New O/O need advice

25% was TOO low for as long as I remember.

After I read you posts I am thinking that maybe you should first drive her yourself for some time.

CDL drivers have been spoiled:
1. Good luck finding a quality driver on 2014 Cascadia managed by owner who has no experience.
- this thing is most likely over 500 000 miles, so brake downs, repairs and maintenance events will sure happen, perhaps at the frequency and cost that don't even realize: you could spend as much as 30K or more in the first year alone.
- inexperienced drivers won't know or want to know how to get her back to the shore, they will make a drama of every check engine light and dealers' shops will cost you plenty.
2. Good seasoned OTR drivers (even those working Mon-Friday), not some ex convicts or DUI marked or CDL school graduates, expect at least $1800 - 2300 per week these days. No matter what the mileage or what the rates are. It is irrelevant that you pay them 70 c per mile or 50% gross even, if they don't get their mileage - their gross - they won't last there on that Cascadia. They expect their pay checks to level up with their friends, cousins, gossips, no matter what the circumstances.
3. The rates you have been seeing - or hearing about - won't last for ever. Even with a paid for truck there is going to be difficult times - especially, if you plan to work with brokers to find freight.

I think I was very wrong by making little of a business plan for prospective owner/operators in the other thread. I wrongly assumed that most prospective owner operators are those who had time and experience to get to know what it takes to own and operate a truck.

 

Rude or not but true.

 

To the o.p.
Whats the first initial to your last name. I either know you. Or you are telling one of my friends exact storey.
Send it thru the personal messages.
If your not who I think you are. What I would look at is. How well if at all the driver maintains and respects your tools. In this case the truck. I can't see paying some one 12-14 a week. And still doing 2.5 to 4k a month in maintance and repairs. For silly things like they won't change a bulb. (Because they are drivers)
Or run thru a truck wash. Have who ever you hire do a pre trip with you atleast once. Also are you leased on to a carrier or are you a o/o.. I'm asking in refferance to the reliability in payroll.

 

I agree with Midwest pay em 60c on all miles. If paying on percentage 25 is too low. More like 30% of the GROSS no fuel taken out anything

 

Another thing I don’t like about percentage is the driver knowing what my loads pay. Honestly, it’s none of his or hers business. It’s certainly not his buddy who he plays poker with and owns a truck or twos business. Loose lips sink ships so why invite it?

Anything truly truly great in this business people want to take away from you.
Also, say I run my truck 3500 miles in a week and gross $10,000 or higher on it. Why would I need or want to pay the driver 85 cents upwards of $1.00 per mile? Do you think if rates are in the tank and the driver is making way less that they’ll be loyal to you? Ummm, no.

Hold your secrets tight to the chest and pay an above average but consistent pay. Your just either inviting trouble or overpaying otherwise.

 

Treating the driver right is about more than just money.

 

So? Isnt that why anybody starts a business ? They think they can offer something better to the industry? I would never work for mileage pay ever again after seeing how much money i left on the table ... Hourly or percentage is the only fair wage for a driver, in my opinion...

 

Humans as a rule arent very trustworthy, thats true. But the mentality that treats all employees as criminals intent on stealing from you is a step too far, if youre saying a driver is just a number to you and only good for what you can milk them for, well, you get what you pay for, sometimes you'll be lucky, but your strategy is a race to the bottom in terms of improving driver quality... if you care, which it doesnt seem you do.