Go figure...

I agree. CPM kind of limits your options. They tell you how many miles they will pay you. From what I understand from one company I worked for as a driver, the software gave the distance from post office to post office, and not from the doorstep from A to B. It's also not practical when you can get it done faster by taking the Interstate but they calculate it across country over little roads that go over mountains and through the ravines. It's not a fair practice but, it is what it is.
Percentage seems to be the way to go, if you can find a company that doesn't get greedy. The one I am with now is greedy. They keep 31.5%. Backhauls are even worse once you have a broker rape the rates. My company calculates it as a round trip from here to there and back here, and applies all miles ran to the amount of money paid from both trips. They may average out say, $1.40 cpm outbound and then get a broker load of .88 cpm coming back. The total is then added together and the CPM is averaged from total miles.
I've called BS on them for doing that and told them I deserve a fair rate going either direction. But I am a small voice falling on deaf ears.

 

I don't have my own authority. I did however pay 1600.00 and change for plates to run everything east of the Mississippi. That was something the company forced on me. Then they wanted to run me local. I didn't pay that much for plates to run local routes. I refused to do that and the longer haul stuff has been periodic and not profitable enough to keep me afloat.
Greatwide truckload logistics is offering 1.60 to 2.00 cpm. I'm looking into that one for now. I could live with that rate as long as it is what it is. Keep me busy and don't expect me to lay around in truckstops for days waiting on a load.

 

I've been looking for dedicated since day one. I'd love to run Ohio to MN and back a couple of times a week. Always did prefer dedicated.