Percentage or Milage Pay...Whats better?

When you have a choice, which seems to be rare these days, your Fleet Manager will call you and say: "You have a choice of a load of steel paying $650 on 500 miles picking up at A going to B, or a load paying $800 on 600 miles with a stop off picking up at C and delivering to D and E."

The first question that I would ask is how many miles between the two stops on the second load. While my FM is digging up that info I would consider how early in the day tomorrow I could deliver the first load. Lets say 8am is what I decide, since that is fairly early I have a good chance for a high paying load tomorrow. My FM tells me that it is 350 miles to the first stop then 250 remaining to the final stop. So even though I can get the first stop off between 8 and 9 am I won't be empty until 3pm in the afternoon. To match that I will need a shorter low paying load to deliver the next day. That makes the choice clear to me that I will take the first load, shorter and lower paying, but better for earning money in the long run.

 

Great info Rawlco

 

Interesting, thanks for the info. Trip planning seems to be the name of the game, eh?

 

Yes trip planning and logbook management are a big part of the job. I would always rethink my trip plan from several different angles while underway and see if there might be a better way to do things, a different spot to fuel, an earlier spot to park, etc. Your plan is only a plan, don't be afraid to change it as you go along.

Trip planning is quite simple once you get in the groove. I recommend a good mapping program for a laptop computer. It allows you to see in great detail what you are getting into. I use Delorme myself and am happy with it, while it does not offer truck routing it does a very nice job. The advantages of that over a stand alone GPS are that you can zoom in on any part of the map or route, and select an individual road to use or avoid along the way.

 

Rawlco--
Delorme-Does it have anything for drivers vs the 4 wheelers roads? Or do you still cross compare it with your atlas? I'm within 2 weeks of lockin in on a company, and so far it's TMC/ROEHL/Transport America (although T-A has failed to return any phone calls, or even answer their phones, think that is a good enough sign to walk away from that).

 

Delorme Street Atlas does not offer any special features for trucks. I check all routes against my motor carriers atlas, and against the directions that are provided on the qualcomm. It is also important to watch for signs regarding truck routes and low clearances.

When I was looking at software nearly two years ago now I was told by users of the popular truck routing software Copilot Truck that it would still route you down truck restricted roads. It did have the nice feature of telling you when you turned on to a road that it was truck restricted, but it wouldn't avoid them. I was advised to check even the routes of Copilot against the motor carriers atlas, so I figured I could save the $200 to $300 difference and do the same with Delorme.

Mapping software for your laptop is a tool. It is not the ultimate tool, but neither is the motor carriers atlas, nor the directions provided by your company. I planned on using at least two sources, and if they disagreed I would use all available resources until I was satisfied.

 

Hey Rawclo,
Have been reading threads on TMC, Thanks for your insight and straight talk! I start on the 29th. Would you now if it is better to attend in Des Moines or Columbia? I need to let recruiter know Monday. Anything else you can think of would be appreciated. I am also from the Norhteast. What are the loads like up here? Not sure if your a trainer but maybe we will cross paths in future. Good luck and thanks again!!

 

Hey Red-Knighter.. Starting the 29th? Lemme know if ya choose Des Moines, I may be over that a way muh self.. Waiting for some recruiter feedback..

 

Personally I would pick Des Moines because I am allergic to something in SC this time of year. It makes me sneeze constantly. The hotel in Des Moines is nicer and the traffic around Columbia is atrocious in my opinion.

If you really want to be scientific you could check out the Greyhound schedule and see how many hours you would spend getting to either one. Plan on arriving early that Sunday morning in case there is a delay.

I am not a trainer sorry.

Freight in and out of the Northeast is interesting. Most loads don't pay very well considering the time spent waiting in traffic, but most weeks you will probably get out to OH or down to NC before comming back so it isn't too bad. Some weeks there isn't very much freight in the Northeast, and some weeks there is a lot. The best load to CT I ever had was a load of empty jet engine stands/cradles. I picked up the stands in TX and returned them to Pratt and Whitney in CT. Very light load and paid well. You will probably see the drywall plant in Buchannan NY quite frequently, but there are also several steel places within an hours drive of Hartford that you will probably visit. Good luck.

 

Nukednative,
Des Moines it is. I arrive Sunday pm. Im flying in, two days on a bus and I would be ready for the nut house!!! Have you decided on TMC? Maybe we'll run into ya, good luck!