is local worth it ?

Yeah, my hat is off of to the P&D guys. I could not deal with it full time. I can understand why some guys love it (the rapport that they build with customers) but on the same time, they work super long hours sometimes, and have to deal all the heavy traffic. Yeah, no thank you. I rather be by myself all night driving in a straight line.

 

If a Big truck truck driver is paid for 10 hours of work, but only workd for eight hours, how long will it be before the company realizes it's paying out way more than it needs to because of people who push the envelope?

Why do Big truck truckin' companies govern their Big trucks?
Why can't they put a driver in a triple-digit Big truck and tell 'em not to exceed a certain speed?
That's right.
Because they will.
Same reason why companies push drivers to make up for time lost waitin' 'round for a load.
Because they will.

Question is, what if they won't?
Who gets the credit when a load shipped late arrives on time?
The Big truck truck driver?
Not hardly.
The shipper does.
Thank you?
Not hardly.
More like, "git-er-done driver".

Big Truck Truck Driver's Creed

The difficult, we do immediately.
The impossible takes a tad longer.
:smt112
​

 

My post wasn't about the speed of the trucks. Common sense tells you that you can't drive the truck any faster than it can physically go. Has nothing whatsoever to do with the point I was making. I was making an observation about the "I don't care how long it takes, I'm paid by the hour" mentality that is so prevalent in certain hourly positions. Which, to be honest, mostly means unionized employees. If you get paid the same at the end of the day whether you actually do 8hrs of work or 5, you have no incentive to work harder/faster. It's only if the company has any clearly defined policies on stealing time that will make the difference.

 

Followin' that logic, wouldn't the opposite be applicable?
If a driver is paid for 10 hours, but does it in 8 hours, would that not be "stealing time"?

If a company provides an incentive to slow down by raising pay to match the amount earned when runnin' faster, there will surely be those with incentive who take advantage of an opportunity.
Is that a bad thang?
All-in-All, in the end, it is what it is, ...............
Human nature, ....... mixed with Mother Nature,
and often at odds with each other.
Who's right when everybody is wrong?

 

I believe it is called "Work Ethic." A person either has it, or they don't. A company cannot force it on an employee, no matter what they do. OTOH, a company certainly can kill an employee's motivation, by their actions.

But there will always be the individual who will just barely do enough that he doesn't get fired. And there will always be the employer who will treat employees in such a manner, that only the slugs will stay with them.

 

Big D, don't forget there will always (hopefully) be the employees who do the right thang,
even, and perhaps especially, when no one is lookin'.
Because it's the right thang.
Few and far betwixt and in demand, as I understand.

 

P&D work is Sitting in traffic and waiting around for shippers who said their freight would be ready but really isn't is just the usual rigmarole. Actual laziness or time theft accounts for hardly any time at the end of most guy's days. It takes how long it takes to get the freight onto the trucks and back to the terminal, and its usually due to circumstances beyond your control. An 85 mph truck wouldnt make much difference as a city driver. That's line haul or OTR concerns, where the majority of the work day is spent at freeway speeds.

 

Yeah, I totally agree. Even though I was paid by the hour when I had a P&D route, I still wanted to get the freight off, back on, and go home. From what I've seen here, you really have to milk it out before they say anything. I know of an instance where someone was followed after being suspected of stealing time which he was because he basically bragged about it. Just my opinion, but if it gets to that point it's your own fault and I understand the company taking action. I had a notoriously slow shipper on my route and dispatch didn't like it but understood and never gave me a hard time. Generally ltl dispatchers with any experience running certain areas know who's slow and won't bother you personally unless you're way beyond normal wait times.

 

I've been driving for the same place for almost 32 years.we deliver hospital linen throughout New England .I work 1PM to 11PM Monday,Tuesday, Thursday and Friday . I have Wednesday,Saturday and Sunday off.I get overtime for anything over 10 hours and double time for holidays.I make great money, only work a couple of days at a time,and have great bennies.,I have never been OTR and never will. I have found the perfect job for ME and hope everyone on here has the same luck.
I drive 400 miles a day,and load and unload 500-800 pound carts up and down ramps, and I'm busy the entire shift,but at 62,it has kept me in great shape,They get their money's worth from me every day.I believe it's a 2 way street between my bosses and myself.We treat each other with respect and for the most part,life at work is very enjoyable.
If my truck has a problem,it gets fixed,They want me to do something extra,it gets done.
Everyone wants to know when I'm retiring [they want my job] but I have a couple more to go
Everyone's idea of trucking is different,even though I've never gone OTR,I know perfect when I see it.

 

When I worked the city, I would go in to work at different hours everyday. 5am-11am most of the time 9am. The pay sounds decent to most outsiders I guess at $23.50 straight time to 55 hours. After the hour plus ride to work we'd get our cards at 2 minutes before out scheduled time. They would send us out in the city with multiple stops with some business closing at certain times. Within the 1st five hours we were instructed to take a mandatory unpaid hour lunch without messing up any stops that required an appt time or closed early. We then would proceed after the full hour lunch (unpaid) now we have been a at work for 6½ hours only getting paid for 5 counting the ½ hour of getting to work and waiting for the start time. We would proceed with our stops and pickups. Sometimes filling a trailer and going back and grabbing another empty 53'. After the 11th hour we had to take an additional ½ hour lunch. (now I've been at work for 12 hours and getting paid for 10) after fueling and all it would be approx 12½ 13 hour day, which resulting filling out a comicbook page because I was in the clock over 12 hours regardless if paid for them. Now we are looking at 15+ hours counting the ride in the personal car. After a stressful day and a hot shower and a couple cold drinks. It was bed time at midnight or after. (kids and wife already in bed when I got home) alarm already set for 5:30 to get the kids on the bus by 6:15. After a scrambled egg and a few cups of coffee. It's time to do it again. Giving the benefit of the doubt we're looking at $23.50 x 10.50 @ 15.5 total hours work related equals $15.91

When I ran OTR it was one trip to work and an hour or 2 waiting for bills time. Then it was .56 a mile of being paid to go about 600 miles a day for 5 days. Lots of waiting time during those 5 days. Less stressful and a lot more money but your gone for 5 days, even though I've got to stay in motels and did nothing but drop, hook and drive. I was still gone for 5 days and only getting paid for driving. So at an average of 600 miles a day at $.56 it comes to $1,680.00 for 5 days then figure 24 hours a day at 5 days is 120 hours which is roughly $14 an hour. I give this a slight edge over the nearly $2 an hour better pay city work because I'm lazy and gas and maintenance money saved on personal vehicle.

I now run a daily schedule. 472 miles at .5535 @ 8 hours of work plus 2.5 hours driving back fourth to work totals nearly $25. I'd say $10 more per total hours working is the winner.