How much should an OTR driver earn? Here's my opinion!

You're reasoning is irrational and pathetic. You are quick to point out the money that you are losing when the truck is sitting, right after saying that all a driver loses when he is sitting is time. If a driver normally makes .40 cpm when he is rolling, he is losing at least $20 for every hour that he sits.

Like most of your posts, this one shows your attitudes toward drivers. They like T/S video games more than earning money, they don't do proper pre-trips, they love to gripe and complain, they're lazy, and their time is worth next to nothing. You must have some pretty crappy drivers working for you to view drivers like this. Maybe if you offered better pay, you'd be able to attract better drivers.

 

Perhaps you could explain how your drivers productivity improved when you paid them by the hour? You did pay them by the hour, didn't you?

 

I have had both good and bad drivers over the years. It is part of the territory when you own trucks and deal with drivers. It can taint your perception when you have several who are on the lower end of the scale. Most drivers do a good job. It is the few that causes most of the problems. Most are hard working and do what they must to get the job done. I never said otherwise. What I have said is that there are some who do play video games, steal and have other bad behaviors that give the entire industry a bad name. Those are the facts. It is something that every carrier must address, whether they have one driver or ten thousand. While most drivers are hard working, there are some who are not motivated to do their best. And, if you don't think drivers complain, just look at your some of your own posts just on this thread. You are not alone. I think some drivers are not happy unless they have something about which to complain about.

 

I believe there was a thread on here about Dupré logistics?

They extolled the benefits and gains in productivity, driver satisfaction, and a reduction in accidents and turnover.

I know it sounds odd but they obviously figured it out. So I have hope that other companies will wake up someday!

 

http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...mid-driver-appreciation-week-dupre-looks.html

I knew I saw it here.

 

id be willing to bet that management at alot of bottomfeeder companies have the same exact perception,the fact is that drivers are THE most important part of the company,we do the work that actually generates revenue and the companies that reward their drivers with the most hometime and highest pay are in a position to gain the most.

i make sure that if i feel i would benefit,i will idle every single time. you almost have to train these managers and bean counters...time is money,and i can get extremely mad about the company wasting my time sitting in their company issued jail cell.

the company will benefit greatly by having me HOME during downtime,utilizing me efficiently and being respectful,sadly that isnt how most drivers are treated,you have to DEMAND it,and make it known that you are worth more.

i found it funny that you mentioned drivers not offering to pay YOU for sitting in your truck,that was a good laugh..thx.

this is absurd,not only does the driver have food expenses that can vary from 8-20$ or more per day for food, he might have a car, a house, his wife, netflix, his phone... there is a daily expense for EVERYTHING,for instance my car is paid off,if that car is sitting in the garage for two months without being used,without insurance...it definitely still has a DAILY expense,repairs are very expensive and it is part of the budget.

there are companies that realize that time and pay is important,and these companies,mostly LTL companies are the companies to be at...even central transport,the bottom of LTL is better than 90% of otr carriers. as far as otr companies go, walmart off of the top of my head is the only company i can think of that pays its drivers for everything (sleeping too,i do believe)and routes their drivers very efficiently (round trip,out and back)..*edit*UPS and fedex are very good as well as far as OTR.

time is everything,the problem is the business model that MOST of these carriers have adopted that treat it as if the drivers time is WORTHLESS,70 drivers under a single manager...mis-management,i could manage myself better..you said there are companies that have load boards and this is true...but only for O/O,there isnt a single company i know of that has a load board for company drivers,where they pick their own loads.

 

"We need the high caliber driver," said Tom Voelkel, president. "At Dupre Logistics, we strive to recruit and retain the best team in the industry.

Interesting concept. If I understand the article, they recruit teams and pay them by the hour. It might work since the truck doesn't stop other than to eat, fuel or take a shower. It would be interesting to find out more about the company, type of freight hauled and where they run. I would also like to know how many hours per day that they pay their drivers and the rate. I didn't see that in the article.

It seems to me that if most carriers could make something such as this work then it would become an industry standard. All carriers have a high turnover. If there was a way for them to reduce turnover then it would save them money. The question is whether this could work and would the company be able to make a profit paying drivers in this manner. I can see how it might be more workable with a team operation. I don't see how it would work with a solo driver.

 

I don't know how you got the idea they only run teams or only pay by the hour for teams but I see nothing to indicate that.

On their website they actually make some really good points for paying hourly.

 

an hourly rate can be applied,i believe anything over 6$ an hour would be a payraise for me.

its basically 1k gross for 24 hrs a day,7 days per week,which is how long most any otr driver works in a given week,unless hes at home during that week. from what i have heard from older drivers,pay is at best HALF of what it used to be,if you include inflation,getting an hourly rate would make it easier to justify getting the CPM rates for freight higher so that the carriers can pay their drivers an honest salary for being away from home and doing it safely and professionally.

 

It only cost the driver time? Some bad dispatchers?

I see now why you are thinking that way.