Driver Pay

Fritzy50 · Sep 6, 2007

I have just started driving a 24ft. non-commercial straight truck for a smaller company. My pay is 25 cents per mile. My runs have been 200 - 900 miles but I have deadheaded my way back on all of them. Do things get any better than this? What could I or should I look for in the future that might be a little more, lets say lucrative.

Thanks for any replys....

RichM · Sep 6, 2007

Need a little more info. Do you get the .25 cpm when you deadhead back? Do you pay any expenses? By no commercial truck I assume you mean a company truck that is used for their own deliveries.

Are you an employee with benefits or a contractor?

Fritzy50 · Sep 6, 2007

Thanks for the quick reply. This is a non cdl driving position with a small expediting company. I am a newly hired fleet driver. The company pays for fuel,tolls,maintainance ect...,nothing out of pocket but my food if I choose. I am always told there might be something coming back but nothing as of yet.There is no deadhead pay. I figure I have more in deadhead miles than payed. If not its real close. Here is a good example.My longest run has been to Sioux Falls,SD from Cleveland Oh.deadheading back. What do you think, is this the norm or what. Your thoughts are appreciated.
Thanks,
Fritzy50

Fritzy50 · Sep 6, 2007

Oh Ya, there are no benefits at all.

RichM · Sep 6, 2007

You are underpaid for sure. On this website many fleet owners are looking for drivers in the classified section but probably 99% of them will require you to have a CDL unless it is a small cargo van.

Fritzy50 · Sep 6, 2007

Thanks, even though im green, I thought that might be the case.Chalk it up to experience.I am also studying for my CDL B w/hazmat.This should open some doors for me.In the mean time,I will continue to read up and learn as I go. Am planning on attending the workshop in MI. Should be able to get a lot of questions answered and good info.

arkjarhead · Sep 6, 2007

My suggestion would be go get at least a class b cdl and think about getting a hazmat endorsement. you can make it with the haz endorsement, but I think it will be hard without at least a class b cdl. that's my 2 cents worth.

Tennesseahawk · Sep 7, 2007

Fritzy... I've never heard of a 24' box truck not being a cdl truck. What does it gross? Non-cdl is 10k and under, unless I'm mistaken.

I notice you said you're from MI. Would the company you're driving for happen to be PDQ?

-True independence can only be gained if you're trully independant.

davekc · Sep 7, 2007

Most non cdl trucks are 26,000 lbs or less and no air brakes.

Davekc
owner
23 years
PantherII
EO moderator

Tennesseahawk · Sep 7, 2007

Bite my tongue. I was hoping to fix my error before it was caught. Not with "Hawkeye" Dave around. LOL

Wonder why 10k is sticking in my brain.

-True independence can only be gained if you're trully independant.

greg334 · Sep 7, 2007

>Most non cdl trucks are 26,000 lbs or less and no air
>brakes.

Intrastate I can see, but Interstate and no CDL?

fastrod · Sep 7, 2007

With a standard pa. drivers license you can drive any truck 26,000 pounds and under and it can have air brakes too. Because you do not have a cdl you do not have to know anything about air brakes nor are you required to check them. I used to drive a 25,500 pound truck, small sleeper,18 foot box and air brakes all over the eastern u.s. so I know this.

Crazynuff · Sep 7, 2007

Yup , that big International pickup has air brakes and a 25,999 GVWR . No CDL required . (Just don't hook a trailer to it )

x06col · Sep 7, 2007

But, if'n you go R'veein, don't matter whatca got in your ##### pocket for credentials.

RichM · Sep 7, 2007

Fritzy Looks to melike you are earning 12.5 cents per mile for all miles.Thats way down on thepay scale. You said the truck was a non commercial truck but you run expedite loads. Do you maintain a log book as if you do the truck is engaged in commercial operations. You just might be playing with fire here.

kwexpress · Sep 16, 2007

KW Express
o/o till i die

under 26k is a non cdl truck but trucks over 10k gvrw must have a log book and driver must have a med card. and keep in mind that trailer weight counts to so even if you drive a one ton dually with a gvrw of 9500 when you hook a 14 gvrw trailer to it you should log and have a med card.

as far as your pay you need to find an $8 per hour job you would be better off tell them to take that job and shove it.

like someone else pointed out get your class b at least.
even if you get your haz-mat at a latter time there are alot of smaller carriers who dont require haz-mat.

there are also tractor trailer operations who will put you in a truck training program give you a job and pay you better than .25 I think transport america out of MN does that and the punkin heads do that to

swiftyexp · Sep 18, 2007

Yes you can Drive a less than 26k straight truck with air brakes..................Heck U Haul drivers do it daily. CDL Requirements are more than 26 k Period or haul a trailer more than 10 k or haul trailer and gross over 26 k

Thanks

Broompilot · Sep 23, 2007

This is Mexican Labor Wages. And Fritzy I suppose they are also not taking any Taxes out either. Your wage if you average just 55 mph for all miles not including unloading, or any other stops along the way (fuel comes to mind) thus is $6.18 an hour.

Sir your a true bargin to the company, but a wrecking ball for the industry Walk no RUN and if it were I, I would leave the truck running in there yard with the keys locked inside after you collect your last check. Learn to do the math on any job.

Loosing $ is a hard lesson to learn, I congratulate you for asking though great example of what I had just posted re:Business Mind or a job. You rienforce my Post with this question.