Looking to talk to a solo lease op.

Remember, you are running a business and they are in essence your business partner or another way to look at it, your #1 customer. You have to manage that relationship with your fm which means yes you take a crap load to help him out if he can help you out by having you pre-planned on a very nice load to help balance it out.

You may not see them pull the money back out until your average $/mile has passed the minimum $1.02. How that works is they look at your total revenue and divide it by your total dispatch miles. As the weeks and months go on that total revenue number increases and so does your dispatched miles. That's why maybe this week you averaged greater then $1.02/mile but they didn't take the money back from last week because when you combine the numbers from the 2 weeks you are still below or at that $1.02/mile.

Here is an old settlement statement from last year. In the red area you'll that current week's numbers. In the blue section you'll see the accumulated numbers where it shows your calculated $/mile compared to the guarantee and you'll see if you're over or under the amount you should be at with the guarantee.


Here is another look at it from another statement later in the year last year.

What your looking for is if there is anything under the previous balance column because that's what will be paid back once your numbers get above the minimum.

It usually only happens in the first few weeks of starting or when the guarantee period starts over, which is every 100,000 miles I believe, though I think there is something that happens at 50,000 as well. I just can't remember what.

If you go into Colorado for less then $2/mile your cray. The crud that comes out of there is lucky to pay $1.10 and it's super heavy beer loads.

 

I wish the company was this helpful!! Everyone there has the attitude that you should already know everything and when you ask questions they kinda seem upset. Kinda weird. Thanks for the info again seriously.

 

Most of this stuff I've learned from the company by asking questions of everybody there. Not once did I ever get that attitude when I asked questions. Now there is a lot of information in the cbt's that does answer a lot of these questions as well, like how the guarantee works, there is a module just on that. If you got the black packet at orientation for leasing, a lot of info is in there as well including how the guarantee works with examples. Prime is very good at giving you the info and answering your questions, or at least they are for me.

 

Maybe I am just hooked up with the wrong crowd. Lol. It is a good company overall.

 

Yep that's it, lol. You're not with the in crowd . That's the crowd right there.

No worries, it takes a little time to get your bearing in prime. Look for the guys who have been there awhile and start asking them questions. Get to know your night team face to face when you're at the terminal. Go talk with he gals on the fuel desk. Chat with the service writers at the shop, the guys at driver's lineup, road assist, logs, payroll. They all appreciate it when you show interest in them instead of just using them. Relationship building is key at any business. Have you ever talked to the people at the mail room just to see how they are doing or what all they do? They do much more then just sort the mail. That's how you find out about new dedicated accounts, current dedicated accounts that pay more then the regular otr rate, special promotions or tests they are running on products, and things like that.

I don't think this needs to be said, but you need to do the same with your dispatcher as well. Get to know them, what tete favorite things are, when there birthday is, are the married, have kids, how long have they been there for, do they have a dog or cat, just simple humane interaction stuff that most of society has seemed to forgotten because it's all in Facebook so why do we need to get to know people anymore?

 

Thanks bro appreciate it. It does.

 

Depends on you and your fleet manager.

I'm solo and I'm not broke.

 

I've never made only the minimum for the week as others say this is not very common. Keep in mind your f.m. is paid in percentages as well so it does them zero good to punish you b.c. you turned a load down. Never had that happen either.

 

All I have to say is fixed cost on a peterbilt I'd 1300, if your paying $1700 you need to go talk to payroll. Also are you actually making $1.74 a mile? Nah doubt it you'll be more than likely making just barely more than a company driver, for what? To go 3 miles per hour faster? Because as a lease op heaven forbid you go over 60 mph. Because apparently doing 65 is un-safe. Just saying if I had to do it all over again I wouldn't sign a lease here. Do a year company driver (you'll make the same money with less headache) and then weigh your options. I've learned a lot with some peoples help and running my numbers (here recently) and the leases here just aren't worth it. You feel like your making money until you looking at your numbers. They don't put what you actually make on the settlement they put what the truck makes my truck made $1.37 a mile. What I made? .45 cpm. Just saying do what you want, but you can make just as much if not more being a company driver without the fuel mileage bonus you start at .43 cpm. Something to think about. By the way your talking to the feller that has helped me since before I got my CDL as a matter a fact he almost trained me.