Percentage vs. Per Mile

Then it is best the find another line of work if they are getting ripped off. It is unclear to me, if someone feels they are being ripped off, why would they yet continue doing it? Now I will agree, that we all probably would like more than we are getting, but that doesn't mean the we are getting ripped off. It is a market thing. And none of us are forced to play in the market.

 

Cowpie.Have you ever asked your company owner for the ''original'' paperwork for the loads..You know.The original freight bills...???...Not the ''dummie'' freight bill.

 

OK, I'll be the one to ask. You have any evidence of anyone getting ripped off? If you do, try handing it to the nearest district attorney. Or at least posting it.

Telling us stupid truck drivers that we're just too stupid to understand that we're getting ripped off doesn't help anyone.

 

Nope. On a per mile basis with the carrier I am with. They honor every letter of the contract, I agreed to the contract and signed it, I am profitable, the miles they pay on are pretty darn close to the real thing as my out of route average on a yearly basis is only around 3% (including miles running home, getting a bite to eat, etc), so I really do not care what they do or do not get on the rate they negotiate. Given how they treat me, the various ways they help me keep my costs low, I hope they are getting a real righteous rate on the freight bills. Regardless, I am not getting ripped off. They honor the agreement and that is all I ever ask of anyone.

 

On the ''mile'' is sometimes better.At very least you no what the ''exact'' number is..With (%) pay,it opens it up for all types of CORRUPTION..

 

Agreed. While the potential for increased O/O take may occur under a percentage type of thing, the temptation to mess with the numbers is also greater. One thing for certain, we have, as a nation, lost the concept of a handshake and a promise is as good of a bond and anything. Ethics have taken a real hit in the last few decades.

 

It is called Moral Decay.I started trucking on a ''handshake''.Now i have to have every load ''faxed'' or ''e-mailed'' and ''confirmed'' or it does not exsist.What a sad way to do business.And here at Landstar it is more CORRUPT THEN EVER BEFORE..

These ''agents'' are Relentless and a sorry excuse of a human being.These guys/gals will paste loads all over the boards on a ''just in case'' the load is REAL..They will even ''book'' you on it and then ''hope'' it is a good load.They are only covering there butt and could care less about drivers...It is the sickest most unprofessional,i have witnessed at Landstar in 20 Years....

Ethics...You nailed it.

 

I'm leased to a small, all percentage/ all owner operator company and figure it's the best deal for me. When I compare my cut of the rate minus my fuel cost and account for my fixed costs that might be included in a mileage contract, against mileage contracts, I always do better than most do on mileage. I'm pretty sure I get the real numbers but even if I don't, it doesn't really matter because I do better than I ever did on mileage. And I compare mileage from a program that pays shortest vs. my odometer.

My experience with mileage pay:
Many mileage contracts offer an unrealistic low rate which is offset with and artificially low fuel cost and paid insurance, tolls and the like. These are presented as part of the "package" but when a company absorbs these costs, they want a maximum return on their investment and will dictate to the O/O what and when and how much he should work. So much for being independent. Picking up extra freight is rarely worth the effort because LTL is reduced to mileage plus $xx.xx for the P/U or drop. Not in keeping for the effort. It's kinda like working for minimum wage. Yes you get a guarantee but it often averages out to the lowest common denominator. And you're often treated like a child.

My percentage experience:

I pay for every last cost including full retail for fuel most of the time. Cargo, PL, PD etc. work when I want, as hard and as much or little as I want. Pay whatever I can negotiate for repairs and tires.

I have no guarantee of anything and nobody holds my hand, but have a great relationship with the people I work with (not work for) and wake up every morning happy to go to work.

 

That's the way I like it, too, with one exception: I typically wake up in the afternoon/evening instead of morning, since I like to drive at night and sleep during the day. That's an option you only have if you're picking your own loads.

 

Ouch, I hope you at least get a cancellation fee. If not, I'd say adios if that was routine. If they are as corrupt as you say, I'd tell them adios anyway.