Starting pay

The problem I have with the per diem pay the companies use is simple.

There are alot of companies that offer it without a choice. This is wrong.

If a choice is offered, they disguise it to make it look good. They always say, it will increase your net check because we take out less taxes.

I believe the entire practice of the per diem pay should be done away with. It is just another driver abuse program.

 

But they offer added benefits for taking per diem pay, such as a week paid vacation after 6mo. and 6 paid holidays at $50 a day. That adds up to about $1000 or so.

 

Throw in the additional bonus of being able to keep your job ...

 

I myself, I'm going to choose the Non Per-Diem Practical pay with Millis.
If I were in the position of paying child support or alimony, I would go with Per-Diem!! (I was at one time paying $1000 mo. and I have payed a total of $80,000 over the 15 years of support.)
That's neither here nor there, just my experience.
In my opinion, and it is just that, an opinion. I'd rather make more per mile thru the year and take all the deductions at the end. The holiday pay and extra vacation week is nice but really, your more than likely going to be working holidays (maybe-maybe not) anyway. I think you'll (I will anyway) be better in the end to take the cents per mile rather than the per-diem, holiday pay and week vacation pay. The holiday (6 days x $50=$300)and vaca (est. $750)is what, about 1000-1200 bucks for the year, maybe 1500 if you run hard? The extra .05 per mile (depending on miles ran) could be 4000-5000 at years end (if you run 2500 # 36 weeks) or 3 weeks on and 1 week off it's about $4,500. As life goes, it's a different choice for everyone. Per-Diem is a great option for some. It was for me at one time, when I needed it.
If your not into giving the Government a Free loan you just simply monitor how much tax you pay in and adjust your exemptions on your w-2. I know for myself I had fallen behind on child support and lost any refund I had coming to me for a while. If you know approx what your end of year income is going to be, you can figure what taxes will be owed. I would claim "one" (myself) thru the year till my with holding got "close" and then change my w-2 so not as much came out. It's your w-2 and your taxes. You can make any adjustments to it anytime you choose to. The Government would rather you not. They want your money thru the year and give it in a refund at the end. You can choose to be EXEMPT if you choose. Be Warned. you'll more than likely owe in at the end.
Everyone's situation is different. This has worked for me. The Government didn't use my money all year and the Ex didn't get my refund at the end of the year. Took me longer to get caught up on the support. But i had to live too.
Now, surely unemployment and workers comp would be affected by choosing per-diem pay. Myself, or again, my opinion. Who goes thru life (some do!) expecting to get hurt of unemployed anyway. I know things happen and if you need it, it's good that it is there. What I may or may not get on unemployment or disability has never been a driving force in my decision making! Again, everyone is different.
Social security. Come on! Social security is going to be what it's going to be. Who knows if there will even be any by the time (I) we retire. If your planning on being dependent on Social Security, well, as my 3 year old Grand Daughter says, sorry about your bad luck paw paw!! I myself would rather take the money I pay in to Social Security and invest it myself! It was never set up for you to get much back. As the age we live raises, so does the age of Social Security retirement. At one time it was 55, then 65, now what 70 or 72, and they are talking about raising it again.
Again everyone has a different situation. For me, I'm 45, kids are about raised, youngest starting college (so proud of him). Struggled thru the years paying what I has to pay. Drank sorrows away and lost my CDL. I have the opportunity to get it back and I'm planning to take what I've been paying out and sinking it into the Bank!(mason jars buried in the yard) and hopefully in 15 years I will have paid myself $80,000 or more. My wife works and she alone earns enough to take care of our finances, so mine (theoretically)can be saved.

SOAPBOX TIME
It really gets to me to see and hear people whining about companies this and Government that. Everyday when I go outside I see a land of opportunity. Thats because I CHOOSE to. The only person responsible for you, is you. Companies suck, Government sucks, thats life! Pull yourself up by your bootstraps and go on with it! If you made bad decisions in life like I, and most, or a lot of people have, then thats your own fault. Move on! Take responsibility for decisions made, pay what needs to be paid, keep what needs to be kept, Support yourself within your means, and for Gods sake STOP looking for "what I may get" Ain't nuthin in life free, except, my opinion. And remember, opinions are like azzholes, everybody has one...lmao