KASteel ?

[/quote]I like my OTR gig, because I can sit and STILL make money Plus, my layovers are always in big cities and I get out of the truck more than freight haulers (generally) do.[/quote]

eewww, big cities.

Isn't dry van the worst paying gig you could do in trucking ? :wink:

Dry van isn't the worst. CR pays less than most dry van companies, so its really and apples/oranges deal. Its all about the company you work for.

As far as big cities, would you rather be stuck in BUFU for 3 days or in a new town with sights to see? :wink: :lol:

Since the gist of this thread is wages..here are some numbers..based solely on mileage pay:

1500 miles per week @ .275 cents per mile = $412.50
If you average 59 miles per hour, that is 25.43 hours of driving time, or $16.22 per hour.

2500 mpw @ .275 cpm = $687.50 @ 59 miles mph / 42.38 hours = $16.22 ph.

1500 mpw @ .36 cpm = $540.00 @ 59 mph / 25.42 hrs = $21.24 ph.
2500 mpw @ .36 cpm = $900.00 @ 59 mph / 42.37 hrs = $21.24 ph.

Now...kick your mile per hour average up to 63 mph.

1500 mpw @ .36 cpm = $ 540.00 @ 63 mph / 23.81 hrs = $22.68 ph.
2500 mpw @ .36 cpm = $ 900.00 @ 63 mph / 39.69hrs = $22.68 ph.

1500 mpw @ .435 cpm = $652.50 @ 63 mph / 23.81 hrs = $27.40 ph
2500 mpw @ .435 cpm = $1,085.50 @ 63 mph / 39.69 hrs = $ 27.35 ph

1500 mpw @ .545 cpm = $817.50 @ 63 mph / 23.81 hrs = $34.33 ph
2500 mpw @ .545 cpm = $1,362.50 @ 63 mph / 39.69 hrs = $34.33 ph

All things being equal, if you just have driving time and no work hours, even .36 cents per mile is a decent wage....if you get the miles.

Now..take a 1500 mile week, and 70 available work hours. If you have basicly 24 hours of driving time, that leaves you with 46 hours available for work. If you actually worked all 46 of those hours, and your employer did not cut your hours due to the all to common 2 hour give away, and you were paid $13.25 per hour for labor, without any Overtime paid, your hourly wage for the week would be (46 x $13.25) $609.50 + mileage pay (@.275) of $412.50 = $1022 for a 70 hour week, or $14.60 per hour.

@ .36 cpm your 70 hour wage would be $1149.50 or $16.42 per hour

@ .435 cpm that 70 hour wage is $1262.00 or $18.03 ph.

@ .545 cpm that 70 wage is $1972 or $28.17 ph.


Which would you prefer? Driving time or Working time??

well said I couldn't have said it better myself *smiling*...hear hear!!!

Keep on Truckin...

At CWX we are not allowed to do anything "safety sensitive" after our 14. That includes running a towmotor, yard goat or breaking your set.

In theory you could write bills or do other office work.

Many of our policies are similar to the NMFA. I suspect that is because management would strongly like to avoid the IBT, but that's a can of worms I'm going to leave closed.

At my barn we do have one guy who does the P&D routing who goes over 60/7 when we are busy, but he has a special waver from the safety dept. He has to run a log to make sure he is legal for the the once in a blue moon when he has to drive, run the yard goat or a towmotor.

wow that was broken down pretty nicely...were you an accountant in your past field? LOL...just kidding...
I think I am going to copy this....since I never took the time to do the math....and figure it out it is definitely worth the trouble to retain...since you took the trouble to get it all down here...

Keep on Truckin...

Your numbers are skewed to what you want them to say. In reality, the average OTR driver is putting in more than 70 hours a week, if you include all the things that he is doing in his spare time, and all the times he "fixes" his logbook.

If the driver is getting paid $0.36 per mile, and running 2500 miles per week, he is getting less than $12.85 per hour for the hours that he is more than likely putting in to make that. That also does not include the time that he is away from home.

Besides - you are going to be hard pressed to average 59 miles per hour in the real world, let alone 63 (given traffic, accidents, pee breaks, weather, etc.). Any other job in this country would pay you for the labor you do. Heck, even the workers at the shippers and receivers are getting paid for the work they do - why aren't you?

If companies want to pay a per-mile rate for the miles you drive, then fine. But loading and unloading is not included in that rate, no matter how much you want to believe it is. The carriers expect you to do it for free.

Yep, that's why OTR is such a scam. When you break down all the unpaid hours, it works out to a ridiculously low hourly rate. One thing I could never figure out is why so many whistle while they work for free. Is it for the glory of showing off their big red rooster cruiser? I don't know. Whatever the reason it ain't enough for me.

Are you in the same Local as I, Local 63?

Just depends on who you are and what your priorities are. I'm single, no bills, house is paid for. Much of my money goes toward chrome and do-dads. I love my Rooster Cruiser and love to show it off. Getting home every day doesn't mean anything to me. I've done the local gigs and I just wind up sitting around bored to death waiting to go to bed. Hell, I'd rather be hauling azz in a sweet Pete. Maybe one day LTL will work better, but for now it's all about the fun and the freedom. 8)