Flatbed/Open Deck/Machinery Haulers

Discussion in 'Trucking Jobs' started by cpape, Aug 31, 2010.

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  1. NatureBoy

    NatureBoy Bobtail Member

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    CPAPE, I know it's a long shot but you never know until you ask. I live in eastern NC and just starting my driving career. Are there any possible opportunities for me with your company? If not, could you give me a little guidance on how or where to start a heavy haul career? I've always wanted to haul heavy equipment since I worked at Cat about 10 years ago. I just don't know where to start to gain experience. Any info you or any other of the fine folks reading this could provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks
     
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  3. JimTheHut

    JimTheHut Road Train Member

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    I would recommend that you try craig's list. Just make sure you put all of the information there so any prospective person knows who you are from the beginning. I never understand the companies who do not disclose who they are in their ad's. They should be proud of their company and want everyone to know they are.

    I know in talking to other drivers that a lot of them look at Craig's list.:yes2557:
     
  4. cpape

    cpape Desk Jockey

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    Jim--

    Do you get a fuel bonus at Maverick? How does it work? Any other bonuses? We are revamping a few things with our bonus system, and I am curious about what others do?
     
  5. kajidono

    kajidono Road Train Member

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    I'm not sure if the truck itself did it, or the qualcom system, but one truck I drove would limit itself to 65 if the mileage dropped under 7mpg (I think). When the mileage came back up, it reset to 70. That was a nice instant result bonus with the extra miles I could get just from the extra speed.
     
  6. sewerman

    sewerman Road Train Member

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    fuel bonus are paid on my mileage 7.5 miles per gallon equals three cents per mile. I average three cents per mi fuel bonus last year.
     
  7. Trashtrucker1265

    Trashtrucker1265 Road Train Member

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    All this talk of fuel mileage I have to wonder what the hell is wrong with the new MP8's. I know this is kind of off topic but it amazes me what you guys are getting for fuel mileage, I've got a brand new 2010 Mack Pinnacle with the MP8 and the best I've done in the year and a half I've had it is 5.9, that's basically the fleet average since we've updated our equipment. We're governed at 65 and that puts us right at 1,450rpms, thank god we don't have to achieve fuel expectations over here or else all of us would be letting the company down. On another note, CPAPE it's cool to see a company owner asking questions in regards to his drivers and future drivers, you seem to be the vanishing breed of company owners out here.
     
  8. cpape

    cpape Desk Jockey

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    Thanks Trashtrucker. It is pretty tough for us to get good MPG. Large machinery on a step deck or RGN is like pulling a sail. Our company trucks are also usually loaded pretty heavy when they leave Iowa. That being said, we have drivers with the same truck/engine that get 1.0 mpg worse than others. This costs over $10K per year. Driver habits play an important role in MPG. We want to create a bonus system where everyone is trying their best. Currently, we bonus for exceeding a mileage threshold and keeping OOR miles down. I would like to hear specifics on what other companies do.
     
  9. Trashtrucker1265

    Trashtrucker1265 Road Train Member

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    The company I work for doesn't have any kind of fuel bonus program, I've been here going on 4 years and we've had the same kind of bonuses set up since I was hired, we have a weekly revenue bonus and quarterly bonuses that are based on truck revenue and safety. We're mainly a local fleet opertating in Florida and south Georgia but we do have 30 or so trucks running OTR. If the company were to institute a fuel program it seems it would be nearly unachievable due to the lack of performance these new motors are getting. I've tried progressive shifting at lower RPM's and have not seen a difference, our digitatl read out on the dash shows that the most profitable RPM range is between 1250 and 1450 and even while operating in these ranges the results are always the same with the new MP's we have, we have both the 7's and 8's, both of which are only achieving a max so far of 5.9. I'd say our fleet average in Tallahassee is 5.5, not very impressive for the new technology these trucks are equipped with.
     
  10. mgfg

    mgfg Road Train Member

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    OOR miles are sometimes tough to determine given you type of work and the geographic region your fleet runs in. O/S routing as you know is at the whim of the state and some desk jockey. We have all seen O/S permits ordered at the same time for the same loads and different routes being given.

    As far as a bonus for fuel economy, the driver is the biggest contributing factor in it. I'm sure your organization is giving your drivers training in how to get the most out of a gallon of fuel but is it current and has anyone actually showed them the numbers?

    My suggestion for a bonus would be to use the previous month's IFTA return and base it on that. If a particular driver can beat the previous quarter's return by a half a mile per gallon and your fuel cost is currently 60 cents per mile then give the driver 50-70% of the savings! You're still money in the bank and what a great way to get drivers to drive more efficiently.
     
  11. cpape

    cpape Desk Jockey

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    mgfg--your points are valid regarding OOR. We feel that all our drivers have the same issues, and base our expecations on this. We haul a good deal of legal loads and drivers can make a huge difference in choosing the shortest route.

    Our fuel economy is based on total gallons purchased versus actual miles driven...not downloads, or GPS data. I have often thought about bonusing based on improvement, but this seems unfair to drivers that start as good performers. We have been pushing fuel economy for decades. Underperforming drivers are all schooled in good driving habits, reducing idle time, etc. It seems we still have some that are unwilling or unable to improve. I am looking for a way to get through to these guys.
     
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