[aspin]

I was just wondering what kind of salaries fleet managers make at the major trucking companies. I think this is something I'd be really good at and was wondering if you guys could shed any light about how to get such a job starting out.

[Sealord]

Be a driver first then you'll understand when one of your drivers (surface freight expediter) tells you he can't get from here to there in the time required. You'll then change the delivery time with no questions asked, on your part, of the driver. BOL

[BigDawg]

Ditto....... what Sealord said at USX we had a DM that was a former driver turned DM and when you called in he would help in any way he could cause he knew what it was like out there and 9 times out of 10 he got it worked out.

[driver67373]

I'm a driver. I think I would be good as a fleet manager. Maybe a few years down the road when I have some more experience. I'm good at seeing the big pcture. I understand how freight moves into different markets, supply and demand. I am very good at multi-tasking and managing different things at once. I like working with people; I'm good at compromising and resolving conflicts. I'm very patient. Most importantly I would make sure my drivers were taken care of and all of their needs addressed. I know what it's like out there. I love being a truck driver but I don't want to do this forever. However I do think I'd like to stay in the industry. I feel a fleet manager would be more challenging and put more of my abilities to good use. It would also allow me to move up the ladder in the trucking world.

I can say this honestly my 2 best dispatchers/fleet managers were ex drivers or drivers wives. My worse 3 were colledge educated and forgot how the real world worked. When you go from 3k a week to 1900-2200 and the one thing that changed was your fleet manager something is wrong. I was on a nice 3 round a week take hamburgers to TN over to Memphis grab a load of Coors and go to Chicago and do it all over again got a new fleet manager next thing I know I am all over the place and I can not get miles. But if you do become a FM remember this your drivers are your eyes as to what is going on out there they say it is to bad to go on beleive them and do not force them to continue. NO LOAD IS WORTH A DRIVERS LIFE.

[GMAN]

You originally asked about the pay. I have heard numbers from $30-50M/yr. I would say most fall on the lower end of this scale.

[kilog55]

you mean 30-50k/yr :wink:

[TMC]

I would say $35-50k/yr sounds about right. We pay base plus commission. The commission is based off your driver turnover rate so if you have a lhigh one, you won't be a fleet mgr for too long. If someone has driving exp. and a good sense for business, I would say they could become one. Our best fleet mgrs are former drivers. We have former drivers in recruiting, training, safety and fleet management. That says a lot and a lot of them are managers within those depts.

[GMAN]

That is good to hear, TMC. I wish more carriers had that same attitude about putting drivers in management positions.

[Smokeeater]

I am not a driver yet, but common sense would seem to say it should be a prerequisite to first be a driver before becoming a DM or FM. Maybe I am oversimplifying things. Just seems like something like this would improve efficiency if they care about that. :lol: