How much is enough?

Just keep it coming...I'll let you know when I begin to feel guilty about what you are paying!

 

Well thats a two sided question. The more we want to be paid...the less likely there is going to be freight at that rate. Companies need to compete for the loads and if they have to pay a company driver a buck a mile....thats going to make that company less likely to get freight.

 

Pay me one million dollars per mile, with a guarantee of 2500 miles minimum per week, and I would still find something to complain about.

 

There is no clear answer.

As I have stated in other posts, if your boss isn't making a profit as a result of the work that you do, you won't have a job very long. That goes for ANY job in ANY profession.

In trucking, especially where company drivers are concerned, there are an endless number of variables which determine a driver's worth...

A driver who carefully squeezes 6-7 mpg out of his truck is worth more than a driver who carelessly gets 4-5 mpg from the same truck under the same conditions.

A driver who shuts the truck off when he's not in it...or even at night when outside temperatures are pleasant enough that he doesn't need heat or AC to sleep comfortably is worth more than a driver who needlessly idles the truck 24/7 whether he's in it or not.

A driver who keeps up on the maintenance of his truck is worth more than a driver who needs to be told several times that he's past due on his PM's only to ignore the notifications and run it 'til it breaks down.

A driver who cares for the truck and keeps it clean and damage-free inside and out is worth more than the driver who trashes the truck.

A driver who is always on time and takes care not to damage freight is worth more than a driver who is constantly late and has numerous damage claims.

A driver who represents the company in a positive light (clean, well dressed, polite, courteous, etc.) is worth more than a driver who brings shame to the company (dirty, smelly, rude, inconsiderate, etc.)



A driver's worth, unfortunately, also has a lot to do with the company he drives for. If the rates the company is charging are decent, a good driver can be well compensated. However, if you are running for a company that hauls cheap freight and keeps their trucks moving by undercutting everyone, then they won't have enough left over after paying for the truck, fuel, insurance, etc. to fairly compensate even a mediocre driver.

The only "fair" compensation for a bad driver is a bus ticket home.

 

Excellent post. I would have to agree with the points about a drivers worth.

Now take that same driver and give him a good middle class income so that he can support a family AFTER taking out his weekly road expenses and, provide decent hometime, like maybe one day at home weekly then I'd guess that you would probably have a pretty happy driver.


.................... Jim

 

Rich there is no such thing as enough.

 

Tell you what....Most people think they are worth more than they actually are....And if we could sell people for what they think they are worth....none of us would have to work again....

 

Geez dont insult me

 

Well, I've heard some people try to compare us with airline pilots. Interesting comparison, I've got 13 yrs and 1.3 million miles exp., I'll gross $55,000 this year, a pilot of similar exp. (yrs, etc.) will make $110K or more, a railroad engineer of similar exp. will make $90,000 or more. What's wrong with this picture?