Fozzy said:
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Setting your budget for an average 2000 mile week is smarter..
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I don't run solo (live in my truck,) but I think MOST of "them" still have a house and/or family at home with bills that can't be "adjusted down" to meet a substandard "miles per week." 2,000 miles is pretty much just FOUR days a week. ANY newbie can run 500 miles a day and STILL make a delivery/shipping appointment or two (if they will get it done and get him back on the road.)
Although I agree with your wisdom of budgeting lower than average expected income... I think I agree that miles AND cpm have been getting lower in the last 2 years. Even with a shortage (again?) of drivers due to the increased construction activity (#Obama Recovery,) Companies seem to be holding cpm level or reducing it for both newbies AND experienced drivers.
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the time off must be counted in as lost miles at the end of the year..
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Is there a form I fill out for this? Does "lost miles/wages" count as a "business expense" on my 1040? Does the deduction for my U.I. go down due to the fact I would get LOWER benefits if I became unemployed and had to live on U.I.? .... or was that just a philosophical placation?
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Every time you take off is a day with no income.
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Well.... that would seem obvious. But...
if I'm a solo driver only getting 2k miles per week.... I'd sure as hell expect to get HOME every weekend for AT LEAST 2 days. Why should I "sit" somewhere for an entire UNPAID day... getting 4 days pay for 5 at your "disposal," and THEN when I get home (usually a day late with NO extra MILES,) I'm almost "allowed" a full 34 hour restart (with a few annoying phone calls) before I'm sent out again.... to make another substandard paycheck? (compared to the entire trucking industry)
I'm just asking questions. This is not my life OR my fight. I have almost always driven TEAM.... cuz it guarantees high miles! In many cases (as my own) it usually guarantees (or predicts) maximum hometime. FedEX pays their contractors well, and in return... most of us drivers are paid well. I'm not complaining. I recently gave UP a couple of CPM for a dedicated run with exceptional miles.... and I'm STILL home every weekend to play on CAD (or Facebook.) lol.
But.... I average 5600 team miles/wk. That would be 2800 solo miles. At GOOD pay. [MOST drivers out there don't do quite as well. (some do better! ... text me some info will ya guys?)]
I would have to make over 60 cpm to gross what I do.... if I only got 2,000 miles/wk. I don't think I can "budget" for only 2,000 miles/wk .... even at what "I" get paid. lol.
The biggest problem with this industry is.... the "companies" are disillusioned with the idea that the average American worker, non-union, can PAY his meager "budget" on less than $500/wk TAKEHOME.
And then there's Mickey D's! lol. THEY think a person can live on $250/wk "gross," and won't mind working a second job on THEIR weekends!
And then there's GMAN... who thinks people below the poverty level, making about $1200 a month, and having to pay TAXES on it.... should have to pay for their own insurance AND buy groceries/rent/utilities etc... without any gov't assistance... out of the remaining $200 or less per week. Oh that's right.... they're all drug dealers and "takers." lol.
Well.... can't think of a lower level of subsistence to compare to. But, y'all get my point.
Is it just me??
