Working for free...where do you draw the line?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Matt43324, Jan 2, 2019.

  1. JReding

    JReding Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2014
    Messages:
    1,955
    Thanks Received:
    3,504
    Location:
    Puyallup, WA
    0
    Whatever you’re doing, don’t do it “off duty”, if you’re a company driver. If you’re off duty and you injure yourself somehow, then you may not be covered by your state industrial insurance, and could even face disciplinary measures from your company. If you do anything while you’re off duty, your company can face scrutiny as well as yourself.

    As far as to whether I get paid to fuel or not, or any other task, my company is pretty good about having a pay structure that assigns appropriate values to each type of task.

    By definition, you’re “working” when you’re performing any of these tasks, you should be compensated for it.
     
    Lonesome, Fuelinmyveins and p608 Thank this.
  2. 201

    201 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Apr 16, 2014
    Messages:
    12,410
    Thanks Received:
    25,370
    Location:
    high plains colorado
    0
    Yeah, that's kind of a toughie. On one hand, you want to be a good employee, and take the crap, hoping it will come back to you down the line, and on the other, work( I figured from the time I got into the truck until I got out to go home) always should equal pay. In my career, I've done lots of things for free, some I got paid back in other ways, some not, but that's the job. It's not a punch clock deal where you get paid for every minute. I've had trucking jobs like that, punch in and get paid for every minute, but the boss kept close tabs on those minutes, and that sucks too. ( where were you here? and why did this stop take so long? crap) Look at the big picture. Take a rough estimate how long you were at work, ( in the truck ) into how much you made that week. If it's too low, then I'd move on. Remember, with all the jobs out there, they need you.
     
    MACK E-6 Thanks this.
  3. 6wheeler

    6wheeler Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    Messages:
    2,696
    Thanks Received:
    4,774
    0
    I'm a owner operator. Not a leased on guy either. Lately I have drawn the line on bullcrap of waiting around to get loaded or unloaded(flatbed).

    If I show up at the shipper and it takes more that an hour for someone to start loading, then I leave.
    If I'm at the receiver and it takes more than an hour to start unloading then I'm stuck but still will call the broker and tell them I'm leaving.

    Screw this crap of "they get 2 hours free" to unload and load the truck. I'm leaving.
     
  4. al_huryn

    al_huryn Medium Load Member

    Joined:
    Apr 19, 2007
    Messages:
    502
    Thanks Received:
    291
    Location:
    Philadelphia, PA
    0
    Unless youre an elephant dont work for peanuts.
     
    lynchy, bzinger, Bakerman and 3 others Thank this.
  5. stillwurkin

    stillwurkin Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Dec 2, 2017
    Messages:
    1,756
    Thanks Received:
    2,856
    0
    I polish my wheels and trk late spring or early summer. Still looking for someone to pay me, dang it.
     
  6. D.Tibbitt

    D.Tibbitt Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Apr 26, 2013
    Messages:
    21,944
    Thanks Received:
    150,305
    Location:
    Gettin' down westbound
    0
    Bein a flatbed company driver we do lot of work with no pay ... I wish my only work i had to do other than drive was just a safety online class and a phone talk with safety ... But then again i see bein a truck driver everything u have to do with safety and fuekinf etc.. Anything tbat involves the truck or ur license is part of the job and ur company is already paying it... No different than mcdonals payin a guy to make burgers.. That would be like him askin if he gets paid extra for puttin lettuce and tomato on the burger , its part of the job
     
    Odin's Rabid Dog and gokiddogo Thank this.
  7. p608

    p608 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2016
    Messages:
    2,181
    Thanks Received:
    2,992
    0
    If you have to log it, you should be paid for it.
     
    mpd240 and Matt43324 Thank this.
  8. Jazz1

    Jazz1 Road Train Member

    Joined:
    May 7, 2012
    Messages:
    2,373
    Thanks Received:
    4,971
    Location:
    Thunder Bay On
    0
    Never been to a safety meeting as they are held during bankers hours. I don't do anything without pay and the subject has come up a few times. My usual response is "you have hourly employees for that" End of discussion. Always a shortage of drivers but no shortage of dock employees leaning on brooms or hiding behind dumpster for a dube.
     
  9. 06driver

    06driver Road Train Member

    Joined:
    May 28, 2017
    Messages:
    2,436
    Thanks Received:
    3,434
    0
    All required meetings and training should be on duty and compensated.
     
    Lonesome Thanks this.
  10. 88228822

    88228822 Heavy Load Member

    Joined:
    Sep 26, 2018
    Messages:
    829
    Thanks Received:
    1,316
    0
    cents per mile is piecework, not timed

    OTR cpm they pay you for all of the tasks involved in moving the load from point A to point B, and each mile driven (well, sorta) is a piecework unit

    It is what it is...

    as far as training, i agree on duty and paid separate from cpm is how it should be
     
    mpd240, 06driver and Matt43324 Thank this.