Percentage v. CPM

It's honestly whatever works for you and will support your lifestyle and what you value your time at. What works for you may not work for me, what works for me may not work for the next guy, and so on and so on. One nice thing about the larger companies is you should be able to get an idea of what it's like being as how there are more people out there that have worked for them to share info. Just make sure to take that info off the interwebs lightly because most people don't sit around talking about how much they love their job and how well they were treated, they ##### and cry which is sometimes warranted and sometimes not. Just like anything in life you will get out of it what you put into it, just gotta find the right spot to do that at.

 

That's some solid advice. I guess the career jump has me on edge. It's been me and the military for a few years now. Family was added. Before that, a career swap was no big deal. Construction, oil field, farming, military, but I was by myself. Just trying to make sure the home front doesn't suffer from a dumb move to less money than the military already pays

 

i just personally DO NOT LIKE percentages....others here, adore it......

pick and choose what works for you and your time at home.

 

Don’t do percentage with Forced Dispatch. Non force, percentage all the way.

 

Wrong. If you’re paid percentage you have every right to see the paperwork associated with every load. My old boss paid his log trucks on percentage and every time they changed to a new job the drivers got a copy of the contract stating the rate per ton. And if they’re fudging on the paperwork to pay employees less then it goes a little deeper than just between you and your boss.

To the OP, it all depends. Length of haul, amount of deadhead, etc all play in to what’s better in each situation. On your typical OTR job it could very well be a wash when it’s all said and done.

 

If you can pick and choose your loads, you can get into places with lots of short hauls. Those short hauls will pay your bottom end day rate. In other words, you can make a days pay inhalf a day’s time. Worse case, you will make the exact same money as a mileage driver on 2/3 less mile. That’s smart.

However, on forced dispatch, if you end up with a bone head travel agent, doodoo for brains could easily starve you out.

 

So my basic understanding of TMC’s percentage pay is in a weeks time, whatever the truck makes gross is what the percentage I’ll be paid gross. They guarantee $1000 gross a week (5 days). Starting at 26% with the opportunity to move up every 30 days and cap at 34%.

I’ve got a buddy that’s been driving with them for almost 2 months. 3 weeks solo now. So I’m getting most of my info from him. I’m fairly certain they are forced dispatch, but I’m waiting to hear back from him for confirmation.

But I would think Melton is forced dispatch. Completely forgot to ask the recruiter that when I talked to her this morning. So what’s the difference there if they are both forced?

 

What’s the difference between Melton and TMC? Both are starter companies. But it seems to me that TMC is demanding the driver to do more stupid animal tricks for the same money as everyone else because they want you to feel absolutely privileged to drive their neutered truck. Hey, shouldn’t the circus pay better than McDonald’s? A friend of mine, rookie, drives for Keim and makes the exact same pay. And guess, no circus tricks.

 

That’s just one of the carriers partnered with the program I’m enrolled in for my transition out of the military.

really the only differences I can see is the pay scale, percentage v cpm, and home time. And Melton has a pet policy. I’m not married to the idea of either, I still have time to make a decision, but I’m also trying to make sure that I have options

 

I appreciate the lesson and teaching you imparted here. I'll try to adjust future opinions if any to conform to that.

 

I spoke with Keim this morning, they’re out. He said since they are based in North East Kansas, you couldn’t tell me if and when I would ever get home since they are a smaller company. Worth a shot right?

quick change in subject:
Does anyone know anything about Andrus out of the Dallas area?