Do dispatchers at fixed rate companies like Panther see the rate the driver is paid, or just the miles? I know at FedEx, where I used to be, the dispatcher always told me miles, pay, etc... but I just wondered if fixed rate companies give their dispatchers the pay info.
My reason for asking:
I drove for FedEX for several years, before leaving to work at a factory in my home town. Well... it's closing, and I've been talking to drivers in truckstops from Dayton to Zanesville along I70, to see who was good to go with now, as FedEx is not putting van's on.
Well, over the past several weeks, I have spoken to somewhere between 15-20 Panther Van Drivers. With a couple of exceptions, the ones who are contracted under the new rate of .77 per mile said they were running well, 12-1300 miles per week or so, while the ones who had been there for a while, and were contracted at the old rate of .85 per mile, said they were running slow, perhaps 6-700 miles per week, slowest they'd seen in years.
I know there are always variences, and it could be I've seen a small cross section, it was luck of the draw, etc... but having talked to so many, I seemed to see a trend. Is it possible the dispatchers give it to the driver availible who gets less money? My Paranoia :7 sees dispatchers getting bonuses for saving the company money?
I broached this theory to a driver yesterday, and he laughed and said he counted on that very theory. He said "I know I get more runs because I'm willing to run for less. If I had a company, why wouldn't I give the business to the one who'll put more money in my pocket?"
I'm wondering if he was right? After all, for every 500 miles they give him at .77 instead of the older guy at .85 ... they save the company $40.00 . Give a few hundred runs, that could add up to quite a bit.. perhaps the difference in someones bonus?
Just wondering........
On side note, I asked that last guy why he decided to go with Panther. He said he looked at several companies, but went with Panther because he thought they had the coolest looking logo to put on his van... Man.. I love well informed business decisions like that...now I know I wasted my time talking to all those drivers about their companies! ..... I should have just went for the "cool" factor... :7 :7 :7 :7 :7
My reason for asking:
I drove for FedEX for several years, before leaving to work at a factory in my home town. Well... it's closing, and I've been talking to drivers in truckstops from Dayton to Zanesville along I70, to see who was good to go with now, as FedEx is not putting van's on.
Well, over the past several weeks, I have spoken to somewhere between 15-20 Panther Van Drivers. With a couple of exceptions, the ones who are contracted under the new rate of .77 per mile said they were running well, 12-1300 miles per week or so, while the ones who had been there for a while, and were contracted at the old rate of .85 per mile, said they were running slow, perhaps 6-700 miles per week, slowest they'd seen in years.
I know there are always variences, and it could be I've seen a small cross section, it was luck of the draw, etc... but having talked to so many, I seemed to see a trend. Is it possible the dispatchers give it to the driver availible who gets less money? My Paranoia :7 sees dispatchers getting bonuses for saving the company money?
I broached this theory to a driver yesterday, and he laughed and said he counted on that very theory. He said "I know I get more runs because I'm willing to run for less. If I had a company, why wouldn't I give the business to the one who'll put more money in my pocket?"
I'm wondering if he was right? After all, for every 500 miles they give him at .77 instead of the older guy at .85 ... they save the company $40.00 . Give a few hundred runs, that could add up to quite a bit.. perhaps the difference in someones bonus?
Just wondering........
On side note, I asked that last guy why he decided to go with Panther. He said he looked at several companies, but went with Panther because he thought they had the coolest looking logo to put on his van... Man.. I love well informed business decisions like that...now I know I wasted my time talking to all those drivers about their companies! ..... I should have just went for the "cool" factor... :7 :7 :7 :7 :7