What are the downsides to hauling a reefer

All this free work I hear drivers speak of, that's figured in your cpm pay or percentage. Always has been, but like every body knows we are free to move on to a better deal.
As far as the driver getting the extra 30 to 40 cents a reefer pays, what about the extra cost of said reefer purchase, upkeep, insurance etc.

The whole problem even for the megas as to why we sit too long waiting on a load is too many trucks plain and simple. The biggest problem with drivers is all they think they should do is drive, most think they are worth more than they are. Granted there are some companies that pay is a joke, why too many drivers. Running every body you can find thru a CDL mill has its advantages.

 

So if all that extra work is figured in what should drivers be getting paid? Cause I've seen pays from .28 clear to .43 a mile. All I know is this- since getting paid hourly and getting paid for every minute I'm working I have yet to gross less then $1000. I never did that on percentage or cpm pay.

 

HIGHWAY ROBBERY


Light bulb at Petro-61.75
Jump start (SRT) 255.00
Cleaned battery terminals (advantage) 291.1
Levaling valve (Fleet) 516.03
Fuel filter Bradley's Truck Service 129.14
Flat repair-comercial truck service-228.70
New image towing-551.00
rear levaling valve--changed abs brake valve G&S Truck and Trailer--$1050.00

 

$129 for a fuel filter? You can buy those for like $15 and change it yourself.
What kind of lightbulb did you buy? A whole new headlight assembly or just a replacement bulb? A replacement bulb cost $15 at a parts counter and you can change it yourself.

 

I said there are better deals out there, it all depends on how good a negotiator you are. I guess I should have said when you agree to work for x amount you are getting paid what you agreed to. So its either go down the road or don't gripe. I can't imagine any one not knowing that they may be required to do a little something as part of the job description.
I have worked hourly and worked people hourly, makes us lazy including me. Put a man on percentage it becomes more fair both ways. Just an opinion of course but then again what do I know.

 

Percentage isn't quite as bad as cpm. I've worked all the pay scales. It's just I prefer hourly. Even though it may be worked in to the cpm or percentage it doesn't reflect that. I like seeing that I'm being paid on line 4. Just a personal thing.

 

Hey we all got them, nothing wrong with that.

 

Light bulb, jump start, fuel filter and clean the battery terminal is all stuff you can do. When you are at your company shop stock up on bulbs, fuses, filters and whatever else you can get your hands on. Go buy yourself a good set of 4 gauge 16'-20' jumper cable set. Then you can jump yourself off with a reefer. Two repairs on leveling valve?

 

Maybe this guy was hunting with his truck and seen a big dear, Elk, or Cow that he had to put on his wall.

 

Arrived at bama in Tulsa. Man this place smells good. Another plus. I think I took in a few calories by inhaling. A frozen load. I have been here b4 with this company and my 2nd company I worked for over 12 years ago. Another plus with Reefer is you go to the same customers. Checked in at 10:45 my qualcomm said it was a 1330 apt. Guy at window said 14:30. In a door 1130. Haven't started loading me yet. I do get to deliver in Riverside, CA at 2am on Monday, and that won't be an issue either. Hopefully I can snag a load and be headed to salt lake or Denver before 1500 Monday we shall see.

By the way. I like being paid by the mile. I don't trust those cats and their percentage. We do a lot of deadhead in this trailer trucking chicken mobiling side. So you wouldn't get paid for the empty miles. I know there are a lot of chicken mobilers who do get paid percentage, and they can have that. I like to be able to know about how much I'm going to make by the end of the week. And knowing how good a week or bad a week I'm having. I don't want to put all my trust in the fact some planner is getting high paying loads. I'm all about the numbers, the stats. Racking up miles. If I wanted to be paid percentage. I would be an owner operator and play the waiting game for a good load. I don't have patience for that. I have White line fever. I have to get on the road. I don't care if this load is paying a dollar a mile. I got to feel the wind in my 2 or 3 hairs. I got to see prime trucks fadeing in the distance. I have to see state borders crossed by the end of my 11. I'm not out here for the cash. I'm out here for the Love. We back quiet