I can understand the idea of making the driver do everything he/she can to conserve fuel. The less fuel used for the run, the more pay the driver gets. Unfortunately, the figure of $1.20 a mile could be a bit low, depending on a variety of circumstances. For example, where does the company run? In mountains or on flat ground? What kind of trucks? What's the gear ratio? What kind of loads do you pull? Flatbed loaded with steel or dry van loaded with potato chips? If you're going to pull "HIGH, WIDE, AND HANDSOME", that's not enough.

 

That was just for example...but you've got the idea! 8)

 

The friend of mine, come up with that idea. And the results of this survey, didn't surprise me at all! Cause I've told him about it before.
Very few are willing to accept a responsibility, and run smart, to make an extra buck. Majority will rather run for less, but with warranty!

 

Companies have given themselves a reputation of arranging so that any of the variables go in their favor and against the drivers. It is a matter of TRUSTING that if anyone is going to get screwed, it's going to be the driver. Someone comes up with something new, it's too easy to screw the driver with it until it becomes known.

I drove for Burlington Motor Carriers before they went bankrupt. Those of us that were O/Os continually found ourselves in the areas of the country where fuel costs were the highest. The company trucks ran where the fuel was cheaper. With your idea, if a dispatcher decides he/she doesn't like someone, he/she can send the driver to an area where the fuel costs are the highest and reduce the driver's income to punish the driver. And, many times, the driver doesn't even know about it until it's too late.

Currently, dispatchers have a tendancy to send "favorite" drivers on the better runs, and those that they dislike on the worst ones. You want to add another variable to their list of things they can use against the driver?

 

Windwalker, point taken! But still, it's an opportunity. No pain, no gain!
It's basically like half O/O, w/o truck worry, and ability to walk out any time.
And a carrier, has advantage of a more controlled fuel cost.
Might be a win win situation, which means good business! 8)

 

I'll stick with my company paying for the fuel. Considering the fact that we run into and out of WV every day with loads averaging 44,000lbs (equals low fuel mileage).

If I was running coast to coast, or dedicated in the southeast, midwest, etc, it'd be a different story.

Considering that @ the current 5.5mpg that my truck averages, and at $5.00 fuel, it costs $0.91cpm just to run the truck. At your price of $1.20cpm, that leaves $0.29cpm for me. I don't think so.

 

Now, point me to a carrier that you can trust not to screw the driver.

 

OK! I'll make it $1.40, and repeat the question?
Like I've said $1.20 is just an example!
Sure there are some! But you see, it's going both ways, drivers and carriers...