New Bonus Money Initiative

At Knight we have a monthly bonus structure that's pretty generous if you're productive. During the past three months they initiated some additional bonus money due to Covid 19. It was fairly easy to earn an extra 200 bucks per week with that additional bonus.

Now that additional bonus has expired, and it was back to normal, until just a few days ago when they announced a new initiative. They are calling it the "Re-open America Bonus," and here's how it works. Starting this July 4th and going to July 4th of 2021 we will continue earning our standard bonus money based on safety and productivity. It pays out monthly on the 15th. I generally average around 650 bucks each month.

For the drivers who stick with the company for the duration of that year, they will be rewarded in July 2021 by the company adding up the total bonus money paid out to them over the past year, and writing them an additional check for that same amount. It's a way to double your bonus pay and receive that final sum in one large payment.

Personally, I like the plan, but it's amazing how many of our drivers are complaining about it. They don't like the "long term" commitment. They don't like the fact that it's based on productivity. They claim it's just a way for the company to trick them into making the Knight family richer!

People sure are funny. When you tell me I've got an opportunity to earn an extra 7 or 8 thousand dollars this year just by doing what I'm already doing, I'm ecstatic. Truckers will complain about anything, but I simply don't get it when they moan and groan about free money being thrown at them.

Oh no, companies making money is evil and they shouldn't be allowed to do that!

Knight/Swift really needs to get into the tanker market... I’d be first in line.

I'm still salty that as a local driver I don't qualify for any of the bonuses. Nevermind I run enough miles to do at least the first tier of the productivity bonus most months.

Old School,

If I may say so, from my experience, people -well some people rather, will *!%ch about anything. That is basically 7 or 8? grandish in your pocket (before uncle sam takes his cut) still like you said an additional whatever net for doing what you love to do and that basically would add up to an additional 3 paychecks or so for you.

It was the same in the call center I used to work at, we had a VERY generous monthly bonus structure and my top grossing years I was at about 60k plus (which is frankly unheard of for a call center) and some folks did higher than that! People still complained! I tried to break it down for some of them using basic math and common sense. Most call center jobs pay anywhere from $12 to $16 maybe $17 if you are lucky per hour and often do not include bonuses (unless you are in a sales performance culture like I was). Some specialized call centers may pay more per hour depending upon what you do - like RN advice nurses for insurance companies etc -those guys n gals make a really decent killing for their specialization with years of experience.

The same folks who complained so much, were the same ones who would get negative call quality ratings. This then directly lessened their bonus , which would then demoralize further, which then affected their attitude. The bad attitude would come out inevitable in their calls, which then affected their call quality ratings further and in many cases made them either ineligible for their bonus money or substantially less bonus money month after month, until they would quit in a raging storm and complain on social media about the company after they found a new job, of which they would often times complain about that job too.

It was always the company's fault - never any honest inward self reflection to at least pick out 1 or 2 things you can improve on or own.

Its a vicious catch 22 and negativity cycle man.

Not just in trucking either, I had more than my fair share to deal with in banking.

We truly are our own worst enemy at times.

Moe.

At Knight we have a monthly bonus structure that's pretty generous if you're productive. During the past three months they initiated some additional bonus money due to Covid 19. It was fairly easy to earn an extra 200 bucks per week with that additional bonus.

Now that additional bonus has expired, and it was back to normal, until just a few days ago when they announced a new initiative. They are calling it the "Re-open America Bonus," and here's how it works. Starting this July 4th and going to July 4th of 2021 we will continue earning our standard bonus money based on safety and productivity. It pays out monthly on the 15th. I generally average around 650 bucks each month.

For the drivers who stick with the company for the duration of that year, they will be rewarded in July 2021 by the company adding up the total bonus money paid out to them over the past year, and writing them an additional check for that same amount. It's a way to double your bonus pay and receive that final sum in one large payment.

Personally, I like the plan, but it's amazing how many of our drivers are complaining about it. They don't like the "long term" commitment. They don't like the fact that it's based on productivity. They claim it's just a way for the company to trick them into making the Knight family richer!

People sure are funny. When you tell me I've got an opportunity to earn an extra 7 or 8 thousand dollars this year just by doing what I'm already doing, I'm ecstatic. Truckers will complain about anything, but I simply don't get it when they moan and groan about free money being thrown at them.