ELD system V.S. hourly paid company drivers

Okay, that makes sense. I guess I'm spoiled by the drivers we have.
The bulk tankers get on a run sometimes where the trucks run 24 hours a day but the trips are about fourteen hours each. It;s seasonal and lasts about four months.
We shotgun the trucks and the drivers slip seat. The drivers always get their ten off but the schedule rotates so they don't get the same ten. The trucks are scheduled into the customer's yard so there isn't any waiting or delay. The material goes out just about as fast as we can haul it in.
When the driver signs out at the end of the trip they check the board for their next starting time and truck number. If there are any delays or hangups we call the driver at home so he can adjust his time off accordingly.
We like to see a truck hit the yard, fuel, swap drivers, drop and hook, and head back out as soon as possible.
The drivers get paid by the hour, time and a half after eight, double time after twelve.
I've never heard a driver complain about the run, the schedule, or the time off yet. Most of the guys have been here long enough to remember when we did this same haul with only eight hours off.
If a driver is truly fatigued or sick he can let us know and we'll figure something out. We always do.
But if a driver started whining that only ten hours off just didn't suit his idea of proper rest we'd probably encourage him to look for another job. Soon, too.

 

Lol

 

Ten hours off is enough, but my personal sleep cycle doesn't work correctly when there are frequent and large changes from day to day. Most people can't just go right to sleep at 10am and sleep well enough to be rested by 6pm, especially when they worked the day shift the day before.

 

Companies can incentivize an hourly pay scheme so that better performing drivers are better compensated than the others.
Another fuel hauler, Marathon Petroleum, does just that. It's a little complicated to explain, but it works.

 

We used to have a bonus program, based on the number of empty racks and pallets you brought back. We went to a straight hourly pay, after some drivers would leave at 6AM, on a run that should take a couple of hours, and return at 1:30 PM, with 300 pallets, that paid a buck a piece............

 

LOL