How are van drivers making more than tankers?

Discussion in 'Tanker, Bulk and Dump Trucking Forum' started by Irish Tweet, Jul 30, 2021.

  1. Irish Tweet

    Irish Tweet Bobtail Member

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    yeah... i said it. companies like smith transport is offering guranteed $1800 a week for company drivers. yes, just to pull a dry box and bump docks. i left liquid transport 2 months ago because i found out i was making .42 a mile. they never told me what my pay was going to be. i had to find out by looking at my settlements. for the record i have a little over 3 years driving experience and a little less than a year tanker. your probably thinking... " why would you sign on from the get-go without finding out how much your gonna make?" well, i was told to talk with the trainer about pay. later on, when he found how much i was making, he was absolutely floored! he has been with liquid transport before Ron Dana bought them out. he is top pay making .50 a mile loaded/unloaded. thats still below the industry standard.

    who the hell makes .42 a mile!? drivers fresh out of shool make more than than that lol

    why are tanker companies low balling drivers? dont we deserve more? dry box sterering wheel holding dock bumpers dont have anywhere near the responsibilities and/or job risk that we do. i know it doesnt take a rocket science degree to do our job but... theres definitely more risk and resposibilites than most in our industry. just my 0.2
     
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  3. LTL Bull

    LTL Bull Road Train Member

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    Dana doesn’t like company drivers. That’s why I left them back when they merged with Suttles. I left tanking to deliver mobile home parts off a 53’ lift gate trailer and made more my first week than my best week with Suttles/Dana
     
  4. Gearjammin' Penguin

    Gearjammin' Penguin "Ride Fast-Truck Safe"

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    That's still a red flag. When I first interview with an outfit, if I ask about pay and they can't immediately give me a concrete answer, I'm out. That person you're talking with, interviews incoming drivers all the time--it's their job. Every single driver candidate is going to ask about the pay. That's the one question they should have the answer to, and if they start tap dancing when asked, that's a sure sign they're gonna stick it in and break it off.
     
  5. Mattmanstroked

    Mattmanstroked Light Load Member

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    Not all tanker companies are paying so little for company drivers.

    See you have moved on from LTC, doubt you went to work for somewhere cheaper.
     
  6. Atlanta trucker

    Atlanta trucker Road Train Member

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    It is NOT the segment , it’s who has a better business plan and who is the better business person.
     
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  7. Six9GS

    Six9GS Road Train Member

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    Dude, I drive for Swift and am getting 53.5 CPM for long hauls, more for short ones. And, I figure it'd be easy to get better CPM if I went somewhere else. But, all things considered, for my specifics, I'm staying put where I am. Although money is naturally a priority, to me there are other things to consider too. Putting it all together, for me, I'm happy with my situation here and think it'd be a real gamble to go elsewhere.

    Quick note: I'm a reefer jockey and basically abhor dry vans. IDK, it's subjective I know, but it is what it is and I do make a bit more CPM doing reefer with Swift than I would doing dry van. Swift also does some flat bed, but doesn't do any tanker work. I've no interest in roller skating. I'm 61 and just afraid I'd hurt myself somehow and I don't bounce back like I did in days gone past!
     
    Last edited: Jul 30, 2021
  8. bentstrider83

    bentstrider83 Road Train Member

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    With the amount of waiting the van and reefer drivers are subject to, I still wouldn't go back to it.
     
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  9. darknessesedge

    darknessesedge Medium Load Member

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    lmao
     
  10. BeHereNow97

    BeHereNow97 Heavy Load Member

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    How many years do you have with Swift? That seems like very high CPM for them.
     
  11. Six9GS

    Six9GS Road Train Member

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    Les
    Just under 2 years. Swift has upped its pay a couple of times within the last year. At least for OTR folks. Plus, I'm a Veteran and hired on at a higher rate because of it and also make a couple more CPM for doing reefer over dry van.
     
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