Do my drivers make enough?

[Sparks280zt]

Hi,

Not sure if this is in the right forum or not, mods feel free to move.

My family owns an environmental service company, nothing huge, just 8 trucks. Anyways these drivers are always complaining about not making enough. What do you guys think of their salary?

They all made over 54k last year with half of them making over 58k. They are all home every night and generally work 8-5. These guys mainly pull tankers and 4 drivers run vac tankers. We do not have great insurance but I feel being home every night and working normal hours makes up for that. Opinions? Thanks

[bigchuckie]

Where do I sign up? Here is an opinion Cut back on wages and kick in a little more towards insurance. Either way its your money being spent

[Useless]

Where are you located?? That is a key question. Mid to high 50's would be a decent income in some parts of the country, not so good in other parts.

[Uturn2001]

On a 6 day work week they are making around 19//hr

On a 5 day work week it is around 23/hour.

Based on 9 hours per day and 54k/year.

Anyway the best way to see if you are on target with wages in your area try to find out what other type of local drivers are making. You could also check with area factories and see what they are paying. In many areas local drivers are paid close to the same, on an hourly basis, what the factories are paying.

[Sparks280zt]

Greenville SC area, they are 10k above the average driver around here.

We are hiring if anyone is interested, minimum 5 years tanker experience required.

[Chris M]

I'd take it in a minute if I lived near there.

[Mackman]

Greenville SC area, they are 10k above the average driver around here.

We are hiring if anyone is interested, minimum 5 years tanker experience required.

Vac tanker do you do package planet work haulin sludge or hazmat stuff??? I did the sludge (poop haulin for a while)

[mudpuddle]

They are paid well particularly for the cost of living there. You have to remember if you paid a truck driver 250,000.00 per year he'd bitch and tell you he had a buddy making 275.

[Mackman]

they may not be gettin paid all that well if it is sludge haulin out of package plants and what not.

[outtaservice]

$54k a year??? South Carolina???
Id take it in a minute if I had tanker experience....
Hell, Id start packing and move there!!!

[ben45750]

That doesn't sound like bad pay? Might be on the low to average side. A driver with 5 years of tanker experience should be making good money.

If you have a low turnover rate your probably paying them enough. If your having trouble keeping drivers a higher pay scale might help? Like someone else said, drivers always complain about not making enough.

[Sparks280zt]

No one has ever quit, and all we have fired call back and ask for their job back. We haul hazmat stuff and wastewater. The sludge is not the plant stuff you are talking about. Some of it is but my dad personally does all that.

Thanks or the input.

[Mackman]

well wastewater work will always 95% of the time be local work. So you act like becuase there local that counts for something. Really it doesnt count as anything. Cuz that what it is local work. When i did it i got paid 19.10 an hr. I worked for every penny. Draging them hoses and clean buffles and sludge tanks and all that good stuff. But i had really good benefits for a while. Then they took them away and thats why i left. Well your drivers are right in the ballpark money wise. IS it all trailers or do you have some stright trucks???

[Sparks280zt]

All trailers, no straight trucks.

[nsxman2001]

sounds like good pay for that area of the country..

[inmate1577]

Thats great pay for that area of the country.
Your drivers sound like a bunch of pussies.
Tell them to go OTR as a Co. driver for CR England and see how much they make.
Then, they'll shut up.


Generally people that complain about how good they got it, will generally complain about anything if anyone is dumb enough to buy into their nonsense.

[Doctor Who]

It would be a real long commute but where do I sign up???

It does look as though you do treat the drivers fairly which, is rare these days...

[PackRatTDI]

On a 6 day work week they are making around 19//hr

On a 5 day work week it is around 23/hour.

Based on 9 hours per day and 54k/year.

Anyway the best way to see if you are on target with wages in your area try to find out what other type of local drivers are making. You could also check with area factories and see what they are paying. In many areas local drivers are paid close to the same, on an hourly basis, what the factories are paying.

That's around how much UPS is paying drivers in my area. I have a friend who just started at UPS as a route driver and he's making $18 an hour.

[Sparks280zt]

They never work weekends so its atleast 23/hour. After looking at some paperwork these guys dont even work a 40 hour week sometimes.

The company is owned by my dad and uncle. My dad wants to raise the rates because we have been at the same rates for almost 10 years. If we can get the rate raise the drivers will make more since they make percentage.

Thanks for all the input.

[Mackman]

I can tell none of you guys ever run Vac trailers if your tellin them they have it so good. Dont get me wroug its sounds like a good job. But Them guys are workin for that money. Can i ask you a ? sparks. Why dont you pay by the hr.