Update And Overtime Gripe For Local Drivers

So if some of you remember, I first came here with a serious issue in my life concerning obtaining my CDL. Thankfully all went well in the end and I began my career as a driver driving OTR for a decently paying company...at least far better pay than the mega-carriers are paying.

I drove OTR for 7 months, then my kiddo's grades started dropping, I wasn't home to stay on her behind, she was living with her grandmother and taking advantage of the lighter living conditions; not as much authority from dad. When her grades started dropping, I started looking for local routs that would at least come close to the pay I was getting and allowing me time home every night.

I found a fantastic job, outside of a few gripes I have, but at least I am overall happy with the company. There have been some issues, but most I will not discuss unless at some point I decide to part ways. Any gripes outside of the one I am about to give would be illogical to discuss since they are somewhat irrelevant for now.

So here is my issue that not only applies to my company, but any other company who I feel hides behind this law.

So back in 1938 or 1936 (if memory serves me) there was a law written that trucking companies did not have to pay overtime until after 50 hours. From what I understand, this differs from state to state, but in my state, it is 50 hours. Not every company does this, but from the research I have performed, most companies that are not Unionized will take advantage of this law and hide behind it as if it is their Heater Shield.

So pretty much, I turn down any volunteer "overtime" due to them using this law to deny overtime pay pre 50 hours. I work my 40 and I am done unless they deem a Saturday mandatory, which usually happens about once a month on average. Sometimes more, sometimes none.

Talking with other drivers, it seems a mix of drivers are either okay with this, or outraged with this. It sends a clear and loud message to me and drivers who share my opinion; "Your time isn't even worth that of a hamburger flipper's job."

I know that I am not some special voice for truck drivers to back in some stance against the machine here, but wow...how on Earth did truck drivers ever become okay with this?

What is your personal views on the subject? I know this does not affect all drivers, but drivers like myself, it most certainly affects. It's even a bit insulting when I am asked to work "overtime." To me, I am thinking, 'How is this considered overtime if you aren't paying the overtime?'

But alas, I'll leave you with that and am interested in people's opinions. Thank you.

Yes, many companies take advantage of that old outdated law. It should have been repealed years ago.

Unfortunately, I think a lot of drivers just get comfortable and figure that's the way it is.

OD up until 2 years ago didn't pay overtime until after 60 hours! Now they do it at 50

What's overtime pay?

What's overtime pay?

Good point.

The majority of drivers are independent contractors. So who would pay them overtime pay? They have various contracts with various companies. Say they haul Nestle for 3 days, General Mills for 2 days, and Tyson on day 7. Why should tyson pay OT because the driver hauled Nestle & general mills?

If they paid OT to OTR drivers.... my guess is that the cpm rates would drop or the bonuses would disappear. If you get paid say $28 per hour (i have seen local.jobs as low as $22 per hour depending on location) at 40 hours that's $1120. Overtime at time and a half would be $42 per hour. So for 50 hours that would be $1540. So divide $1540 by 50 hours and you are averaging $30.80 per hour including OT.

I make $345 for 500 miles of driving solo. For training team i can make $748 for 1100 truck miles in 24 hours. So i make slightly more solo OTR at my mega carrier than with OT local. But the potential to make significantly more while team training is there. My highest training pays were $4900 and $4700 including all bonuses and referral money. As a company driver. Is it a normal situation, no, but it happens. When freight is up, i averaged $3500 per week running training team. No way could i make that in a normal local job.

My guess is that if they implement mandatory OT, they will across the board reduce the cpm and remove bonuses. But it won't be some significant accomplishment people think. It is a money shell game. Calling it "overtime" may appeal from a psycholoigical standpoint, but if it reduces... the term OT is meaningless and hurtful.

We don’t get overtime time pay but we get component pay which at least for me, is much better. For delivery it’s a combination of cases and miles and for shuttle it’s drop/hooks and miles. It usually comes out to 36-40 for me per hour depending on the run. Our hourly rate is 32 but they calculate our weekly hours and weekly component pay and we get whichever is more. My component has been higher every week since I came out of training.

Really nice for the guys who like to hustle.

I drive for a company based in North Carolina and I am considered short haul/local. I get paid hourly and time plus half after 40 hours. The company limits us to a max of 55 hours a week. The pay is not the highest but I enjoy having every weekend off and sleeping in my own bed. At 55 hours a week I average about$1400/week. The OTR drivers are still home weekly and they are at 0.67/mile and they average about 2,400 miles per week. The more productive drivers get close to 3,000 a week.

While I don't work hourly, I get paid by the unit, cpm and ancillary pay for items which is crucial, I understand the frustration with anything that effectively lowers my pay.

If it's not compulsory, and you're not going to loose your job, I'd see no reason to work over 40.

With me, otr , it's a deep psychological war with the corporation. Their goal is to get me to do as much work under the given miles (units of pay) as possible, in effect to lower my pay rate My goal is to produce the load in as few of miles driven in the shortest amount of time as possible, thereby raising my rate of pay and allowing me to get more loads done. Minutes matter and pennys matter.

That's where ancillary pay becomes vital. It's my equivalent of your overtime. Anything and everything I do has a dollar value attached to it while in the truck. For this week, I only got 2600 miles in, due to the loads having too much time on them and them being live loads at non 24 hour stores and a breakdown. But I have a total of 4.5 days of layover and an additional stop fee on it. So I'll pick up an extra 500 bucks for the week. It will work out with bonuses and base cpm to a 1900 dollar week.

It's unspoken, but the corporation will try to persuade you against turning down loads or positioning yourself so that you get loads without having to do extra work without pay. It's a constantly running game. In some ways I am amazed at the ruthless efficiency that corporations will extract every cent they can from a driver, all under the appearance of being swell organizations. There exists a give and take with it, but the war can be won battle by battle.

I appreciate the thoughts, y'all. Thank you.