are cpm contracts profitable?

Discussion in 'Ask An Owner Operator' started by spyder7723, Aug 22, 2013.

  1. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

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    I'd like to touch on a few separate, yet linked, topics here about cpm pay for those of us leased to carriers. for the purposes of this discussion it didn't matter if it's a lease purchase, or a true owner operator.
    also lets define "profitable" as substantially more than what a decently paid company driver would make, 43 cpm seems about the average rate I see being advertised for company drivers.
    I see a lot of ads for owner ops paying cpm, they all seem to be in the 1.35 to 1.40 power mile range.

    first, how can you make substantially more money at that rate than a decently paid company driver?

    secondly, why would you be willing to work for that pay on these cpm contracts when there is far better money being paid under several different percentage contracts out there?

    I ask that everyone keep this civil and leave the "your an idiot" insultive type posts to other threads.
     
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  3. FourCircles

    FourCircles Bobtail Member

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    The first thing needed to compare leases is what is and is not included. Base plates, IFTA, UCR, KY, NY, NM, FHUT, Insurance(s) and trailer. Fuel card with a discount too I guess. I think these were designed with ultimate control in mind for the trucking company. A flat fee would equal less arguing over paycheck deductions for any of the items I've stated. Most likely to the benefit of the trucking companies doing these leases.

    Being in family trucking, I have done many leases and also L/P's to o/o's. We have even looked into these ourselves to see if we could throw a few trucks on a larger outfit and let them take care of them. I couldn't sleep signing someone up to one of these. - Thanks.
     
  4. DON TRUCKER

    DON TRUCKER Bobtail Member

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    Well with that lease to a company thing, you will actually pay yourself that .43cpm as your own driver, the rest will go into your truck business as an owner operator. Most companies will probably deduct insurance and expenses for you and probably have an escrow acct for you, to be used for your own repairs, etc. So basically the only thing different is, its your own truck, you go where you want to go (sometimes) Instead of a $900/wk paycheck, you may come home with $1800/wk or so and you have to do your own repairs and file taxes as self-employed instead of as an employee. You will also pay HVUT2290 tax (about $500/year). So there's not much difference unless you have your own authority and your own trailer, then the potential to make lots of money, is probably greater.

    A lot of companies advertise up to $2.00/mile depending on what you're hauling but most only come into the $1.30-1.57/mile range, which ain't sh!.. but some would rather lease with a company than have their own rights. NO EXTRA CRAP LIKE COMPANY RECORDS, DRIVER APPLICATIONS, DRUG SCREENINGS, NO AUDITS, ETC... A leased owner operator has all of that taken care of for him by the leasing company he's driving for.

    Hope this helps. #TRUTH KEEP ON TRUCKIN'
     
  5. bigdad7

    bigdad7 Road Train Member

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    I think the lane your in and type of freight may be at issue too.....when i had my truck leased too srt(glad i didn,t die in truck) i cleared rigjt at 68 cpm .....now on a percentage not running cali i am clearing right at 92 cpm but holy cow scrutiny being a small company is def much worse than hiding amonst the heard with a large carrier

    Either way i think you could work a reasonable truck note into those numbers which i plan on doing this year
     
  6. deskdriver

    deskdriver Light Load Member

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    we offer both a % and CPM for our O/O and the cpm is very simple and productive for both sides. on a CPM rate you get paid for loaded, empty, bobtailing, and it is very easy for you to keep track of the miles you have run and know what pay you have comeing
     
  7. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

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    I account for empty and bobtail when im figuring out the rough income on each and every load I pull (with mercer we are all percentage)
    it's very easy to keep track of the miles I've ran just by using the odometer, and even easier to know what pay I will have coming in because the exact ' to the truck' figure is quoted to me on each load I choose from.
    do you happen to know what your cpm guys are being paid? if you'd rather not say I get that.
     
  8. spyder7723

    spyder7723 Road Train Member

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    I'm glad you responded, this is exactly the type of thing I wanted to discuss. there is a 28 cpm difference in your example, so to get to the meat of the matter, why did you take the cpm job at first? was it lack of knowledge? Not being aware of better paying gigs? better home time?
     
  9. bigdad7

    bigdad7 Road Train Member

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    I thinkit was less risk was not 100% sure whatrates were running ......have been burned on percentage contracts before kinda did my homework figured out what lanes i wanted to work in what products etc.....came off a major medical and eight months off so i was a tad gunshy
     
  10. mikec265

    mikec265 Medium Load Member

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    Do you realize it is not about what lanes you want to run? this game is about what lanes pay the most for your trailer type
     
    landstar8891 Thanks this.
  11. MysticHZ

    MysticHZ Road Train Member

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    This exchange pretty much sums it up ... IF you know what you're doing, percentage will put more money in your pocket ... if you don't, it will cost you.

    CPM smooths out the risk, but at a lower rate of return. Percentage gives a higher rate of return, but comes with risk ... That's business, higher return and higher risk go hand in hand.
     
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