Mileage Accuracy

Big Al · Nov 8, 2009

I have been using the PC Miler with the Companies I've leased to since the late 90's and have never had any issues with this software.
However since we have been with this new company (new to us) all my trips have exceeded the mileage quoted. It's almost always greater than 5%, sometimes upwards to 15%.
I have never had any loads with less mileage even though in my previous experience I used to make out 10-15% of the loads because of the location of zip codes.
Anyone else having this problem!?
I am left with just two conclusions:
1. The company and we are being cheated by this software.
2. Or the company is quoting the wrong mileage and skimming the profit.

Sincerely,
Big Al

layoutshooter · Nov 8, 2009

What company?

OntarioVanMan · Nov 8, 2009

I've always been against using Zip to Zip....we get cheated and so does the company.....customers should be charged address to address...after all we don't stop and deliver to a Zip Code....

Big Al · Nov 8, 2009

I would prefer not to disclose the company at this time, perhaps later; however, I will respond to a private message.

Sincerely,
Big Al

layoutshooter · Nov 8, 2009

OK, no problem. We are leased to FedEx and the miles are often off. One way or the other. The biggest deveation was more than 50 miles. Over the year it works out about even. Not enough to worry about.

aileron · Nov 8, 2009

I have never has such a big difference. On all my loads it is less than 10 miles either way. Like LOS said, it evens out in the end, no need to worry about it.

jelliott · Nov 8, 2009

It might be the old company was using pc miler practical and the new one uses pc miler short miles?

Big Al · Nov 9, 2009

Does the new PC short miles have less miles between locations?

CharlesD · Nov 9, 2009

It depends on how the software is set up, doesn't it? If the software is set up for the shortest route you'll get every deer path and back road, but the miles will be less, but if it is set up to route in a close proximation of how a real person would actually drive it, you end up with the miles we all want to be paid on.

FIS53 · Nov 9, 2009

CharlesD has it right especially with one outfit up here. They reset the software to calculate the shortest route never mind anything like truck routes, low over passes, low weight bridges or other things so the miles changed to less for runs. This is what they based the pricing on.
So there were a few runs over 50 mile difference. Gotta keep those customers happy.
Rob

layoutshooter · Nov 9, 2009

The only time we had a 50 difference was because of a mistake. We were routed to the mailing address, we drove right up to the Post Office as per the directions. The only problem was the site we were to deliver at was 50 miles out in the desert. That was kinda funny. We still made the original delivery time since we were way ahead of schedule as it was. What made it even funnier was that it was a RADMAT load and, for some unknown reason, the people at the Post Office seemed rather hesitant to accept radio active material!!!

moose · Nov 9, 2009

Big Al said:
Does the new PC short miles have less miles between locations?

Yes , it is because global warming ,
the world shrinks ...

layoutshooter · Nov 9, 2009

LOL!!! That's funny Moose!!

CharlesD · Nov 9, 2009

moose said:
Yes , it is because global warming ,
the world shrinks ...

The earth has been getting rained on for 4 billion years or thereabouts. Anything is bound to shrink some if you leave it out in the rain that long.

layoutshooter · Nov 9, 2009

Well, people have been saying for years that the world is getting smaller. They must have been right!!

Scuba · Nov 9, 2009

some customers still use rand mcnally which screws the driver every time

Big Al · Nov 9, 2009

Company states this is PC Miler software but it sure smells like the "household movers guide"!

Sincerely,
Big Al

OntarioVanMan · Nov 9, 2009

Then there are carriers that have a 5% mileage deduction contracts with customers...unbeknown to us...aka we are not told of this fact as we prolly turn it down......however I don't think there is many of these customers left...

RETIDEPXE · Nov 9, 2009

CharlesD you are absolutely right about "every deer trail". Going from first hand experience, if you ever get a run from Seattle to Las Wages, NV, do not be tempted to take the shortest route.......even thou it saves you 176 miles, which incedentally was the route my carrier was paying us on, so we decided, what the hey. My Delorm GPS showed it was a "National Forest Developed Rd" dropping off I-84 south before Boise thru NV, so how bad can it be right??
It was a freckin Jeep trail for about 20 miles, and there was no turning around. Thank goodness it didn't rain or suffer a mechanical failure because we had no cell service and it was 02:00, thru the creeks and between the trees. I did come up on one of the most awesome whitetail bucks I had ever seen, boy was he surprised to see us in our 40X13X8ft box moving thru the woods.
Short of it, I was mad for scratching up my truck and being routed this way. Afterwards it was 150 miles of gravel, dirt, dust and squashed jack rabbits. When we unloaded, there was a 1/2in. of dust on the cargo, they took a picture of it and we didn't say a word nor hear anything more about it. I thought, yea, that serves you right, should've paid for me to stay on the interstate, ha!
Next time we'll know to ask for the extra miles.

Retidepxe

RLENT · Nov 9, 2009

I've had the miles come out both ways, under and over .... and occasionally dead on the nuts. Usually the difference is not significant. The one I did today was dispatched at 250 miles ... I ran it in 220 actual.