Pay vs. Mileage

Well everyone it's the same story...just more personal this time.

My hubby went to work for Heartland, benefits, .48 per mile, hometime...it all seemed fantastic. Did some talking to the recruiters myself as I've worked in trucking companies as dispatch and helped fill in the recruiting department, I knew what to ask. AVG weekly miles per OTR solo fleet 2007, answer - 2200-2500. This was ok, not too bad. Insurance...FANTASTIC, hometime...GREAT (not really, ugh!). Anywho, we were looking at other companies but their mileage pay wasn't as high as Heartland's so here he goes...off to orientation.

Everything's OK, paychecks are OK, mileage is OK, hometime is atrocious. Not a huge concern for us (hometime), as long as he's running and not sitting. Well, after 2.5 months went by, all things changed.

NO FREIGHT, NO HOMETIME...just sit, sit, sit and wow, here comes a 250 mile load (empty and loaded). That's all we've got oh AND it's going to NYC...yay. Can't turn it down, need the miles right? Hometime is coming up this weekend. Sitting in Jacksonville, FL (70 miles from the house), can't go home, may need you tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning comes, please sit tight. Evening comes, no freight and no, can't deadhead you home. Heck, if I would've known that I would have went and picked up my hubby, screw taking the truck/trailer home! Note: Hubby's been out 3 weeks by now. Here comes a load, 149 miles. Oh yay. Take the freight, was told he'll go home after. Nope. Did not get any time off, (unless you count sitting at a truckstop or a dirt lot), until 8 weeks!! Now, hometime is 1 day/week. Should have 8 days right? Wrong. Only allowed hubby 4 days off oh and did you know that a 10 hour break at home consists of your hometime AND hometime calculator resets?? WOW!!

Mileage...well, they can pay you $1 million per mile...but they have to have the freight. Hubby is now averaging 1500-1900 miles per week. Completely atrocious! He's an OTR driver, however the running area cuts off at Nebraska so that just shows you how big the running area is.

The point? More $$ per mile doesn't mean diddly if they don't have the freight to back it up. You would be better off taking a .10 reduction and running your tail off, at least you would be productive and not getting frustrated because you're sitting.

Just my .02 worth.