Tiered of being robbed blind?

wre do you wanna run to out of michigan?

 

That's pretty much my take of the matter. Especially if that is pre-tax.

While many of the new guys wonder why we appear to pick on them. Mainly it's because we're well aware of the hell they are about to go through. And the ongoing personal crisis, that may be forcing them into this industry.

My original reason for coming into trucking was $$$$. But, I stayed past that point. And I didn't have near the debt as many that are coming into the industry now.

I had a 3 year old at home. A pregnant wife in college. Been there done all that. Had it not been for family, I wouldn't have made it past my first year.

The biggest differance I see now. Many of the new drivers extended families, are in as bad a shape as they are. So there isn't much help coming to the rescue.

And many are taking their families, on the road.

 

Things are changing. When I started driving in 1992 I was paid .20 cpm with a .01 cpm bonus if I stayed a year. That was based on Rand McNally (or Household Movers Guide if you like they are the same) miles.

A couple of years ago companies started paying their drivers PC Miler "practical miles" instead. This cut down on the variance but it is not "hub miles." When companies offer different pay plans and structures the other companies usually follow suit.

Example 1; Top pay in the mid 90's for Truckload OTR drivers was around .35 cpm. JB Hunt instituted a major jump in driver pay and advertised .41 cpm top pay. Other companies lost many drivers to JB and so bumped up their Payscale's to compensate and keep their drivers.

Example 2; Heartland Express began advertising .50 cpm for experienced OTR drivers a few years back. They set the bar higher but it was based on HHG miles.

Now we have companies such as Roehl, Barr Nunn, etc that offer PC Miler Practical miles instead of HHG miles.

Other companies such as Gainey have come up with a paid "per diem" gimmick to give the drivers more take home pay in their weekly check but screw them on the actual rate, SS/Medicare contributions, etc.

To my knowledge the only companies that even offer anything close to hub miles are the following;

Poly Trucking based out of TX.
Walmart (which is actual mileage based on the last 3 trips for the same route).
Union companies performing line haul work.

I agree that things should be better. I have the perspective that they have been getting better. Unfortunately the economy being in a severe recession has turned things upside down for all of us. Owner op/Lease op union driver, non union, dedicated, LTL, OTR, it doesn't matter what segment of the industry we are in, we are all getting fewer miles and lower paychecks.

Getting angry with the office workers that line up the freight for us or the pay roll workers who put together our paychecks serves no purpose. If you think they have an easy job go sit inside with them for a day and observe what goes on behind the scenes. I have, and I have a greater respect and appreciation for what the support personnel are doing for their drivers on the road. Without the load planners there would be no reload. Without the dispatcher that information would not get relayed to the driver in the field. Without the payroll personnel the checks would not be cut in a timely manner. Without the operations managers to over see the workers within the office the office workers would do as little as possible and goof off.

Express interest in becoming a dispatcher and your carrier may actually agree to train you for this position. Dispatchers that were former drivers are very valuable to companies and tend to be better able to relate to the drivers on the road than a college educated desk jockey. From what I have seen (and heard) though it is a high stress position. I am content driving down the highway rather than sitting in a cubicle for hours answering emails and phone calls from unhappy drivers about every thing under the sun.

Anyone see where I am going with this?












If not I will spell it out. We must work TOGETHER. For those that are unhappy with being an employee then by all means become an Independent Contractor and set your own rates and hours. For the rest of us that care about our jobs and employers try to hang in there. Your employer is struggling to stay in business in this economy. Do what you can to save your employer money through careful driving, good customer service, conserve fuel when possible, etc. The job you save may be your OWN.

PS. There is a spell check add on for internet explorer that can be installed to help drivers with their spelling. I use it myself as a matter of fact. Google "spell check internet explorer" and it should be the first listed.

 

Michgan to Georgia any cities of both states

 

01/5/2009 1300 -01/6/2009 0900 muskegon, mi -

suwanee, ga
53vn

$1,600.00

788 miles

$2.03

35,000

 

01/06/2009 1500-01/07/2009 1111

taylors, sc -alachua, f


53vn

$800.00

414

$1.93

41,040

 

well swift doesn't pay $2.03 a mile

 

I don't care how he writes. This person is right on the money. Unfortunately, it seems that there are so few that actually WAKE UP! Well, maybe just the few we read on here. Maybe there is more out there. I certainly hope so for everyones sake!

The problem still remains that for every driver that quits, there are quite a few in line to take their place. We can't seem to stop this. It seems recruiters still promise the world and drivers still by into it. People, if it is not in writing, it's not going to happen. That is common sence.

This post will fall on deaf ears for the most part. There are a lot of drivers out there that do not even know this site exists. Imagine if they did?

 

believe me the rates are still there,but they are just harder to find right now going in the direction o/o are used to going...

you have to follow the money even if you hate driving there...

you catch my drift

 

Oh I see it. You just gave me a lil hope to still become O/O someday