Nickel and Diming

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Skull_Leader, Nov 3, 2012.

  1. Skull_Leader

    Skull_Leader Light Load Member

    Oct 23, 2012
    I keep hearing the "Don't work for Crappy Company ABC because they'll 'nickel and dime' your pay all the way down to burger flipper rate!" comments

    Just how is it that they do this? what are the unexpected deductions that are typically used to keep them from paying their drivers?

    Do they charge for repairs? toll tags? insurance fees? What should a new driver be watching out for?
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  3. BossOutlaw88

    BossOutlaw88 Road Train Member

    Oct 30, 2011
    Your pay is highly dependent upon YOUR willingness to do work, have correct ETA, NAT, and come off your ten hour breaks on time. Most people want to get paid, but not put the work in. One thing I'll give you is never listen to the majority public on trucking issues, especially when they never tell you why they are getting that less than burger flipping rate pay. Be smart driver.
  4. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    You won't make much money if you don't have self-discipline. Call in on time or you may miss your next load. Be the "go to" driver when the dispatcher needs to get the job done. Keep your dispatcher updated of any changes in ETA's , etc. due to weather, traffic, etc. No, you don't pay for tolls, breakdowns, they pay you for tolls & detention for breakdowns; if not, you're with the wrong company. If your personal life allows, get with a coast-to-coast/border-to-border running company and go for it, run hard & don't be the "I'm too tired" driver if you have driving hours left. Trucking is not easy, but will provide you with a good standard of living for you and your family if you have the self discipline to make it work to your advantage. Get with good refrigerated or tanker/hazmat company & you will do well. Keep a record of what you do for pay in case there is a mistake with a paycheck; it will be corrected.
  5. Numb

    Numb Crusty Curmudgeon

    Jan 30, 2012
    Charlotte, N.Carolina
    if it is a small company, they may ask you to pay for oil or tolls or a headlight and say they will reimburse. then they don't. some will deduct for poor fuel mileage and such, as in you idle too much in the hot summer heat with no APU on the truck.
    you just need to keep an eye on your pay stub. or not work for a company that has a lot of stipulations to the cents per mile rate.
    Buffalo Chip and Lonesome Thank this.
  6. rbrtwbstr

    rbrtwbstr Road Train Member

    Jul 11, 2012
    in the bush somewhere
    or find a percentage based pay system, that way you dont know how bad you are getting shafted. you just take it with a smile....seriously, if a company wants to deduct MY pay for poor fuel economy because of idling or whatever, their equipment had better be top notch equipment..and save every reciept for reimbursement, give your company a copy and keep the original. thats what i always did and never had a problem.
  7. slim shady

    slim shady Road Train Member

    Sep 14, 2011
    Chicago, Il.
    I see alot of companies wanting you to have an escrow account, Stay away from these companies
  8. Curly88

    Curly88 Light Load Member

    May 16, 2012
    Rexford Mt
    I might be wrong in saying this but I believe some people are just lazy and dont want to work. I used to drive for werner, sure they're not the best company to work for but thats where I started out and I was determined to go a full year whith them. I was getting 3000 a miles a week all the time and couldn't understand why fellow com. drivers were complaining about low miles, money takin out of there checks, etc. I started asking why? Here's what I found out, late loads, damaged aquipment, not sending in there paperwork, and worst, calling and sending angry messages at there dispatcher, I may have bin an ****kisser but I treated my dispatcher like a king, whatever it took to get good loads, and money. It worked too. One wkend he got me home a day late so he gave me $180 because of it.
    Chinatown Thanks this.
  9. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

    May 6, 2007
    Nickle and dime ---- cut bonuses is number one. Lose a load, to see if you're paying attention. Cut pay for all NEW drivers. Even cut pay for current drivers, although most hold that as long as possible.

    Even the self declared ### kisser lost over $2k. But he's proud of that $180 bone they threw him.

    Bottom line, if you're not making at least .35 a mile at the 6 month mark. You're part of the nickel and dime group.

    Driver pay is currently frozen at PRE 2006 levels or less. Even though the imaginary driver shortage has been going on for over 30 years.
  10. Marlin46

    Marlin46 Medium Load Member

    Mar 17, 2010
    Atlanta, GA
    As a small company owner I do not nickel and dime drivers however if you have to pay for something I am not going to drop everything just to paypal you the $60 that I owe you. Next time you are in and I have done checks I will give you one or maybe I will give you cash. Drivers do not drop everything when I need some paperwork or conveniently forget to tell me the they had a Level 1 inspection with a few violations. As a company owner you have to make #### sure the violations get corrected, sign off on that the violations are corrected and send back to the state within 15 days. When you fail to tell me about this for 7 days, I get screwed.

    As for the escrow account - I am a believer in it. It is kind of like an insurance policy - if I keep $1000 of your pay ( split up over the first 3 months ) and I say, hey if you are going to quit b/c the grass is greener somewhere else then give me two weeks notice like the rest of the working world does and I will give you the $1,000 back. If you get paid on a Friday and decide you are jumping ship on that Friday then you are more than likely to pull in the yard ( maybe under a load, maybe not ) turn in the keys, take off, and call me and tell me you are quitting. Now I am left scrambling to potentially get a load delivered, then interview & hire, drug test, and get an mvr on a driver. It typically takes a little time if you are looking for a decent driver with good character. In that time frame I may have been unable to fulfill obligations that I committed to and that the company's reputation rides on. All so you can go down the road to the company that may pay you a little more. How would that be fair to the employer?
  11. Cranky Yankee

    Cranky Yankee Cranky old ######

    Jan 31, 2012
    Green Bay Wi
    you need to realize on here most of the happy drivers are busy driving not complaining about ABC company
    many of the complaints come from drivers not able to look in the mirror to discover the truth
    allniter, Marlin46 and wood600rr Thank this.
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