How much should Heavy Haul drivers get paid?

Agree w rambling man at % I would think you couse easily hit $1500 a week and surpass it

 

Yes and no, depends on what type of OD you're involved with.

As a general rule when permitting, give yourself a bit of a gap unless you KNOW your exact dimensions and they're right on the edge for getting a requested route. I came out of Wamsutter recently, load measured out at 9-5 wide. I called it in and gave them 9-7 as the measurement. I've never seen or heard of anyone having a problem when giving themselves a cushion on their dimensions.


A great deal of oversize is machinery. Now, unfortunately, a lot of drivers hauling machinery, at least, OTR, don't know how to operate the machine on their deck anymore. I'm not saying being able to run a loader well enough to perfect load a dump truck. I'm talking about basic competence with the machine. If you haul large machinery you can cut down on loading an unloading time.

Dealing with curfews is part of oversize. Working out your timing is important in being able to competently run oversize loads. (By the way, on an annual permit the Denver curfew only extends to primary highways and a few secondary highways/ arterial streets. Otherwise, you CAN move oversize in Denver during the curfew hours). Granted, there are catch-22 situations for certain curfews.

I run hourly, but that's because I run oversize/ overweight locally. Percentage isn't a bad idea though, but mileage works out fine IF you know how to "game the system" so to speak.

 

I don't know what they should be paid but whatever it is the drivers that do more and a better job should get more IMO. This isn't heavy haul but since you asked, we pay;

$.42 + legal or DH.
50% paid benefits until 10 yrs then 100% paid.
$.14 bonus up to 10 ft wide.
another $.14 up to 12 ft.
another $.42 up to 14 wide.
Paid waiting time and securement at $12/hr unless the waiting time is the driver's fault.
$50 for clean inspections.
$25/week if you don't get a ticket or break anything
Rarely if ever tarp
Home 4-5 nights a week
Dedicated KW's.

Still can't find anybody that's any good IMO. They either work a couple years and quit or they are lazy and pick and choose loads so I have to do the oversize while they stay local. I haven't increased day trip rates in years.....I only pay $.32 cpm for the day trips (minimum $120/day) and they still would rather take those. They make $25,000/yr instead of $45K - $55K. They call me cheap and I call them lazy. Truck drivers are rarely the main bread winners in the family IME. The wives generally have the good jobs and the no accounts only work when the wife gets sick of their free loading.

This past week would have grossed a driver almost $1,200 on 2360 miles . 3 legal loads + one 11'-8" wide. Home Mon night, Tues night, late Fri night, Sat, Sun. Go figure.

 

I think percentage is the most fair way to compensate drivers, regardless of what they are hauling. I have had drivers who have made over $1/mile, yet some of them have told me that they preferred being paid by the mile, even if they earned less money. It sounds to me as though the original poster is being well compensated, especially with his level of experience, depending on what type of freight and equipment you are using. If you are pulling super size loads, it is more common for them to be away from home for longer periods of time. Pulling standard OD loads should not keep you out for 6-8 weeks under most circumstances. Most carriers pay less than $0.40/mile. If you are making upwards of $0.62/mile, you should have some good paychecks.

 

pssh a noob getting out of CDL school gets .43 CPM pulling a box at Prime.

 

Home nightly too I suppose?

 

Yeah but Prime includes per diem with their mileage pay. So do the other mega's.

 

And to get that money you have to live in a Coffin Sleeper with no apu, and a mouse motor that can't get out of it's own way governed to 55mph.

 

And spoken like a true Prime Newbie...

Martin