I have been driving for two months as a lease operator with Swift Transportation. I have been performing well; however, I have been offered a position with another L/O. Now, my question is, considering my 211,043 safe miles and my two years of experience. What, in your opinion, qualifies as fair compensation. Thank you in advance.
Thank you, I was figuring .22 myself. I was just not wanting to short-change myself. After I prove myself to him, I will ask for more. I understand he has to make money and repairs and such come from his pocket. So, I think this is a good number.
I'm confused ... you're a L/O with Swift ... as in you are leasing a truck from Swift? Are you turning in your lease to drive for another Swift L/O? As a Swift L/O you should be clearing .42 to .50, less whatever you hold back for your maintenance account.
I do, however, I feel that we can make more money running teams. Even if we only agree to .22 on every mile, I will end up on the winning side.
You guys leased on should honestly consider going Independent or just go work for a company. You cant and will not ever get ahead being a lease OP. A lease OP is just a glorified company driver with all the responsibility. It makes me sick to see these large companies take advantage of you guys ! There is no winning side over there... I would be more then happy to give you all advice on how to roll on your own...
.22 per mile, you're kidding, right? If your average day is 550 miles you will gross $110. Then take taxes out of that. Now pay for food and life on the road. Do you really think trading any other job where you can go home every night for something where you can be in a wreck and have all sorts of legal issues is worth that? You are being taken advantage of. BIG TIME. And don't get it in your head that .22 will be ok if you are teaming and you put on 8000 miles a week. You should be getting in the ballpark of .35 with low experience driving someone else's truck. Don't accept less because "the owner of the truck needs to make money for repairs and what not." That is not your business. You need to take care of yourself or trucking will eat you alive.
CAUTION. Be wary of the small lease operators. They have little support in the even of a breakdown, will not address maintenance issues, will often not pay the note and don't be surprised when you come off your break to find "your truck" gone (recovered) and don't expect to receive those last several weeks pay. Will he pay lumper charges? will he jerk you around waiting for him to advance you lumper money? Will he have comdata constantly turning off/on his fuel card(s) because he doesn't pay his bills in time? Will he pay you in the event your truck is broke down for 4 days? Will he take the crappiest broker loads offered to the places/shippers nobody else wants? There are too many horror stories of guys leaving the stability and security of a larger outfit for the "grand offerings" of a small operator.
