How important is cpm?

How important is cpm vs layover pay etc? Do you usually just aim for a company with higher cpm and don’t worry about accessories as much?

 

Its just one aspect to consider. 80 CPM is chicken feed if you are struggling to get 1000 miles per week. I wouldn't place too much emphasis on layover pay either. Typically there will be certain criteria that has to be met before drivers qualify for layover, or breakdown, or detention etc.

I would concentrate on the company overall. What is their reputation?, how satisfied are their current dtivers?. What areas do they operate in?. What is the condition of their equipment and terminal facilities?.

The extra $100 you earn each week with a higher paying company may not be enough compensation for having to drive a tore up POS truck in NE traffic for an employer who thinks of you as a POS.

 

I always put cpm at the bottom of the list of priorities.

 

Higher CPM often means no miles.

 

I learned this lesson the hard way. I went to a company that paid 60 CPM and then they couldn't find any freight and put me in a beater of a truck that kept breaking down.

And then I left and asked my old company to take me back who pays me 40 cpm, gives me mileage, safety and fuel bonuses, puts me in a late model t680, gives me 1500+ runs and always has me pre-planned.

 

Well it really depends on the company, outside of LTL it seems as if any "high" cpm offering would be a reg flag.

Almost like the companies that offer sign on bonuses to reel you in.. Usually if its too good to be true, run away.

 

Inlfation took care of CPM. They paid me 25% which was really good in the 80's in the NE no less and paid me I think high 20's eventually low 30's by the early 90's but when you get to 2001 and was paid essentially .50 roughly and was part of a team running miles out the other driver being much newer was being paid .24 or so. 1980's rates. So the total to the truck was .75. It is fortunate that she was a Vet and the federal checks make up the difference otherwise it would not have done well.

I was on salary part of that year for training. The miles became irrelevant and I could focus on the load, dispatch, customers etc overall much more than just running miles. When I hauled medicines later as a solo, the payroll took care of itself.

However it is my opinion that the mileage pay is obsolete. IF a company is bringing in anywhere from 1.90 to 3.00 a mile depending on what is being hauled where It takes about half that to run the truck and break even on it's costs. After payroll there isnt much.

It's really important to think expenses and loss vs payroll.

If I have to sit at a Walmart DC for a total of 30 to 40 hours getting loaded. unloaded again more waiting after a measly 1000 mile run at .35 there isnt any point. It's a whole week wasted.

If you had me in and out in drop hook institution I'll turn that 1000 into a 3000 mile week and we all win win.

However. There is so much time soaked up with lost time when the wheels are not turning. IF they are not turning you aint making money on mileage.

I would not get back into trucking for less than around .65 or so at a absolute minimum. But since I am pernamently medically retired there is no point in even thinking about that. The company will hire three immigrants at .30 and stick em into three trucks for three times the revenue hoping they don't incur losses in wrecks, fuel or tire problems etc. For one of me. Follow me so far?

As long the immigrants have no idea that .30 is 1980's pay and the whole structure dates back to 1938 with overtime specifically exempted to the entire industry there has to be a way of circus side show barking showman to whip them into think they will pick up a pound of gold every mile. (Yea right.)

It;s time the mileage system is retired and some sort of flat fee which creates a sufficient profit margin to allow a flat salary high enough for all truckers doing the same work to do well. It would be a single number payroll each week for the company every week and they will know very fast if the miles are not being run or loads delivered due to lost time etc to meet a certain dollar figure each week.

My very last job JBH paid me via satellite either direct deposit with a certain amount to me comcheck no fees etc when I connect to a load that I was dispatch on. As soon that 5th wheel hooked on and the payroll with taxes, withholding and deductions were paid ( I think it was around .47ish maybe a little lower, time erases details after a long period) I became able to send money to the wife at home and keep just enough for me to run on. However both of us were medically sick and we were only there three weeks before I went home for good. But that was one of something that was very good for that time period back in 2001.

Still not as good as salary.

 

I pay 25%. They do not get any of the Fuel Surcharge. I pay by W2. My people book their own loads. They make between 1800 to 2400 a week. They go home when they want to and work when they want to.

The point of this business is to make money, not put miles on the truck. So CPM does not make any sense.

 

After working for, miles, hourly, and percentage, i have by far made the most with percentage.

 

I assume that your percentage was always flat bed , is that correct ? Thank you