Estimate for mileage in a year
#11
10-04-2006, 11:13 AM
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: East Central IL between the corn and the beans
Posts: 4,977
If you are trying to figure some kind of yearly budget I would use 2000 miles per week, 102,000 per year. In this biz you are better off figuring a little low.
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#12
10-04-2006, 11:26 AM
Originally Posted by oldnavyparts
rubberducky: I am well aware that mileage will vary based on a large number of variables that are outside of my control: breakdowns, holdup at shipper/receiver, HOS rules, traffic, weather, blown tires, sudden sickness, etc etc etc. That list can be endless.
I am in the planning stages, trying to weed out companies based on pay, and so forth. I have created a spreadsheet where I am charting the pros and cons of each company: pay, insurance, etc. I am using the mileage feedback I get here as a baseline to calculate potential earnings the first, and subsequent years I am employed at company X. Obviously I don't want to shoot that number too high, because real world slowdowns will make a big difference between what I calculate as my earning potential at a company and the actual earnings from said company. For instance, if I can drive at 65, but traffic will keep that average closer to 55, then I am taking the 55 miles per hour as the number, instead of the higher number. Also, for mileage, I am figuring 2500 miles per week, which seems to be an attainable average number. The average is more important than the individual weekly total for me. Since the peaks and valleys of my production with relation to mileage will average out to around 2500, that seems to be a reasonable number to make calculations with. Taken a step further, at 55 miles per house, 2500 miles per week means that I am only behind the wheel for about 45 hours each week. The rest of my on duty time could be devoted to customer site issues, pre and post trip, fueling, etc. I know I might be erring on the side of caution with these numbers, but it gives me a much better real world picture. Any input would be much appreciated. Thanks! Sorry for the edit. I can't spell, and don't have time from work to mess with spell check!  ops:Looks like you are doing your homework. I'm going to add a suggestion and then you run the numbers. You assume staying with one company for the entire first year. Assume staying at first company long enough to find a company that will start you at a higher rate per mile with limited experience, dont apply until you have thoroughly checked them out. As a brand new driver larger companies will get you miles because they pay you less, after a few/several months the miles drop because they have new rookies running for cheap. This is about the time you need to have that other company in your seabag. Jump ship and you will get the miles and the pay increase. What kind of old navy parts are ya?
#13
10-04-2006, 12:14 PM
Senior Board Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Planet Earth, Milky Way Galaxy
Posts: 937
Re: Ballpark
Originally Posted by Sealord
120k - 135k/year is a good estimate. BOL
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#14
10-05-2006, 09:23 AM
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: on the buckle of the Bible belt
Posts: 32
LOAD IT: Is this a wide spread practice within the industry, to turn out new drivers, pay them a lower wage for a while, use them until they are eligible for more pay, then cut the miles for that driver? Wow. Hadn't thought about it from that angle, but I imagine it happens, and makes sense, from a purely profit making standpoint. So in effect, what you are saying is have another company (perhaps smaller company that pays better, treats employees better) lined up, and jump ship before they screw me too badly? What a cutthroat freaking industry. Know what I mean?
As for my moniker on this website, its just a userid to register here. I am neither old, in the Navy, or missing any parts. I was sitting at the computer, trying to figure a screen name to use for this website when I registered. There was an Old Navy bag and an O'Reilly's Auto Parts bag on the floor from a shopping trip my wife and I took earlier that day. I just concatenated parts of the two names together, and came up with this ID. Sorry there is no cool story behind it.  Sealord: I pay extra each month for high speed internet just so I can surf the archives of classadrivers.com! Malaki86: I have been looking at Roehl and CFI out of Joplin, MO. I am hoping they will not be doing a lot of these little runs like you said. I don't want to get stuck with a company that does regional runs, the national runs are better, for the miles. Thanks all for the input.
#15
10-05-2006, 12:27 PM
Well I guess I will call you 2 Bags. You are right, they will use you up so be prepared to go to a better company when its time, dont start looking too soon, the big company will find reasons to screw up your DAC if they know you may leave.
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