percentage

[freebirdrfd]

The company that i'm starting with pays percentage. I have never worked percentage before and i was looking at the paper work and it says that i get paid my percentage after fuel, lumper fees, tolls, and a few other things. I'm wondering if that is the way companies pay percentage.For some reason i don't think that i'm going to last there to long.

[robertt]

For some reason i don't think that i'm going to last there to long.

You gotta think positive Moriarity!

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[TK THE TRUCKER]

Yeah, that sounds like your pay is going to be all over the place. Tolls and lumpers can kill your pay rate unless the company compensates for that in the rate they agree on. If they take a load thinking the tolls are going to be $50 and the lumper is going to be $100 and then when the trip is done the tolls are $100 because you had to take a certain route and go over a toll bridge and then the lumper charges $250 to unload the truck instead of $100 then your pay is going to be lower than what you thought. Lumper rates can be ridiculous. When I was at Marten a lumper might charge $75 to unload the truck. A similar load going somewhere else they would charge $350 to unload the trailer. Freakin' lumpers

[Roadhog]

When freight rates are low, you are better off getting CPM.

Depends on the company. If they haul allot of cheap freight... your average will suck... like maybe work out to about 25 CPM.
What did they offer you? 24%??

[freebirdrfd]

25%. i guess i'll see how things work out, I'm heading out tonight with a short 2 stop load. one stop in Middlesex New Jersey, and one in Mechanicsburg Pa.

[Fredog]

When I was a company percentage driver I was always paid a percentage of the gross except the fuel surcharge, this was at sevearl different companies, you are getting hosed

[freebirdrfd]

I had a feeling i was getting screwed. I'll see what my pay checks look like, then i'll just find another job if i don't like things.

[Malaki86]

The last company I was with paid percentage. We, too, were paid a % of the actual load, not the fuel surcharge. It definitely wasn't paid after tolls, lumper, etc. Why should a company driver be responsible for 25% of the lumper, tolls, etc.

[kimmy]

I know all too well about those lumpers.Can you imagine what they make a day.We pay them to unload their stuff.I think i'll go in the lumping business,LOL.Anyway I drove for an O/O for 3 months and he paid me 25%.But I did'nt have tolls or lumpers to deal with.I guess it averaged out to about the same as getting paid by the mile.If you have tolls,lumpers and all the other fun stuff that tk mentioned,I would deffinately do my homework on this.But you already have your first load so hopefully you won't get stiffed.Maybe ask some other drivers there if they're making good money.

[Kentla93]

When I worked for Commercial Carrier Corp back in 04 to 07 we got paid percentage of what the load paid, started out at 23% and capped at 26% I am sure they included all the overhead before they came up with our percentage however they never said upfront that was what they were doing they just said you get paid a percentge of the gross load . It was a local job and the most I ever made there was something like 36000, we did have driver who is a member of this board that grosed over 50k with them for a couple of years but he ran his ass off 6 days a week...
Good luck Freebirdrfd, remember the best time to find a job is when you already have one....

Timberwolf

[freebirdrfd]

Thanks everybody, I passed up a couple of other jobs to take this one and now they had me sign paperwork stating how i'm going to be paid. I knew it was gonna be 25%, but i didn't realize it was gonna be after everybody and their brother got a cut Like i said, i'm not to worried, i can always find another job while i still have this one

[GMAN]

I have known several owners who pay percentage. All have paid on everything the truck makes other than the fsc. The owner paid tolls and any other expenses. One owner that I know had a rather unique program for her drivers. She took everything that the truck made, deducted all expenses, other than truck payments, and split what was left with her drivers. I think that nearly all of them earned at least $50,000/yr. She paid all equipment payments out of her share. It worked in her situation, but it was an even split with the driver.

[RostyC]

I think it will all come down to what kind of rates they are getting. That could be a lot of toll money.

[mike in idaho]

My line of work is strictly local(log trucking, heavy equipment hauling), around here the going rate for that sort of thing is 30-35 percent of the truck's gross earnings. That's about $200-$300 a day depending on the job and how eager you are. Always wondered how that compares to OTR.

[Fredog]

Commercial pays the percentage from the trucks gross, the reason you dont make anything is becuase they haul for peanuts

[Kentla93]

Fredog I always thought what i made at commercial was'nt to bad.. $36,000 grand a year for sleeping in my own bed every night as a second year driver, worked for me.. Now compare it to what I am doing today and I would laugh my azz off at it, but for a newbie it was good pay and I had every other weekend off...

Timberwolf....

[snoopyandpuppy]

I am learning alot here...THANKS..... I'm in law enforcement and plan on driving when I retire in a few years, plus i sold truck parts at the NAPA store I ran some 16 years ago. I know most of the terms and abbreviations....but what the hell is a "lumper"?

[RostyC]

I am learning alot here...THANKS..... I'm in law enforcement and plan on driving when I retire in a few years, plus i sold truck parts at the NAPA store I ran some 16 years ago. I know most of the terms and abbreviations....but what the hell is a "lumper"?

A guy that unloads your trailer for you.

[Roadhog]

I am learning alot here...THANKS..... I'm in law enforcement and plan on driving when I retire in a few years, plus i sold truck parts at the NAPA store I ran some 16 years ago. I know most of the terms and abbreviations....but what the hell is a "lumper"?

Snoopy,

Lumpers are a 3rd party service, used for loading/off loading product from either reefer or van trailers.
Not all warehouses use this service, having their own employee's responsible for the shipping, receiving and inventory.
Lumper service is a matter of the contract between the purchaser and the carrier. The brokers know if the load "requires" lumper service, and the costs are figured into the contract. Remember that last sentence. They know ahead of time what is in the contract, so any "mis-communication" later is bull.

This opens up a great place for greed and backstabbing. In my opinion, most of this lumper service, are the Unions muscling in, and wanting a piece of the action. Why else would most of these warehouses have to pay to unload their own product? In some specialized warehouses, I can understand hiring a 3rd party service, when more complicated logistics are involved. But then you have your filthy rat infested Union Warehouses, where if you are not a Union carrier, you pay up the canoli for lumper service, and then go see Helen Wait.

In my opinion, it's just a scam, but deeply entrenched in the system, and goes all the way down to the politics, of this industry. They have the carriers by the nads, and somehow everybody is making money off this, but the driver.

There are many scenario's in this part of the industry. You'll find for the most part, the experience is okay, and routine. You get your door assignment, bump the dock, and take your Bills inside. When you check in, you may be given the option of using the lumper service or not. If you are a non-union carrier... I strongly advise using the lumper service.

Anyway, then you trudge over to where you see a bunch of ominous characters hanging around doin' nuthin' and you might recognize one you have arrested a few times in the past, so you put on your sunglasses. (if he bolts, just let him go) You ask for the manager, and they grunt and point in a general direction. The lumper manager will calculate your lumper fee. Just hand him your Bills. He'll mumble a figure at you. You agree, pay him cash, or call your dispatcher for an authorization number on the COMCHEK you will pay him with. Then you go nap in your bunk, because it's going to be awhile. Seriously.

Every warehouse has their own system and rules. Some places are friendly and easy going, as well as to the other extreme. It is one part of the biz, where the driver is the low one on the totem pole. Truckers do not like to take any crap...and sometimes it's tough for us to allow disrespect, or mis-communication to be dumped on us. This will happen at times in this part of the delivery evolution. The food distribution racket is corrupt, and the loading dock is a good place to see it up front and personal.

One way they have the driver by the short hairs, is you become part of the contract, when you sign the Bills, and accept the load. The delivery is not complete, until the product is sitting on the purchasers dock. I always ask my dispatcher about the terms of loading and off loading. If I know a lumper service is required, I make sure I get an authorization number for a COMCHEK before the dispatch office closes, if I have a night delivery. Dang if I'm paying cash, and then turning in a receipt for reimbursement a week later. That's giving my boss a free loan.

[snoopyandpuppy]

Thanks for the responses. Roadhog.....I think I got it. I'm sure at one time in American history the unions had their place..........not so much now. Just my 2 cents.....not trying to start a debate or hijack this thread. Thanks for the info.