Unpaid Backhauls

[Zombie Woof]

Anybody out there run linehaul, and have to do the occasional backhaul? Just want to get an idea of how good or bad I have it. I run a linehaul route that takes about 5 hours up, and five hours back, if there is no traffic. About once a week, they give me a 75,000 gross load to take back with me, which slows me down about 20 minutes. Lots of hills. I get no extra money for this. They also send me out of my route once in a while to pick up a backhaul of product for the warehouse at the home yard, and I get an extra $15 for this, and it adds about 45 minutes to my day. Not worth it.


The job is actually pretty good. Maybe I'm just spoiled. But I'd rather not do these backhauls. Anyone else have this backhaul stuff, and is it worth the money for you ? Just curious.

[Malaki86]

You're complaining about it taking 20 extra minutes because of the weight??? I go across I-68 on a very regular basis grossing 75,000+. That alone adds roughly 45 minutes compared to empty. When the weather is bad (fog, snow & ice), it can add hours.

[Jackrabbit379]

If they pay you by the hour, and the backhauls give you extra hours, I'd take all the backhauls they offer.

Sometimes, I haul a backhaul, but the delivery drivers pick them up. I just take them back to the warehouse.
Atleast they pay ya $15 for the backhauls that are out of your regular route..

[Mackman]

If they pay you by the hour

I dont think he gets paid by the hour. Cuz he said he doesnt get paid for the backhaul. If he was getting paid by the hour then he shouldnt be bitching.

[Sealord]

WWaahhh. He shouldn't be b**ching at all, he has a job. BOL

[Jackrabbit379]

If he was getting paid by the hour then he shouldnt be bitching.

Yeah, that's the point I was trying to make. If it adds time to the clock, gitter done.


Sealord, that's a very good point. All of us that are working are thankful to be working.

[EvenJoe]

I think about the only thing you can do is look at your paycheck at the end of the year. If you made about the right amount, then just roll with it.

I have to do jobs that are not worth doing, but it comes out at the end of they year that I'm doing OK. I hope you're doing OK, too.

[jonp]

If the backhaul is from the place that you drop off then your going home anyways. I don't see the problem unless its taking 4 or 5 hours to load or you get paid more per mile mt than loaded. You should then get the loaded mile rate when bringing something back I think. My company pays mt miles for a backhaul but adds $30 for doing it and most are drop and hook so its a pretty good deal.

Out of route how much? If your paid the miles, so??? Unless thats more than about 10% extra over actual miles I wouldnt say much.

[jonp]

$15 for 45 min work or about $20/hour. Thats not worth it to you? You must be in a different tax bracket than I am. Quit and give me your job, I'll take $20/hr anyday

[freebirdrfd]

$15 for 45 min work or about $20/hour. Thats not worth it to you? You must be in a different tax bracket than I am. Quit and give me your job, I'll take $20/hr anyday

That's what i was gonna say. $20. an hour and he is questioning it??????

[Mr. Ford95]

$20 an hour but it's not an everyday thing, it's more like once a month, the other is once a week and he's not seeing any pay for that. That's what he's complaining about, the freebie backhaul.

[Double R]

I LOVE backhauls!!!!!!!!!

I get the mileage(hub) plus stop pay plus hourly pay after the first hour(stop pay and hourly pay are the same amount). Some of my back hauls take 15 minutes or less, well worth the money.

Here's a example of why I love them:
Last monday my last stop was in Havre De Grace,MD. My first p/u was in Lancaster,PA. Drove to Lancaster and got it on monday. In and out in 12 minutes. Next one was in Leesport,PA tuesday morning. Get paid the mileage from the front door in Lancaster to the front door of the hotel in Reading,PA(NEVER AGAIN WILL I STAY AT AMERICA'S BEST VALUE). Then the mileage from hotel to Leesport. Was in Lessport 55 minutes. Then mileage to Marysville,PA for last p/u. In and out in 10 minutes. Then the mileage home.

If you are getting PAID extra for the backhual, why complain. It's extra money on top of your normal route.

[Orangetxguy]

mumblemumblemumblemumble


I wanna take a 4# sledgehammer to whomever uses the term...."Backhaul"!!!!

[Zombie Woof]

OK, more on the backhaul thing. I do not get paid by the hour. Let me limit the conversation to the "free backhaul". Maybe I'm thinking like an NYC union thug, or something. I get regular pay to take an empty trailer back, and I get regular pay to take a huge, slow, and more dangerous load back. The huge slow load, which is third party freight, not our regular stuff, earns my company a certain amount of extra money, of which I get nothing. Hmmmm. Do I deserve anything? Hmmm. Should I just be happy to have a job? It reminds of my ex-mother-in-law, whose favorite phrase was "Where's my cut? "' The company is making $200 or $300 on the freight I'm taking back ( I estimate). When they hired me on, as a newbie, they mentioned that we would be "requested" to do the occasional backhaul, but weren't required to do backhauls. I don't think it is written in anything I signed that I would do backhauls, paid or unpaid.

As far as not being worth it : I just want to get my head on the pillow before sunrise, and get my regular pay. I have a thing with the long hours. This job is 70 hours a week, if you include my commute.

The paid $15 backhauls are a completely different subject. More on them later.

[Mackman]

Maybe I'm thinking like an NYC union thug

Thats a GOOD WAY of thinking.

[GMAN]

I just want to say one thing......THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BACKHAUL!!!!!!

[Zombie Woof]

I just want to say one thing......THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A BACKHAUL!!!!!!

GMAN,

Why not ?

[Kranky]

Why not ?

Because the cost of operating a truck is the same no matter what direction it is traveling.

.

[GMAN]

OK, more on the backhaul thing. I do not get paid by the hour. Let me limit the conversation to the "free backhaul". Maybe I'm thinking like an NYC union thug, or something. I get regular pay to take an empty trailer back, and I get regular pay to take a huge, slow, and more dangerous load back. The huge slow load, which is third party freight, not our regular stuff, earns my company a certain amount of extra money, of which I get nothing. Hmmmm. Do I deserve anything? Hmmm. Should I just be happy to have a job? It reminds of my ex-mother-in-law, whose favorite phrase was "Where's my cut? "' The company is making $200 or $300 on the freight I'm taking back ( I estimate). When they hired me on, as a newbie, they mentioned that we would be "requested" to do the occasional backhaul, but weren't required to do backhauls. I don't think it is written in anything I signed that I would do backhauls, paid or unpaid.

As far as not being worth it : I just want to get my head on the pillow before sunrise, and get my regular pay. I have a thing with the long hours. This job is 70 hours a week, if you include my commute.

The paid $15 backhauls are a completely different subject. More on them later.

I know you are new to this, but truck drivers usually haul freight in trailers. That is what we do to earn our pay. I don't understand what is dangerous about hauling 75,000 pounds of freight in a van. It it hazmat? Perhaps radioactive? 75,000 pounds is NOT huge. It is a normal load of freight. It should not make any difference where the freight originates. Third party freight pays the bills. Unless I missed something I assume that your company pays you both ways on your run. You complain about your company making money from hauling a load of freight. That is how your company can afford to pay you each week. How much investment do you have in your equipment? Your company pays for trucks, trailers, insurance, and your salary. If you break something on your truck I am sure that you won't be the one who pays for it. It takes money for them to pay all those expenses. I just find it strange that you complain about hauling freight rather than an empty trailer. It should not matter how much money your company is making as long as you get paid every week and the checks clear the bank.

[Double R]

OK, more on the backhaul thing. I do not get paid by the hour. Let me limit the conversation to the "free backhaul". Maybe I'm thinking like an NYC union thug, or something. I get regular pay to take an empty trailer back, and I get regular pay to take a huge, slow, and more dangerous load back. The huge slow load, which is third party freight, not our regular stuff, earns my company a certain amount of extra money, of which I get nothing. Hmmmm. Do I deserve anything? Hmmm. Should I just be happy to have a job? It reminds of my ex-mother-in-law, whose favorite phrase was "Where's my cut? "' The company is making $200 or $300 on the freight I'm taking back ( I estimate). When they hired me on, as a newbie, they mentioned that we would be "requested" to do the occasional backhaul, but weren't required to do backhauls. I don't think it is written in anything I signed that I would do backhauls, paid or unpaid.

As far as not being worth it : I just want to get my head on the pillow before sunrise, and get my regular pay. I have a thing with the long hours. This job is 70 hours a week, if you include my commute.

The paid $15 backhauls are a completely different subject. More on them later.

If your picking it up at the same place you just drop a trailer or delivered, then no extra pay.

If you are going out of your normal route to get it and you are paid hub mileage, then you get the extra miles.

If you are paid salary, TOO BAD, your are paid the same no matter.

The above is the office person in me.

NOW, the driver in me says:

You pick up after emptying, YOU SHOULD GET SOMETHING FOR THE STOP! If I deliver AND pick up at the same place(and we do that at a few customers), I am paid for the stop PLUS the pick up. I am also paid for pick ups.
Now, everyone keep in mind that neither myself or the OP work for an irregular truck load carrier. This does not apply to them(but it should)