Salary over $1000 per week guaranteed?

I have a friend that has done van, reefer, flatbed, heavy haul, heavy equipment, and glass... with at least a dozen different companies - over the past 5 years. He's had one problem or another with most of them - and moved on - but rarely made that much.

I think there are some drivers who have those good paying jobs, who think everyone could / should have them... but the reality is that most drivers stay out for 2-3 weeks and get 2-3 days at home - and still don't make that.

I made $55k last year, get 3 weekend days (every 2 weeks), and 6 weekend days every month... minimum.
No, it's not the most someone could make - but it's not the worst either. I'm a company driver, I live 1/2 hr. from the terminal, I don't take the truck home, the company has an excellent garage / service department. I drive a 2016 Freightliner. I get treated with respect, and I like the people at the company, including my dispatcher... and management genuinely cares about the drivers.

It's not all about money - but I don't want to sell myself short, if there's something else out there that can beat what I've got. I'm still looking.

 

So... what you're saying is, every driver who gets paid per mile, and spends 2-3 weeks in a truck, should calculate the total time in the truck - including Off-duty and Sleeper during a 14 hour day!? I mean, it sounds like you're including all time in a local drivers job @ 60 hrs per week, right?

If every driver used your math, they should all quit and work for WalMart or McDonalds, since they'd have to base their time on 70 hrs. per week... and no OT.

My math is based on the fact that drivers don't get paid to sit around (aside from the minimal pay for detention / layover - and that's usually not very much). So... that leaves me with either pay per day $181, or pay per mile @ .45 / mile... or $1000 per week.

If I'm not including Sleeper / Off duty, I make about $19 / hr. (2200 miles = 44 hours + 8 hrs. on duty in 5.5 days).

In the end, it doesn't matter how you calculate it - it all comes down to how much you make after taxes / deductions / insurance, etc... and whether that's enough for you or not?!

It would be nice if drivers got paid what they're worth, everywhere - and it was all equitable, fair and equal... but that's some kind of fantasy world there!

 

I read it, and I get it... but I have a sleeper in the truck, and I don't touch freight... I also don't have to babysit the process / watch it at the dock, for the majority of my loads. When I bump the dock, I literally go into the Sleeper and wait for someone to bring the bills to me - or tell me I'm loaded / unloaded and pick up the paperwork at the office. So, even if it takes them 4 hours to load / unload - I'm not On Duty... if I'm literally in the Sleeper. If you're in a day cab, you're in the seat, and there is no sleeper.

Anyway - I get it. But none of this answers my OP... and it seems everyone wants to tell me how to make more money - but can't provide me with another company that can guarantee more that $1000 AND guarantee 48 hrs. home every weekend.

Although there are other ways to make more money - or get home every day (as you and others have mentioned)... it's obvious that there IS NOT another company ANYWHERE that can beat what I already have, and guarantee it.

If there are so many more ways to make more money - why don't any companies offer better guarantees than I'm getting - with a smaller, less known company?

 

Thanks for trying to enlighten me / others, regarding ppm vs. salary. Trust me, I've considered every scenario / situation, between the two. The majority of drivers I've talked to, feel the same way you do about salary... including some in my company that would never take a salary... and average a lot more per week (but those drivers are at top rate, making .43 per mile and handle freight).

I find more benefits in a salary, getting a guaranteed wage every week - regardless of what I do - and not just being paid when I drive (mainly). 2200 miles per week, detention / lay-over, wouldn't pay as much. I sit too much, with this company, because I'm strictly no-touch - and the bulk of their business is in tire / box unloads.

Recruiters lie - companies lie - they tell you all about the miles you'll make, the home time you'll get, the benefits of their company... and when you get there - you find that it's nothing they said it would be (low miles, lack of home time, poor management, bad dispatchers, lack of concern / consideration for their drivers, etc.). So, a guaranteed wage and home time, verified by other drivers and employees, is a place to start. It tells me, the company is reputable, honest, and concerned about their drivers... which is what I have here.

At this point, I'm looking around... but haven't found anything better, yet.