Unfairness Of Pay By The Hour And The Fair Labor Act

My last post on this thread: If frogs had wings, they wouldn't bump their butt when they landed from a hop.

D. Shan's arguments are simply assumptions, not based on good logic.

If trucking is about moving the most freight like you say, then why shouldn't I pass you on the interstate going as fast as possible? I'll get to the receiver before you, and you'll be sitting there talking to your DM about detention pay. Miles equals money, so why shouldn't I pass you? That creates accidents, can't you see that? How often do you see people hauling ass through truck stop parking lots?

Are these rhetorical questions? Because it sounds like a teacher at the beginning of a Driver's Ed class giving a series of simple, shortsighted thoughts before explaining to the class the obvious importance of sound decision making and proper risk management.

As a professional driver you carry the burden (or privilege) of high expectations. If someone decides they're going to take greater risks because they're getting paid by the mile then they're not making decisions at the level a professional should be making them at. So the question becomes, "Who are we putting behind the wheel of 80,000 pound rigs?" We have to make sure it's people that are capable of handling the responsibility.

Soooo.....if driving faster allows me to get to my destination faster I still have to depend on someone else to get me more freight. It doesn't matter if I shave 2 hours off my drive time if I can't get another load.

As a professional driver you carry the burden (or privilege) of high expectations. If someone decides they're going to take greater risks because they're getting paid by the mile then they're not making decisions at the level a professional should be making them at. So the question becomes, "Who are we putting behind the wheel of 80,000 pound rigs?" We have to make sure it's people that are capable of handling the responsibility.

Exactly! Well put.

This is what I was talking about when I stated to Daniel that...

Mileage pay is designed to help bring the cream to the top, it separates the professional from the strugglers. The professional realizes he may need to change his route, or start a little earlier when there is inclement weather, he doesn't sweat the fact that it will take him more time, he just wants to get the load delivered safely and on time because that puts him in position to be available for the next load. Mileage pay does not push the professional to try to increase his speed, it pushes him to plan better and execute better.

Daniel boldly dismissed my reference to China when he clearly stated:

If you went to any other country and told them you worked 70 hours a week at a skilled profession and made less than a living wage (17 or 18 an hour on average, depends on your state) with minimal benefits, they would think you were crazy.

China just happened to be where I had some first hand knowledge, but I guess I should have chosen one of those places like the Netherlands where productivity is so low that the government has to subsidize everyone's salary and pension, but the working man only has to work about six hours a day and takes a nice two and a half hour lunch break every day.

I wasn't going to jump back in here, as I had already accomplished what I wanted. I often like to bring someone like Mr. "Sage" out into a discussion so that the rest of the community here can see who they are just a little better. He is an unemployed truck driver who wants to debate the merits of a career which he didn't survive...

Just FYI I'm leaning toward NOT getting back in the trucking industry. I guess I just like debating.

It's always the unemployed drivers who know of a much better way for the truck driving industry to be run, while the professionals are out there making a decent living - with little time on their hands for debate.

And... BTW Mr. "Sage" I try to avoid disclosing my pay very often, but since you brought it up...

most drivers are used to cpm and unfortunately aren't the best at math. 70 hours a week at $20 an hr WITH overtime (why do we NOT deserve overtime?) equals $$$$$$1700$$$$$$. Did you make that last week?

I ran 3310 miles last week at .47 cpm - I also got 180.00 in tarp pay. I will let you do the math... since your math is so much superior to the average truck driver.

Here is how a professional driver manages his time - he capitalizes his hours so that he does not waste his on duty hours. On duty time is spent driving - that is how you make some money at this. Unfortunately, for a "driver" like Mr. "Sage," he has such little time behind the wheel that he has not formulated a strategy for success in this industry. He has shortsightedly determined that it is the method of pay that kept him from being successful at this.

Daniel Sage, I stand by what I said 100 % and have zero interest in debating the merits of CPM based pay. You clearly have your opinion and it's in deference to mine and probably many others.

Unless you want to discuss the best way for you to re-enter trucking, (which I'd be happy to do) I have nothing further to discuss with you.

Nruck, You sir twisted my words and took this conversation into a philosophical and social debate.

Let me put this to you in another way, anyone trying to enter trucking that as you put it, is "not the sharpest tack" will likely not succeed or last for long in this business. My reference to intelligence was relative to having a level of smarts and common sense necessary to adequately perform. Nothing more.

If you really want to learn how to succeed in trucking and learn this business I am happy to help.

I like being paid by the mile. Maybe I should be clutching my pearls and whining about the injustice of it all, but I've worked too many hourly jobs where the "good ol' boys" did next to nothing, while the people busting out real work got paid the exact same wage if not less.

I make plenty of money for what I do. I never have to speed or feel rushed because of the way I'm paid, either. If you can't figure out a way to make decent money driving truck, chances are it's a personal shortcoming. Accept that, and strive to change it.

Nruck, You sir twisted my words and took this conversation into a philosophical and social debate.

It's a tough accusation to say somebody is twisting your words when they have them in quotes.

Let me put this to you in another way, anyone trying to enter trucking that as you put it, is "not the sharpest tack" will likely not succeed or last for long in this business. My reference to intelligence was relative to having a level of smarts and common sense necessary to adequately perform. Nothing more.

If you think highly of everybody in trucking, it's odd that you are arguing with the ones that you are defending.

If you really want to learn how to succeed in trucking and learn this business I am happy to help.

Thanks, that's the whole point of me being on here. This thread has gone off the rails. There's really no point in debating the perceived intelligence of those around us through everybody's perception an biases.

Nruck, You sir twisted my words and took this conversation into a philosophical and social debate.

Let me put this to you in another way, anyone trying to enter trucking that as you put it, is "not the sharpest tack" will likely not succeed or last for long in this business. My reference to intelligence was relative to having a level of smarts and common sense necessary to adequately perform. Nothing more.

If you think highly of everybody in trucking, it's odd that you are arguing with the ones that you are defending.

If you really want to learn how to succeed in trucking and learn this business I am happy to help.

EDIT:

It's a tough accusation to say somebody is twisting your words when they have them in quotes.

Thanks, that's the whole point of me being on here. This thread has gone off the rails. There's really no point in debating the perceived intelligence of those around us through everybody's perception an biases.