Miles or Percentage as a new driver? (Flatbed)

For your mentality if ever stuck in traffic or behind a slow four wheeler or truck. Go with percentage. It all pays the same under percentage.

If paid by the mile your mental will be to stick yourself in the left lane to pass someone for three miles in the name of more miles. Don't be that guy.

 

Seems like its been covered, but percentage is usually the better option.

BUT make sure you learn what your freight is paying, what gross and linehaul is. .39cpm imo is terrible. You wont get enough miles to make a decent check. Mileage pay on flatbed should start at .50cpm because of the physical aspect. You dont just drag a box down the road, you have stuff sitting on that deck that can come off and kill people if not secured properly.

 

So they will be taking out fuel surcharge from the entire gross rate. But u should still be able to make more money on percentage pay

 

Is the FSC part of the etc.?

 

Yup. To me its a bit shady practice.

 

It definatly could be , guess thats a good question to ask the recruiter

 

I can see both sides of it. The fuel surcharge is the trucks money and belongs to the truck. I pay myself 30 percent of gross minus fuel surcharge

 

If there's an addtional fuel surcharge paid on top of the rate, then absolutely. But my company takes money off the top of every load by "estimating" the fuel cost. I can't get an answer on how they come up with their estimate, thats what is annoying me.

 

Most the times the fuel surcharge is included in the gross rate.

 

Correct. The rate should be the rate. Not, "oh we estimated that it cost you $72 in fuel to drive from shipper to reciever", so we take that off the top. Might as well take maintenance costs off the top too then. $300 divided up over 12k miles for oil changes and fuel filters, better measure the tread on the tires and take some money off for wearing those down as well. Where does it end?

Its just one way these companies move $ around and play games with the rates. It doesn't do me any good to #####, but I want other drivers out there to be aware of it.