fleet drivers

[kybowtie_1]

It would be nice to have the luxury of being a fleet driver for a year but the pay doesn't look so good and the ads that I see are more interested in owner operators. Is living in western Ky. a problem and is it even possible to make a decent living as fleet driver? What is the customary split?
Another problem for me may be that I always owned my own truck when I was hauling livestock and I like that. It is added resposibility but the rewards and satisfaction is greater also. Any advice here?

 

[ATeam]

Don't be too quick to dismiss fleet driving as an option. For teams especially, it can be a good choice. I met a team just the other day that sold their truck. They were successful owner/operators but a guy came along that wanted to buy their truck and offered them a price too good to turn down. They took the money and ran, planing to buy a new truck for themselves and drive for a fleet owner in the mean time. That was a year ago. Their fleet work has worked out well for them and they see no reason to go back to O/O again. That's not everyone's choice but it works for them.

 

[LDB]

The most common situation I hear of for drivers is a 60/40 split with the 60% side receiving all the fuel surcharge money and paying the fuel and usually any tolls. Alternately the driver receives 40% of the base and pays nothing except personal expenses. Based on companies like Panther, Express-1 etc. that pay a set mileage rate of $1.20 for a standard D unit that's 48cpm times loaded miles with personal expenses only coming out of that or it's 72cpm plus fsc money with fuel, tolls and personal expenses coming out of that.

My fsc for 2005 averaged 17cpm for all paid miles so it would have been 89cpm for all paid miles on a 60/40 split. At first glance it sounds like a no brainer however you have to calculate the fuel burned for d/h miles as well and that knocks a good chunk out of the difference. Tolls can also take a noticeable amount if you wind up running the northeast a lot or back and forth across 80 a lot.

Even with those extra expenses I think getting 60% plus fsc and paying them still leaves a few more cpm in one's pocket, especially if you are prudent with idling and driving speed. If the truck has an APU that's even better. Good luck with your research.

Leo Bricker, owner trucks 3034, 4958
OOIDA 677319
73's K5LDB
Highway Watch Participant, Truckerbuddy
EO Forum Moderator 1+ Years of Service
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[kybowtie_1]

Rich M and Leo, thanks for your help. You brought up a subject that has been on my mind and that is what co. does one go with? I received some material from Tri-State and to be honest some of it I don't understand yet. Things like $1000. escrow. Escrow for what? $250. escrow for qual comm. Why should I put up money in an escrow for that? Anyway I have talked to three company recruiters on the phone and I am making a list of questiions as I go but I can tell you this much, I will put more weight into what people like you tell me than putting all my trust in a recruiter. (no harm meant)
Another VERY important question is , what do you guys do about health insurance? I know of course that I will have to pay my own but if I could get with a company that let's you join at a group rate, well that would be swell. hey thanks again guys, ya'll are terrific