what do i pay?

25 to 35% is the average. it works out to be about .32 cpm. which isn't much. but as long as the work is steady and the week to week pay is pretty even for the driver. then chances are. you'll find a driver in a major fleet that has had the proper flat bed and load securment training. they will be more likely to stay with you. over knowing that there not going to make as much very many other companies. so you may want to consider a 1-2 year driver. there still kinda green. but they may have a clean mvr,dac,csa,employment history.

i told you that to tell you this. back in 2001 when i started driving. i lasted at my first driving job for 5 months. after that i found a job with a farmer in indiana that ran his trucks dedicated north west. so i took the job thinking that if it doesn't work out. atleast the guy wouldn't report it to dac. well the job did work out. it was a salary job that paid 1850 bi-weekly. top of the line equiptment that had the best care taken of them. i never had to wonder about the next load. i always had 2 days off at the end of rounds. always got paid when just before i went home. if i decided to stay out and do a few back to back runs. or if went home every 10 days for 2 days off. it did matter to the guy. nothing changed about the work load. plus i was working in an enviornment with people that i could work with. didn't like them. and really didn't get along with them. but that didn't matter. i was atleast able to work with them. when i left the farmer after 5 years. and took a regional job. i learned the hardest lesson i think i could. larger trucking companies don't care. and they don't pay a dime. and they won't ever get drivers home. or be honest about the slow days. and they don't take very good care of the equipment that is middle of the road. so between 2006 and 2013. i have had probably 12 driving jobs. and the one thing i wordered about for years. is if a small time farmer is able to pay so well and steady. plus treat the driver fair and honest, plus take great care and have top of the line trucks and trailers. then why is it that the nations biggest trucking companies do what they do.

 

just know1 that hiring some one off a major fleet. poses problems that the drive is going to carry from that major fleet. such as trust issues,loyalty problems,honesty issues. and biching issues. and it takes a while to burn what bigger trucking companies do to drivers. as far as mind games and chasing miles go. so i am pretty much straitened out. or honest rather.

i've been off the road for a while now. so i don't have much of the anger or hate left in me from trucking companies games. the last company i tried. played with the e-log to get more hours back on the 70 hour rule. the bad thing is. they did it for a load that didn't pay anyone very much and had too much, and the miles were short. and it had a 4 day delivery time for a 500 mile load. they did it for the wrong reason and for low pay. so after they did that too me. after the first week of work. i had to bring the truck back to them and come home. i still have 3 1/2 months to wait out of a 6 month period. drivers logs are investigated for the last 6 months. so in an accident. the false e-logs the company gave me. put me out of trucking for 6months. or until janurary 4,2014. if i try to drive a cmv before then and get into a wreck. weather it's my fault or not. i am still at fault because of the false logs created by the previous company i worked for. i was there for 21 days. in that time i didn't get hardly any rest. and on my way back to turn the truck in. i changed a lane and unknowingly cut a car off due to being tired from the lack of rest.

log books and how i use to view needing to write a false log. go for the gold. cause when the dot gets you. that's what they are going to do. so for low mile loads that don't pay much. don't bother. the fines are higher then the load pays. only change the log if you are close to being home and plan to be there for a few days. only change the log or false log if the load is a high paying cross country load. other then that. don't falsify a log book to benefit another that doesn't benefit you in the same way or better.

 

Amen!, to "thenewguy38"!!! The "best deal" isn't always in the paycheck.

I started with a major carrier. I got decent pay, top-notch training, and benefits available. Long story-short, didn't work out. was a NIGHTMARE once I was issued a truck. Starting with 738 miles in my first WEEK!!!

HOWEVER, went home and hired on with a "Mom and Pop". I drive a new truck that is well maintained (except for the radio, LOL) I make better than most pay. I can use the truck on my 34 (within reason) so I'm not chained to the TS. I show up, they load/unload. Paper-logs. I am averaging OVER 10k miles per month. And my check is deposited every friday. I don't have benefits though.

I don't like everything or every situation. But "Mom and Pop" are good to me and I have freedom to make decisions on my own (again, within reason). The "best" situation isn't always about the pay. And retaining GOOD employees isn't always about the pay. As an employer, think back to when YOU were a driver and what did you like best and least, and treat accordingly!!! You may have to "wade-thru" a couple drivers. But if you take care of your GOOD drivers and don't baby or coddle your crappy drivers you'll do fine!


Just my opinion. Good luck!!!

 

25% of 100% is what you should pay. That's after fuel surcharge deduction.

32% of 78% comes pretty darn close.

Out of $1000 line haul $250 vs. $249.60

I always wonder how y'all can afford to pay drivers on only a percentage of the gross (78%) with worker's comp payments and all the other BS of having an employee.

 

Are you going to pay 4 his SS tax's workman comp etc.? Because if he gets hurt on the job guess who picks up the tab? And if you deduct his wages on your Income Tax guess who coma Knockin @ your door step.As for the pay you got to beat your competitors so you got to beat .40-.50 CPM