Tricks that OTR companies Play...???

I've learned that a dispatcher's idea of a HOT LOAD does not exactly align with the receiver's idea of a HOT LOAD for some reason.

 

The problem with relay loads is cpm pay.
For example one gets the load plan that is 1200 miles @.50 a mile. Not a bad run so the driver does it. After getting loaded (taking several hours) he gets told to take it to the yard 20 miles away. So instead of a $600 check for 2 days work, he made $5 for several hours work.

 

Everything the recruiter told me has been true. I got the pay I expected and I have opportunity to take hometime when I want. That's honestly my experience. I don't work for one of the notorious megas. There were times Ive had to basically work for free because I wasn't skilled enough to get it secured and tarped (flatbed) in normal time. That was frustrating but it was because I was new and virtually worthless. Also if hours run out during my load, it's my fault because I accepted the load without trip planning. Think how frustrating that is for your DM that you later call and can't make the delivery because of hours.. you are expected to be responsible for that. 34 hour resets are done wherever you happen to be. I try to run recap and not sit somewhere doing a reset. But if I do a reset I do laundry and catch up on rest. Nothing that fun anyways.

Now ironically I make more money and its easier to do all my tasks. I know things like how to maximize my hours. I seem to get better longer loads now too. Being new you won't get everything veteran drivers do.

 

They have the biggest kiss ##### drive the new equipment that post YouTube videos saying you can drive a brand new kenworth. Right. They will also keep you in an endless training loop. Trust me. I speak from experience

 

You drive the truck YOU fill the logbook, no one is holding a gun to your head. You are out of hours you are out of hours.

The load has to get there. YOU don't matter until YOU become a liability against the ability of getting the load there by running out of hours. A good company will have a team grab your load and deliver.

Your 34 should be carefully selected. Remember truckers do not get dispatched home. They are dispatched the other direction so you go to work not sit around with family.

Dangerous weather is part of trucking. If you don't know how to run in bad weather, don't be running in it. Three inches of snow does not bad weather make. Generally if you can walk on it without falling down on your butt, your truck can do it too. (Ground pressure per inch, beyond scope of this thread)

There are no tricks. Only firings for non productive drivers.

 

All of your concerns are valid because they are you concerns. Here are my answers to your questions.
1. You and only you are in charge of when that equipment moves. Are there companies out there who will ask you to go over your hours, you bet they are out there.
2. There are many times that another driver will have to take your load for a variety of reasons.
3. You are an at will employee. They can make you sit wherever they want to.
4. You will run in all types of weather. Again, you are the only one who can make the decision if it is safe to drive.

Here are some of my thoughts. Anyone can feel free to disagree with them.

Some people might not think I'm qualified to write this because I am a local Teamster Union represented hourly paid tanker driver. I have talked to other drivers and read the truck stop magazines for entertainment purposes only. I have to admit that they are funny and sad at the same time. I will input some of my numbers to give you a comparison. So here you go;

1. The brochure, the recruiter or a driver can say anything they want to get you to sign on. The reality is that their words actually mean nothing. If you do not have a contract that spells everything out in writing, you are at the mercy of the company. The company can change anything about their operation and you have no say so in it. Welcome to being an "at will" employee. Always remember this statement as you continue reading.

2. Lets look at the pay. Most OTR companies pay by the mile. The sad part is they don't pay for every mile you drive. They have this so called practical mile pay. Doesn't sound very practical to me. It is just another way of taking a little more from the drivers to line their own pockets. They say it's better than HHG (house hold goods) miles. Whatever. I Have a Peoplenet E-log in my tractor. It tells me how many miles I drove that day. While the miles don't matter to me, I am paid by the hour, it should matter to you.

3. No compensation for on duty time. I will address shipper and receiver pay next. That means every time you stop your truck, you are not being paid. This is for pre trip/post trip inspections, fueling, DOT inspections etc. Some people will actually tell you that this time is built into your mileage rate? Really? Another BS answer to the gullible drivers. This is something that just does't sit well with me. You see, I have this philosophy that if I'm on duty and in the service of the company, I should be being paid. Maybe others don't but I hold myself to a higher standard.

4. Shippers/receiver pay. Here we go again. Imagine that a company expects you to wait in line, on duty for no pay until a certain amount of time is met. It seems to hover around the two hour mark with some companies requiring one hour. Both of those are junk at best. Funny thing is, the recruiting adds never tell you how much money they will pay you or how they break it down.

5. Guaranteed pay companies. I've seen these advertised as well. I have never read in a truck stop magazine what it takes to earn that guarantee pay. I'm sure there are a whole lot of lists and hoops you must jump through in order to qualify. Seems like a giant waste of time to me. Just pay the driver a decent wage.

6. Benefits. Health, dental and vision insurance are expensive and the cost is continually rising. Be careful to what the company is going to charge you for these. For my coverage, I pay $204.02 per month for everything. My wife, who is a Teamster Union office worker at a food distribution company, pays 0. The benefit we get is that there is no co pay at a doctors appointment. All I'm saying is that this is a cost you will have to bare. It will play a roll depending on how much money you can make.

7. Retirement. This is another cost you will have to pay into for your future. There is usually a company match of some kind. You've got to remember that the cost of both health insurance and retirement are going to eat into your paycheck. My wife and I pay nothing. It's completely paid for by our companies.

8. Paid time off. Due they even offer this and if so, what is the rate?

9. Vacation. Do they offer it and how much time/pay do you get?

This just scratches the surface.

Just take a look at the turnover rates at these OTR companies. That speaks volumes as to how their drivers are treated. But they have no reason to be concerned in the slightest. There are many more drivers who are willing to step right in and get treated the same way.

Sadly, the drivers have no one to blame but themselves. They perpetuate the problem by continuing to work for these companies.

One last thing to remember. This is crucial but so true. You might have to step back and think about it for while until it sinks in. Here goes;

YOU ARE BEING PAID EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE WORTH! NO MORE, NO LESS! IT'S YOUR DECISION!

 

And if you get routed to the Kraft place in Atlanta GA don't plan on leaving the lot if its a live unload. It will burn your clock. Those are the most incompetent idiots I have ever come across. Won't go back unless the load is high dollar.

 

074344 absolutely nailed it. His post should be printed out and handed to every starry-eyed youngster that's just starting their trucking career.
Great post.

 

#1 and only rule

Dont be anybodies ##### and you do not have to worry about 99% of crap.