SOMEONE said it couldn't be done...

That's why the 'pay the driver by the mile' model is flawed. The driver has to chase miles to earn enough to eat - more work, always fatigued, and pi$$ed off when the miles aren't there. Companies think that it forces a driver to be more productive. While that may be true, I believe that it hurts companies in the long run. Lazy drivers should be dealt with on a case by case basis, instead of implementing a 'drive more miles or you'll starve - but you may starve anyway if your dispatcher is lazy or we don't have enough business to get you the miles and we really don't care because it doesn't cost us anything because we pay you by the mile' model.

 

Just an update in support of the original topic - that a new entrant driver would be hard pressed to earn $50K in their first year.

My average pay since I started is $979.06 per week. Multiplied by 52, that comes to $50,911.25.

Average miles is 1875 / week, which equates to about $0.522cpm.

 

Agreed. Just tracking actual results against a goal

 

Sorry, It's not my intent to 'knock' any company drivers. I do realize that everyone has different needs and ideas about what's important to them when it comes to employment. For me personally at this point in my life, maximizing cash flow tops the list. For others, maximizing hometime may be more important, for example. If your current situation works for you, then someone else shouldn't be telling you that you should do something different.

As for the longer runs - I looked into a NC to NV run yesterday, as I wanted to get to Vegas next week. What they were offering for the trip ($3200 for 2300 loaded miles) is less than the truck would earn doing short runs on the east coast for 4 days. So for my situation and the current freight rates, it makes sense not to do the longer runs.