DriveAway Drivers Take Notice - You are what they call in the industry "the missing links"
So you think you are making money?
by Bill Bruckner
Those of you who have any dollars and since take notice. The delivery companies i.e Horizon, Quality Drive Away, Bennett Industries, MapleTree and most others take everything they can get from the drivers pockets. Truly only those retirees that are making pensions can afford to do this job. Let's go over the costs incurred by drivers and really get a feel for this process. These figures and costs associated are from real drivers and transporters as of December 2016.
1. Travel costs to get to the actual pickup point.
A. Bus,Train and Air Fares are not cheap. The Driving companies might feel that a $45-200 dollar ticket on Greyhound or Amtrak might be inexpensive, but think about it, everything adds up. If you are towing a vehicle you have an incredible amount of costs associated with your tow vehicle like fuel costs to get back to a pickup point, upkeep on the car or van, and possibilities for damage. Because of having a vehicle in tow, your risk is far greater for a DOT inspection. And remember the car you tow creates more weight and the fuel costs go out of the roof.
2. Food Costs.
A, Many might say that "we have to eat at home as well as out on the road" so what is the difference, A ton! Meals are very expensive out on the road, you may figure on bringing food and a cooler with you and that's good, but it is hard to take thees items on public transportation. Be ready to spend more than if you had a refrigerator and a kitchen like at home to work with.
B. Healthy? No Way. Most truck stops have convenience stores that pray on drivers. Fried foods and processed foods are what is on the menu. So what do you do about that, you go to a McDonald's, Taco Bell or the truckers mainstay, Denny's'. Now I am not saying that the establishments mentioned do not sell healthy items, but it all costs money!
3. Fuel Costs! please read on for your sake.
A. This is the biggest issue you have as a driver. First of all the companies mentioned at the beginning of this article pay by the mile. The number of miles that your contract is paid are based on zip code to zip code, Not the actual start address to ending address.This fact alone could cost you up to 65 miles out of your pocket. GET IT! A few other facts are that RV's and larger delivery trucks get very poor gas mileage. And that's when they are running on a flat road with no wind, Ahh nobody takes in account for elevation and incredible head winds. .Really, they do not take all the terrain and weather into account. I am not making this stuff up! It comes out of your pocket! Bennett Drive Away, who delivers for Winnebago Industries has tried to figure out what certain RV's get as a average for gas mileage then pays you an adjusted amount not the current fuel surcharge that the contract was paid on. They do not take in consideration for any wind and elevation that you may encounter. Can you believe that one, You may actually have to pay to deliver a coach, which by the way has happened to a driver I know.
B. Fuel surcharges. This is a national average for fuel. The drive away companies pay, so they portray, miles times the current surcharge. They are always slow to react to an up swing in fuel pricing but very fast when the fuel drops nation wide. They skim off the top and do not pay you, the driver, the full amount. That's where you are paying out of pocket towards fuel as well.
4. Hotel Costs
A. The D.O.T. (Dept. of Transportation) has rules that state very clearly that drivers must rest for a 10 hour period after a "on duty"status for a 14 hour day. Now that's ok if you are driving a RV and you can sleep in it. As long as you are in the right part of the nation at the right time of year. Meaning coaches are either very hot or very cold. and you cannot turn on the generator. Not to many months that you can sleep in perfect weather. Now having said that, if you are driving a delivery truck you need to get a hotel room. Average cost for a room $40 per night in rural areas, a bit more closer to the cities. Ouch
5. Insurance Costs
A. All the "driveaway" companies will leave out a very important fact that you will not be covered under the companies policy for anyone or thing you damage. Yes you are covered to fix the product you are driving, but you are not covered for the possible injuries and/or lawsuits you maybe a part of. That's where your personal insurance comes into play. You will pay for the deductible on a claim (up to $1000 dollars depending who you work for). What risk does the company have if you get in a wreck. Their insurance covers them and you pay the deductible. A one sided risk I'd say. UPDATE, Now, most transporter companies will cover you in a accident and represent you in court. !!!!
6. Weigh Station and Inspection Stops
A. These companies have the poorest training and incomplete check lists for a possible inspection by a highway patrol or any other law enforcement. Not one company has the ultimate guide as to what the officials that stop you will look for. I do not know of many drivers that go thru inspections squeaky clean By the way, try taking emergency triangles on a airplane. The potential for fines is great and the fines themselves are very large. Just one fine could wipe out your profits from the trip your on. Think about that, you are driving for free. Product still gets delivered but you now are going hungry and cannot pay your bills because of a lame DOT inspection.. Does that make since really?
7. No Forced Dispatch
A,This is the biggest crock of you know what that the drivers are led to believe at the beginning when working for all the drive away and transporter companies. Here is what happens. Dispatchers have product they need to move. Drivers only make money on longer trips, never on a short one. You are lucky to brake even on a trip less than 500 miles. So, what the dispatchers do about this fact is they will promise to give you a long trip if you help them by doing a short trip. You should be thinking that you are here to make money! HELP THEM! I used to get upset when the proposition was to break even on a 1 to 2 day trip just to make some money on a 3 or 4 day trip. What the companies need to do is to negotiate better contracts, pay more to drivers on short trips and and payout what is earned on longer trips so the driver wins!
8. Weather Delays
A. You are not compensated for weather delays. You could be stuck in the mountains during a winter storm, the plain states during bad hail and thunderstorms, and in the south during tropical storms. The companies listed above just let you stay at your cost at hotels or truck stops so you can protect the product. They expect you to take care of the truck or RV, but will not pay for the delay. Again a one sided proposition.
9. Conclusion
If you want to honestly pursue this line of work go ahead, we all need "missing links" to work at below minimum wages. If you are in this industry as a driver and can disprove what I have brought to this site, your full of BS. I drove much too long as an idiot. By the way, I did not bring up self employed tax rates and having to pay for health insurance. Do not get me started on that one!
by Bill Bruckner
Those of you who have any dollars and since take notice. The delivery companies i.e Horizon, Quality Drive Away, Bennett Industries, MapleTree and most others take everything they can get from the drivers pockets. Truly only those retirees that are making pensions can afford to do this job. Let's go over the costs incurred by drivers and really get a feel for this process. These figures and costs associated are from real drivers and transporters as of December 2016.
1. Travel costs to get to the actual pickup point.
A. Bus,Train and Air Fares are not cheap. The Driving companies might feel that a $45-200 dollar ticket on Greyhound or Amtrak might be inexpensive, but think about it, everything adds up. If you are towing a vehicle you have an incredible amount of costs associated with your tow vehicle like fuel costs to get back to a pickup point, upkeep on the car or van, and possibilities for damage. Because of having a vehicle in tow, your risk is far greater for a DOT inspection. And remember the car you tow creates more weight and the fuel costs go out of the roof.
2. Food Costs.
A, Many might say that "we have to eat at home as well as out on the road" so what is the difference, A ton! Meals are very expensive out on the road, you may figure on bringing food and a cooler with you and that's good, but it is hard to take thees items on public transportation. Be ready to spend more than if you had a refrigerator and a kitchen like at home to work with.
B. Healthy? No Way. Most truck stops have convenience stores that pray on drivers. Fried foods and processed foods are what is on the menu. So what do you do about that, you go to a McDonald's, Taco Bell or the truckers mainstay, Denny's'. Now I am not saying that the establishments mentioned do not sell healthy items, but it all costs money!
3. Fuel Costs! please read on for your sake.
A. This is the biggest issue you have as a driver. First of all the companies mentioned at the beginning of this article pay by the mile. The number of miles that your contract is paid are based on zip code to zip code, Not the actual start address to ending address.This fact alone could cost you up to 65 miles out of your pocket. GET IT! A few other facts are that RV's and larger delivery trucks get very poor gas mileage. And that's when they are running on a flat road with no wind, Ahh nobody takes in account for elevation and incredible head winds. .Really, they do not take all the terrain and weather into account. I am not making this stuff up! It comes out of your pocket! Bennett Drive Away, who delivers for Winnebago Industries has tried to figure out what certain RV's get as a average for gas mileage then pays you an adjusted amount not the current fuel surcharge that the contract was paid on. They do not take in consideration for any wind and elevation that you may encounter. Can you believe that one, You may actually have to pay to deliver a coach, which by the way has happened to a driver I know.
B. Fuel surcharges. This is a national average for fuel. The drive away companies pay, so they portray, miles times the current surcharge. They are always slow to react to an up swing in fuel pricing but very fast when the fuel drops nation wide. They skim off the top and do not pay you, the driver, the full amount. That's where you are paying out of pocket towards fuel as well.
4. Hotel Costs
A. The D.O.T. (Dept. of Transportation) has rules that state very clearly that drivers must rest for a 10 hour period after a "on duty"status for a 14 hour day. Now that's ok if you are driving a RV and you can sleep in it. As long as you are in the right part of the nation at the right time of year. Meaning coaches are either very hot or very cold. and you cannot turn on the generator. Not to many months that you can sleep in perfect weather. Now having said that, if you are driving a delivery truck you need to get a hotel room. Average cost for a room $40 per night in rural areas, a bit more closer to the cities. Ouch
5. Insurance Costs
A. All the "driveaway" companies will leave out a very important fact that you will not be covered under the companies policy for anyone or thing you damage. Yes you are covered to fix the product you are driving, but you are not covered for the possible injuries and/or lawsuits you maybe a part of. That's where your personal insurance comes into play. You will pay for the deductible on a claim (up to $1000 dollars depending who you work for). What risk does the company have if you get in a wreck. Their insurance covers them and you pay the deductible. A one sided risk I'd say. UPDATE, Now, most transporter companies will cover you in a accident and represent you in court. !!!!
6. Weigh Station and Inspection Stops
A. These companies have the poorest training and incomplete check lists for a possible inspection by a highway patrol or any other law enforcement. Not one company has the ultimate guide as to what the officials that stop you will look for. I do not know of many drivers that go thru inspections squeaky clean By the way, try taking emergency triangles on a airplane. The potential for fines is great and the fines themselves are very large. Just one fine could wipe out your profits from the trip your on. Think about that, you are driving for free. Product still gets delivered but you now are going hungry and cannot pay your bills because of a lame DOT inspection.. Does that make since really?
7. No Forced Dispatch
A,This is the biggest crock of you know what that the drivers are led to believe at the beginning when working for all the drive away and transporter companies. Here is what happens. Dispatchers have product they need to move. Drivers only make money on longer trips, never on a short one. You are lucky to brake even on a trip less than 500 miles. So, what the dispatchers do about this fact is they will promise to give you a long trip if you help them by doing a short trip. You should be thinking that you are here to make money! HELP THEM! I used to get upset when the proposition was to break even on a 1 to 2 day trip just to make some money on a 3 or 4 day trip. What the companies need to do is to negotiate better contracts, pay more to drivers on short trips and and payout what is earned on longer trips so the driver wins!
8. Weather Delays
A. You are not compensated for weather delays. You could be stuck in the mountains during a winter storm, the plain states during bad hail and thunderstorms, and in the south during tropical storms. The companies listed above just let you stay at your cost at hotels or truck stops so you can protect the product. They expect you to take care of the truck or RV, but will not pay for the delay. Again a one sided proposition.
9. Conclusion
If you want to honestly pursue this line of work go ahead, we all need "missing links" to work at below minimum wages. If you are in this industry as a driver and can disprove what I have brought to this site, your full of BS. I drove much too long as an idiot. By the way, I did not bring up self employed tax rates and having to pay for health insurance. Do not get me started on that one!