You are welcome, Cool Hand. I see no need in being sarcastic with someone who is honestly seeking answers to questions. And I don't get paid for being here. I just try to help when I can. I believe it is important for us to share what we learn along the way with others who are just starting out.

Everything is the same when you are paid by mileage up to a point.
The problem comes when the mileage is way off or the mileage is calculated using an impossible route(low bridge, truck restriction etc)
Thats when the problems start
"I 'm not going its my truck and the mileage is 40 miles off"
Disp" I don't know anything about that, are you refusing the load?"
"yes!"
Disp "Ok call me tomorro around 8am CLICK!"

Sadly enough many dispatchers are on a kind of powertrip and like to control the miles. I had the last one saying to my question why i'm not getting enough miles: "I already put your miles up to 2600 a week from 2200. That's enough!" I called the boss and he started shouting instantly at the dispatcher about him getting tired of these stupid games. But it didn't help me getting more miles anyways.
You need good luck to find somebody reasonable and then build a relationship with one.

Oh and if you refuse a load they will let you suffer for it, sometimes for a whole week and your miles will go doooooown.

Im leased to a company and i dont refuse loads...when i ran the road i just told them that they were "underutilizing" me :D for the most part now i pick and choose what loads i do and get home everyday..for example im deadheading to williamsburg va from greensboro nc(220 miles) drp n hook take back to gre :D ensboro...and come back home :D