Can we stand together ?????

We cannot and will not stick together. The "sticking together" is quite the opposite to being competitive. Being competitive is a virtue. Sticking together is a union thing. No room for union, if you're on the spot market. Brutal free market and invisible hand of Adam Smith is what makes strong stronger and weak and mediocre die out. Don't get me wrong! I wish there were 60's and like hippies we all hugged each other. At times I feel weak myself.

 

"We must indeed all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately." – Benjamin Franklin

 

I was just kidding with you and thanks for being nice. it is always good to see people with positive attitude.

 

I know my worth.
And it's not the same as yours.
So now, should every one else be at my worth? Or yours?

 

A few thoughts:

We don't really need to stick together. We just need to do what we've always done, and that is to only accept work that pays what we need it to pay. What we CAN do is help everyone understand what they are actually worth.

A big part of the problem is that many drivers have problems with their CDL. Speeding tickets, crashes, etc. They can't get work as a driver and expect to earn top pay. So those under-performers fill the 'cheap' jobs.

Those with at least 2 years of CDL driving and a clean MVR may not realize that they're sitting on a gold mine, and that they can pretty much write their own paycheck. Or they've bought in to the "miles = money" mindset that we all need to get out of.

Then there's the problem where drivers don't want to do what it takes to earn top dollar, yet they expect to be paid top dollar. Those are the ones that can't seem to make their appointment times. "I won't go to NYC" (or XXX shipper or receiver, or California, ad nauseum) is another example that comes to mind. Or their DM needs to get a back haul picked up, and taps them because they're the closest and have the hours to get it done, but the driver doesn't want to do it because it will add an extra hour or two to their day. You get the idea.

If you're worried about speed limiters (most already have them) or EOBR (E-logs), then you're working for the wrong companies. I'm speed limited (65 cruise, 67 pedal), and am EOBR, and I grossed $83K last year working 5 days per week, the occasional Saturday, home every night, and laying over in a company paid hotel room once or twice per month, with additional layover pay.

Here's how I play the game, and how I keep my DM happy. My primary job is intrastate LTL delivery, Monday through Friday (no pickup). I fingerprint 100% of the freight, and I'm paid by the piece. The first appointment is set in stone: 7am (a few receivers are 6am). Barring a mechanical failure or load that's not ready, I am always on time. Always. I don't whine when I get a load that pays less than it should, or has more stops on it than I'd like. I take the bad with the good, as long as my check looks like I think it should look at the end of the week. That makes the folks in carpet land VERY happy. And the folks in carpet land are the ones that determine what my paycheck looks like. Keep them happy, and they will generally work hard at keeping you happy.

My company runs out to a 400 mile radius, give or take, so I can pick up a Saturday and / or Sunday regional load if I choose. Those loads pay $0.537/mile plus accessorials. I drive a day cab, so I typically limit myself to 300 miles each way. But if they really need something done that requires a layover, they don't bat an eye when I use my company credit card for a hotel room. I almost always opt for NYC Metro loads which include premium pay for crossing the bridge. Weekend loads to NYC are usually a cakewalk where traffic is concerned, and they almost never have a back haul attached. Which is a plus for me. From our terminal to Riverhead, NY (out on the Island) is a bit under 200 miles, so I'm almost guaranteed to get the trip done in 14 hours or less.

As a W-2 company driver, I figure that I earn around $1.10 for every mile that I drive. And that's not counting my 401(k) match and medical insurance benefits.

Bottom line is to know what you're worth, find a company that can make your paycheck look like you want it to look, give that company more than they expect of you, and stop, stop, STOP thinking that miles = money. Just stop.

Sorry for the wall of text.