How do most companies figure mileage?
- Thread starter Jumbuck
- Start date
I'm just glad the company I'm with now uses an actual trucker's chart to figure these things. I heard of one that used air miles--- real bad for us, especially if the trip was from, say, Lombard, Illinois to Grand Rapids, Michigan. That company mostly does local work, but every now and then they had a distance trip.
Different companies use different methods of calculating mileage. Some common mileage calculators are; PCmiler, Rand McNally, Household Goods Mileage Guide and Kevin's String and Thumbtack guide.
My carrier uses all of the above, depending on the contract with the customer. I have found most loads to be calculated with PCmiler though and that the PCmiler mileage coincides with my Garmin mileage. It would be nice to see an industry standard like PCmiler used exclusively.
My carrier uses all of the above, depending on the contract with the customer. I have found most loads to be calculated with PCmiler though and that the PCmiler mileage coincides with my Garmin mileage. It would be nice to see an industry standard like PCmiler used exclusively.
yeah the paid miles will cut off most corners and take you down every donkey cart path and back alley imaginable....sometimes it is more expeditious to go 30 miles around and safer...depending on the vehicle...
ebsprintin
Veteran Expediter
Something else to consider on top of how the company figures the miles is whether you are incorporating the loss of pay per miles into your cpm to operate.
Another trick is how the load is dispatched. Shortest miles for pay and fastest route for dispatch time.
eb
Another trick is how the load is dispatched. Shortest miles for pay and fastest route for dispatch time.
eb
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Your either paid on Practical miles or one of the many variations of short miles. The excuses and explanations are endless. If your not being paid practical miles, your not being paid accurately or fairly.
It is one of the oldest tricks in the book and from what I've seen, the cheapest carriers in the business are also the same carriers that pay short miles. They get you at every turn. There's no need to fight it. They will just give you one of their many explanations and tell you that's how it is. In the mean time, you'll still be paid for less miles than you drive. My opinion? that's the first sign your with the wrong carrier.
My company pays me on practical miles. I'm seldom more than 5 or maybe 10 miles off...and it can be to my favor as well. My last load I ran 12 miles less than I was paid for.
It is one of the oldest tricks in the book and from what I've seen, the cheapest carriers in the business are also the same carriers that pay short miles. They get you at every turn. There's no need to fight it. They will just give you one of their many explanations and tell you that's how it is. In the mean time, you'll still be paid for less miles than you drive. My opinion? that's the first sign your with the wrong carrier.
My company pays me on practical miles. I'm seldom more than 5 or maybe 10 miles off...and it can be to my favor as well. My last load I ran 12 miles less than I was paid for.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
IK don't even bother to check it anymore...it is what it is...
AMonger
Veteran Expediter
Do you check it under unusual circumstances? I was in St.Louis last week. Had a bid for a load going to Omaha. Fortunately, I didn't get it, because I remembered after hanging up that I-29 was closed in parts and I'd have to detour. I checked on the quoted miles, and they had quoted me and/or the customer miles without the detour.
chefdennis
Veteran Expediter
They tell me the DH miles the LH miles and the amount and the amount they are paying me (the money paid doesn't always come over with the load offer, but that has been discussed before) if i check anything , its a quick check to see what it is paying per mile, but after that , nope i don't check it for accuracy...i put it in the gps and go...Now i will say this, i have 3 gps's in my van...chances are really good that they all will have a different mileage...they will be close but chances are not the same....
I have never called Load 1 dispatch to ask about mileage differences, its always close and not an issue...
The detour situation, i had a run that went down I-40 about 4-5 months after the rock slide that had closed it, they miles dispatch sent routed be over to Johnson City, and they told me up front..
I have never called Load 1 dispatch to ask about mileage differences, its always close and not an issue...
The detour situation, i had a run that went down I-40 about 4-5 months after the rock slide that had closed it, they miles dispatch sent routed be over to Johnson City, and they told me up front..
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Too bad the mileage software couldn't be programmed when there is a road closure to flag whenever a load is punched in to take this into account...it would be up to say a supervisor to stay up to date on road closures...
This is one small example of why potential newbies should get themselves an A1 education on expediting provided for free within the archives of EO. With the indepth knowledge that experienced expediters have written about on EO, a newbie can start out by knowing all the tricks of the trade so he can work his knowledge to his best advantage right off the bat.
As I understand it, it's just a matter of them doing it. Dispatch made mention of it during the I-40 rockslide Dennis mentioned. They said something about having the route flagged.
Dakota
Veteran Expediter
jansiemoo
Seasoned Expediter
No, no, it's not good enough...we need a gps class, too ::rollseyes::