Most truckers think that in order to get the most miles, you have to drive as many hours as possible (10+, 10+, 10+, etc), but that's not true. There are exceptions, but if you are on a thousand mile trip and only drive 8 hours a day, you'll get the same miles as if you drove for 10 hours.
DRIVER A
Drive 5 hours from 8am to 1pm
Take 30 minute break (130pm)
Drive 5 hours from 130pm to 630pm
Take 10 hour break
Start your day at 430am
Driver A drives two hours longer than Driver B (about a hundred miles extra)
DRIVER B
Drive 4 hours from 8am to noon
Take 30 minute break (1230pm)
Drive 4 hours from 1230pm to 430pm
Take 10 hour break
Start your day at 230am (two hours earlier than Driver A)
This driver gets the same 100 extra miles done before Driver A starts work
So working the full 10 hours has nothing to do with driving the most miles.
There is no difference working either way.
Like I said before, there are exceptions.
Like making the delivery today instead of tomorrow (if its just an hour away for example)
"Work smarter, not harder"
More hours doesn't always mean more money
Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Diantane, Feb 24, 2019.
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x1Heavy and truckdriver31 Thank this.
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Someone is way overthinking things.
magoo68 and truckdriver31 Thank this. -
fss99701 and truckdriver31 Thank this.
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Your theory works for solar powered drivers who work 7 days a week.. I prefer full days and resets at home . Sure my mileage is less but 3100 miles a week is plenty for me
CorsairFanboy Thanks this. -
Because you are paid by the mile with a successful arrival before a appointment time issued to you your pay is the same. If it takes more time oh well. Be it weather, traffic etc. The pay will still come out on that paycheck next week in that amount.
If you wanted to worry about time, then you would want a hourly based pay. If you had salary, then time is irrevelant be it a 20 mile haul or a 2000 mile haul. Your week will come out the same income. Obviously you probably will find yourself doing alot of overnight shorts because it makes the truck more revenue than longer runs.
If you were a team on the other hand, such as a married, then you disposed of the hour problem and generate much more income. You also ran harder. I remember Dispatch was ordered to provide us a half day every 6th or 7th to help us maintain laundry and other necessary items to keep a overall reliability long term. That improved the situation for us. We handled some loads that a solo would not be able to do. One of the loads involved 30 stops in Iowa with nursery plants in 5 days across Iowa. 30 seperate stores by appt time each day where possible. The run in from Delaware took very little time versus monday through friday going to store and store sleeping at the next morning store prior to the next day's first delivery. All told we disposed of the trailer at Souix City IA and had a net check of about 1100 dollars for the two of us for that run. We worked store hours for 5 days for all of them (Same chain...) plus the run in from Delaware and then across Iowa running through the woods on less than ideal roads.
If we did that all year (Not happening because nursery is seasonal, a few months at best) the gross income for the two of us would not be 50,000 annual. So it's not worth it.
Now if you had us on LA to Avenel twice a week at 4000+ miles at whatever the mileage pay was all year it would have been well into the 100,000 plus per annual income.
I cannot imagine a future where three bunk trucks are paid .30 a mile each and cannot make a dollar. 24/7. As costs increase to meet emissions with the future increases in requirements of equiptment etc the pay will not be as good. And more people will find something else to do to make a living. Which might be better than that of trucking.
It's not a driver shortage, it's a wage shortage. If the industry started paying say .80 for new hands and 1.00 for veterans in company driving, then there will be plenty of drivers. If it means I have to pay 2.00 a pound in apples at the store versus today's 1.45 a pound so be it.CorsairFanboy and fss99701 Thank this. -
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[QUOTE="
If you were a team on the other hand, such as a married, then you disposed of the hour problem and generate much more income. You also ran harder. I remember Dispatch was ordered to provide us a half day every 6th or 7th to help us maintain laundry and other necessary items to keep a overall reliability long term. That improved the situation for us. We handled some loads that a solo would not be able to do. One of the loads involved 30 stops in Iowa with nursery plants in 5 days across Iowa. 30 seperate stores by appt time each day where possible. The run in from Delaware took very little time versus monday through friday going to store and store sleeping at the next morning store prior to the next day's first delivery. All told we disposed of the trailer at Souix City IA and had a net check of about 1100 dollars for the two of us for that run. We worked store hours for 5 days for all of them (Same chain...) plus the run in from Delaware and then across Iowa running through the woods on less than ideal roads.
.[/QUOTE]
That's one hell of a fine career. This report is based on my last four years of paid by the mile trucking, but my first 38 years was hauling over-sized permit loads. Got paid salary the entire time. Told my existing boss, that he may be paying me commission, but I drive like I'm getting paid a salary. Take my time and still get there on appointment
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