Out of Pocket expenses

A $7 toll will be around $25 if they have to take steps to collect it.
Add to that the time and expense it takes the company to process and mail the toll.

Taking that attitude concerning paying tolls is not doing anything to the company except to cost them a lot of money and time, as well as show them what an inconsiderate employee you are.
Doesn't take great math skills to calculate how long someone would remain employed.

 

If I know I'm going where my EZ Pass doesn't cover, I'll take a cash advance to cover expenses, that way I'm not using my money. However I will just pay them and get reimbursed before I would ever tell then I don't have any money.

 

My husband will usually carry about $100 with him just in case. He's a company driver, has the EZ Pass, etc., but it never hurts to be prepared. Computers & ATM's don't always work, a toll plaza may have problems, scales - whatever. Just be sure to keep your cash hidden and if possible, in a safe bolted to the floor.

 

Depending on the company it may take time to get reimbursed. Instead of telling the toll taker you have no money, you call the company and tell them you have no money and need a comchek or whatever. I wouldn't wait until I'm facing the toll either, let 'em know when the load is dispatched to you. It's their truck, do not run it on your dime. One company I was with was notorious when it came to toll reimbursement, so if I was headed up the east coast in particular, they got a phone call.

 

Speaking of lumpers as an expense, do they work for the company that is being delivered to? Or is just a bunch of shady looking guys hanging out by the gate asking for work? I assume there must be companies that provide this service, but as a new driver, how would one go about securing their services if if it's the first time dealing with them?

 

Most of the places I've dealt with that use/require you to use a lumper, the lumper service is right there onsite. It's great when you pull into a place to unload on a Friday night and you find out it's $210 to unload the crap they ordered. Always a fun time getting weekend dispatch or whoever is on-call....

 

I pay ~$170/week in tolls. Everything else is charged on a company card. I always carry at least $500 in the truck though. Never know what you may need it for. Something as simple as a debit/credit card demagnetizing can cause headaches with no backup.

 

Taking an advance means it gets loaded on your Comdata card.
And that means an ATM fee (or check cashing fee if you write yourself a Comcheck) when getting the cash.
So, you are using some of your money when getting an advance.

You don't have a loss when getting reimbursed however. Just some money that is 'in transit', as it were.