What would you do?

Not trying to get into an argument with you or anything like that. Just going to give you numbers I get. Maybe they will help you, maybe they won't. Solo owner operator, I live in Florida, and am currently averaging just under two bucks on as high as 3k miles a week. And this is to the truck AFTER my carrier takes 25 percent. if I ran the north east I would expect to see more to cover the costs of tolls.

 

Couldnt agree more,but the driver is not in this forum to tell his side of the story

 

I'd schedule a sit down with the boss, and bring documentation of what I could earn driving at another carrier and calmly ask him torsee if he could meet that wage, and civilly explain that I would understand if he
can't, but I would have to seek employment elsewhere to provide maximum income for my family. I'd ask how much notice he would need once I found a better opportunity. The key is give the same courtesy and respect to my boss as I'd like to receive from him. Part with a hand shake and well wishes type of thing.

 

Isn't that the same thing the McDonald's bunch is doing? Give me what I want or I'll take my ball and go home....sit down with the boss, give him an idea about what you would like, find out what he can realistically offer and go from there. Holding a figurative gun to somebody's head never works

 

I would do it the same way I would expect my employees to come to me. I would tell them why I thought I deserved a raise, and then ask them for an increase in my pay for the reasons I gave them. I would not 'demand' a certain amount, and I would definitely not say 'give me this or I quit'. Not on the first time I asked for a raise. If you ask several times and are still denied then you can say that if you don't get it you will be leaving, but you don't do it as a threat.

 

More than likely the driver prob came in calm cool and collected and said " hey Mike can we talk? I don't wanna quit bro but for me personally I'm gonna need $1500 or else I'll have to go in a different direction." Now Mike if the run is only paying expenses then I'm assuming your not making anything off this team truck. If you are then you may have to lighten your cut because as a local company driver I was making $1500 a week consistently with paid holidays 2 weeks paid vacation 5 sick days and 2 personal days and my birthday was double pay also. I had health dental and vision and a company matched 401k. We'll assume you can't offer that so for a decent driver you actually should be paying close to $1800 per week. I know it's a lot but that salary is what keeps good driver from looking for another job. And you should know that drivers are always lookout for a better situation

 

I have to agree there. The OP gave the short story. He didn't say that the guy called him and said "I need $1500 today or I'm out the door!" For all we know the guy politely told him that he needed more money to cover medical expenses and it would take $1500 to do that. Might have even told him that he understood if they couldn't afford it but do to expenses he would have to start looking for another job that DID pay medical. Now I'm not saying the driver approached it right or wrong. I think the best answer was already givin. OP double check what you can afford. Maybe look for a better customer. Explain to your driver what you are doing to try and make things better (if he really has a legit need). Or you can look for a replacement. We can all be backseat bosses but only you truly knows how your conversation went. And it sounds like you already know what you need to do, your just looking for a little push. Go with your gut.

 

Exactly....