by with it, break about 10 federal labor laws everytime they give you a trip. if i hired a guy or gal to sweep my floor for 10 an hour, and when it came to payday, and i told him he had to work fridays for free, i'd be in court getting beat to a bloody pulp by his lawers
     
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