what is a decent CPM to start out with?

Certainly a nice setiment, but with increased experience comes decreased risk. Extra pay could be easily justified as an incentive to stay and reduce expenses.

 

Insurance companies would tend to disagree.

 

Look for at least $325 a day and forget a CPM

 

for insurance company 0-2 is bracket then 2-100 is bracket ones you hit 2 years the only thing matter to them is tickets and accidents. 2 is as good as 20 years of exp which kinda make sense as 1 year OTR either make you or break you. you will either learn or know you can't do this any more. first few month rather even if you not finished the first year.
friend of mine teamed with driver got 3 preventable accidents in his first ONE WEEK. lol my friend told me at the end of the week he was waking up asking the dude what did you hit today? LOL

 

When I started as a driver I made 45 cpm straight out of school. That was 14 years ago. I do not believe that I, the single worst driver to start out, should be paid more then any of you. We live in a nation where employment is "at will". So you get paid the minimum you will accept. Demand better and you will get it.

I now own my own little company. My drivers pick their own loads. We get our loads form different load boards. They are paid 25 to 27 percent of the rate minus fsc. This my three drivers averaged $2387. I pay W2 but no benefits. We have no support staff so they do more work but that work is done on the clock but not driving.

Companies have the ability to pay more. They just need to be reminded that the drivers are the only ones who make money for the company.

When I divide my peoples wages by the miles driven it is above 65 cpm. But it isn't about the miles, it is about the money.

 

When you consider the benefits you can get way better. I can't say for sure, but I figure the great healthcare, 80% dental paid by the company, paid vacation time, it might add up to better than 65. Those are valuable additions.

 

20 cpm @ 4000 miles per week or 50 cpm @ 2000 miles per week or 50 com @ 800 miles per week? Miles never guaranteed.

 

I only make .47cpm

But, those are hub miles. Every mile that truck turns I get paid.

Also, I get paid for everything I do.

Loading
Unloading
Drop/Hook
Layovers
Extra pick-up/return of product

My health insurance is 100% paid FREE.
When you add it all up and do the math it avgs around .65-.70 cpm
depending on the load.

You're right.. it's not all about CPM.

Happiness counts, too.
My place keeps me MOVING.
I don't sit. We communicate very well. They know I know what I'm doing and they leave me alone to do it.
I can also get a hotel every single night if I want one... no Qs asked.
Company paid. (Not Motel 6 either)

This place doesn't skimp.
I can run 2,000mi week if I so choose, or I can exhaust my 70 running 4,000 and take a 34 and bang it again.

That's normally what I do. I'm a runner.
As long as I can make that $350-$400 a day... I'm good.
The way I look at it is, "that's $30+ per hr and most people don't make that".

Vacations also pay 40hrs at the avg hr rate from previous year. Thats nice. You can afford to take off and not miss a beat.

 

I get percentage, average about 95000 miles a year, and average $64k a year. Health insurance is fully paid by the company, 401k with 3% match, and great equipment. I'm happy.

When I started in tankers, with a different company, I was paid the same percentage as now. But I ran roughly 125000 miles a year and only made a bit over $50k. And I didn't get a dime for deadhead, which I did a fair amount of. I didn't realize the error of my ways until I was in Gallatin, TN, and had to DH to Genoa, OH for a load that paid a whole $120 for roughly 450 miles. That entire tour was five days of my life, and roughly 2000 miles for a whopping $650. Never again.

Percentage is great, if there's good paying loads to be had. But, on those junk paying loads, it really sucks.