Pay vs. Being Happy

[kips41]

In reading so many of the posts, it looks like alot of the responses are about how much you can make per mile $$.

How many of you consider what I call the "Happy Factor". So many drivers change jobs looking for more $$ that they lose out on the benefits of longevity and developing a good working relationship with their dispatcher and the company.

For example being close to a terminal, it sure is nice being able to park at the terminal, write up any repairs and go home, come back and they are fixed, rather than hang around a terminal 1000 miles from home for a day or so while a PM or repairs are done.
How much is that worth to a driver???

I have been an OTR driver since "92 and have worked most of the time for just 2 companies athough I did a couple of "greener pasture changes".

There are so many factors other than CPM the newer folks need to look at what will really make them happy at company.

[tbogle05]

That sure is true. I have a local gig right now and the money is great and the hours are awesome. I am home every afternoon. I only work from 230 in the morning to maybe noon at the latest. But I am not happy with this job. I have a boss who breaths down my neck all day long. And on top of that Im longing for the road. I miss the traveling and the traffic jams. (someone slap me for thinking that) But i do enjoy being with my wonderful family everynight.

[Highwayman]

In reading so many of the posts, it looks like alot of the responses are about how much you can make per mile $$.

When looking at pay, a high mileage rate doesn't mean squat if you won't be getting the mileage. Likewise, a lower mileage rate will pay more if the actual mileage is higher and more importantly, CONSISTENT.

How many of you consider what I call the "Happy Factor". So many drivers change jobs looking for more $$ that they lose out on the benefits of longevity and developing a good working relationship with their dispatcher and the company.

Not a whole lot in the way of those benefits - there are almost as many dispatchers and other company office staff who get bounced around from department to department, and who also go elsewhere looking for greener pastures. The biggest advantage to sticking around is that you will get to know the company's freight lanes and customers well. That, in turn should make for better and more consistent mileage. "should" is italicized, because knowing the "system" won't help you one bit if you have an incompetent moron as a dispatcher.

[glasman2]

I replied to a post close to what your saying ( happy factor )
CPM is not on the top of my list for someone to start out with or even to work for. Treatment of employees, equipment, then miles, then cpm. (bennies don't need them) but for the right price I'll take them.

I get a small retirement now, so I don't need to make 4k a month. Heck 2k would be just fine as long as the people treat me right. Don't get me wrong... if I fall into a place and make decent/good money, with good treatment thats a plus.

Last place I worked at I was there for 15 years, was treated real good the first 13... last 2 was going to the dogs. Owner retired and sold and handed the company to his son and VP.

This is the way I look at it... if your not happy with who you work for, NO amount of money is going to change that.

[Uturn2001]

Owner retired and sold and handed the company to his son and VP.

Usually seems to be the fastest way to make a good company go to crap.

I have seen this happen in and out of the trucking industry many times.

To be honest, I only left one company (driving and non driving) over pay issues. All the rest were due to how I was being treated.

To be honest, I only left one company (driving and non driving) over pay issues. All the rest were due to how I was being treated.

Yeah that's exactly why I left OTR. Just got tired of being treated like a 4th-class citizen.

Yeah that's exactly why I left OTR. Just got tired of being treated like a 4th-class citizen.

Some people enjoy other aspects of the job, not just that

There's nothing like the smell of a truck stop parking lot on a hot summer morning

[Uturn2001]

There's nothing like the smell of a truck stop parking lot on a hot summer morning

Which is often better than the smell coming off the buffet at many T/A's and Flying J's. :shock: :shock:

[-FlyByNight-]

In my best Robert Duval voice, "I love the smell of urine in the morning!" :shock:

[driverboy]

Interesting thread, do you live to work or work to live?

I chase the money and enjoy life with the great money I make, while I enjoy what I do I think the enjoyment is derived from what I make of it. Let's face it, 95% of our time is in solitude, what other job can you smile at the start of the run while the boss treats you subpar and then not see him for the rest of the run, be it a day, a week, or a month? Try that in a cubicle setup, watch the movie office space!!

[-FlyByNight-]

Interesting thread, do you live to work or work to live?

I chase the money and enjoy life with the great money I make, while I enjoy what I do I think the enjoyment is derived from what I make of it. Let's face it, 95% of our time is in solitude, what other job can you smile at the start of the run while the boss treats you subpar and then not see him for the rest of the run, be it a day, a week, or a month? Try that in a cubicle setup, watch the movie office space!!

I've always felt it's important to enjoy what you do to earn a living. It's just as important that you have an employer you're content with and that you feel like a productive member of society. Office Space is hysterical, but also a scary reminder of my past and how things could still be.

[Lewis friend]

Exactly!

That's why, if you'll notice, i didnt' mention jack about pay in my requirements in the "my wish list" thread.
http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...b69e92d0b50957

What i am asking for is 8 hours of good/quality sleep. This means, quiet, vibration free, and warm.

If i can get that, then i can and will drive 11 hours for you. And cover 450-700 miles per day. Which is the way i like it.

[hitman]

CPM is not going to be a factor when I am able to drive, but I will be in a unique situation by having 2 incomes...collecting a pension from my current employer, on top of my pay as a driver. So safety...as in good equipment...and my company trusting my decision to shut down due to weather, illness etc., and treating me right, are more important to me then cpm. If I can get those things from a company, I will be happy and stick with them for the 10 or 12 years that I plan to drive.

[Colin]

My last OTR job was chosen based on equipment. With 9 years of experience, I'm sure I could have been offered more than $.305 cpm. But I had done the higher pay thing in a Century class and the lower pay with a Volvo 770 was worth it. I still made tons of money and I would make the same choice again.

Not everyone has the choice I did though.

You should choose what works for you.

[rcpilot]

I'm leaving a 65,000 -70,000 a year job with the government to go back to driving... I did 23 years as an Air Traffic Controller in the military and was recently hired by the DOD to do the same job... but I'm burnt out and do not enjoy the job anymore... of course the wife is'nt very happy about me going on the road but I explained to her that I enjoy driving and I'd rather be happy and make a living than be unhappy making more money....

[Nomad_]

Unless things change (my health, financial profile, etc..), I doubt that I will ever want or need to do a entry level, or even full time gigs with the big national OTR outfits. I will probably always do local part-time gigs, as I go into semi-retirement. However, I could see myself doing seasonal OTR work as I get older or potentially signing on with LandStar if I choose to make an investment in myself. It's hard to say right now.

Luckily CPM is not my prime requirement. I put myself through CDL School (partially VA did), and I have a dedicated routes part-time gig (some Fridays and Sats) that I actually enjoy. I did have to pay my dues with my first P/T gig (long story), but it only lasted 2+ months.

Anyway, I will strive to keep the leverage on my side and keep having fun.

[coalregion]

Exactly!

That's why, if you'll notice, i didnt' mention jack about pay in my requirements in the "my wish list" thread.
http://www.classadrivers.com/phpBB2/...b69e92d0b50957

What i am asking for is 8 hours of good/quality sleep. This means, quiet, vibration free, and warm.

If i can get that, then i can and will drive 11 hours for you. And cover 450-700 miles per day. Which is the way i like it.

Chad, Ron Kniecley, Colonel Toon, how the hell have you been?

[kenworth75]

I drive petro local here in Northern Va, and i love the job. But i do miss the driving hundreds of miles nonstop just to sit at a warehouse. Things are so much easier when all you have to do is look out for yourself and your watch pup in the co-pilots seat. The small things that we take for granted on the road, we dearly miss when we go stoplight to stoplight. Miles upon miles are more important than the cpm. You cant have the bennies without the miles.

[driverboy]

I guess my point is do any companies truly treat their drivers better than others?

Most of my variance is circumstances beyond any company's control and for that reason can not hold them accountable and think if I was to move to a different company those problems would not exist.

Bad weather, vendor delays, border congestion, general traffic congestion are all things that can make a day fall apart but there is not much any company can solve, for that reason I chase the bucks and am paid hourly not by the mile.

That I am fortuante enough to run brand new equipment is just icing on the cake.

To each his own, as a company driver my view may be skewed a bit as I am home every night. Company differences I think would crop up more for OTR as far as laying out your route and reloading policies to keep the miles up. I could not imagine sitting anywhere waiting for hours (days?) on end to start to make money again, I feel for those that do.