High Paying CPM Reality?

Talking about all these high mile runs...I've heard quite a bit about running refrigerated giving you the opportunity to make longer runs and in part based my decision to go with central on those longer runs. Is that accurate? do you tend to get longer point to point runs with refrigerated loads?

Thomas, you nailed it. The pay per mile is only one piece of the puzzle. And every company has unique systems in place like sliding scales based on length of haul or region of the country, extra stop pay, fuel bonus pay, and things like that.

What you want to do when comparing pay scales is make sure you're comparing companies with the same type of freight. It's hard to compare dry van to refrigerated to flatbed when there are so many factors involved in each one. Are you getting paid to load/unload? Are you getting paid to put on tarps and chains? Are you getting detention pay at the customers? Are you getting extra stop pay on LTL-style runs? You really want to figure out what type of freight you want to haul and then compare pay packages within that realm.

I have been getting 33 CPM but my runs are all 600-1200 Mile average and have been getting 3000-3500 Miles a week consistently.

Man, let me tell ya.....half the drivers in the country would take those numbers in a heartbeat....especially as a rookie at a dry van company in March when things tend to be slow. If you're getting those kind of miles and runs then the people at your company really, really like you. You must be doing an awesome job or they'd never keep you rolling like that. To be honest, I would keep my eyes open for better opportunities but I would have to be real darn certain I was making the right move before leaving those numbers behind. Because you're not going to beat those numbers - not the mileage figures anyhow. You're already bumping up against your Logbook pretty regularly as it is I'm sure. So the only way you're going to find a better job is to get better mileage pay and continue to get the maximum mileage you can run legally. It's out there. It can be done. But I can assure you that a lot of drivers jump for greener pastures and regret it. You're in a great position so be very careful about where you go.

The one company I can say off the top of my head might give you a shot at maximum mileage, better pay, and better equipment is Prime Inc. But be aware of two things - you're going to be pulling a reefer and you're going to be in a lightweight truck. That means you're going to be dealing with grocery warehouses all the time and you'll be in a truck with a lot less room than you're used to. But you'd be up above 40 CPM and I know for a fact they'll get you 3,000 miles per week if you can handle it, which it sounds like you can. I've never worked for Prime and I have no incentive to mention them to you. The only reason I know as much as I do about them is because we've had so many of our regular forum members work there over the past few years and in fact a few of them currently do. So I know they turn the miles and make good money.

Prime certainly isn't the only good opportunity out there but it's one I'm confident about and I wanted to be able to give you at least one company name for consideration.

Thanks for the info. I'm always interested in hearing as much as possible about Prime. Now I'm wondering what's the deal with grocery warehouses? I've heard nearly all runs are 'hard' meet times. Anything else?

I have talked to a lot of drivers from different companies and it seems like the ones that offer to pay high CPM are nothing more than a marketing play. What good is it to get paid 50 CPM if you are only gonna run 1000 miles a week? Seems like the ones like my company that pay a little less actually run more and you make more. I have been getting 33 CPM but my runs are all 600-1200 Mile average and have been getting 3000-3500 Miles a week consistently.

Interested to see others experiences. No need to mention specific companies, just want to get the truth.

Agreed with all, those are good numbers.

I started 10 years ago at 32 cpm averaging 2900 for the first 18 months.

If there is room for cpm raises in the future you may do well to stick it out.

Many fail to realise maintaining those sort of miles over time takes dedication, which you apparently have.

I have alot of people telling me to leave the company I'm currently at, (because of the pay) but I'm happy there. I've only been driving for a month but I get 2600-3000 miles every week at .32 cpm. If something is broken, they fix it. If I need to be home, they make it happen. If I get detained, they pay me..no problem. When I got my own truck and had to re clean the inside, they paid me a bonus and said I shouldn't have had to clean my own truck. They even wash it every week too when I come home!

I have talked to a lot of drivers from different companies and it seems like the ones that offer to pay high CPM are nothing more than a marketing play. What good is it to get paid 50 CPM if you are only gonna run 1000 miles a week? Seems like the ones like my company that pay a little less actually run more and you make more. I have been getting 33 CPM but my runs are all 600-1200 Mile average and have been getting 3000-3500 Miles a week consistently.

Interested to see others experiences. No need to mention specific companies, just want to get the truth.

Agreed with all, those are good numbers.

I started 10 years ago at 32 cpm averaging 2900 for the first 18 months.

If there is room for cpm raises in the future you may do well to stick it out.

Many fail to realise maintaining those sort of miles over time takes dedication, which you apparently have.

The one company I can say off the top of my head might give you a shot at maximum mileage, better pay, and better equipment is Prime Inc. But be aware of two things - you're going to be pulling a reefer and you're going to be in a lightweight truck. That means you're going to be dealing with grocery warehouses all the time and you'll be in a truck with a lot less room than you're used to. But you'd be up above 40 CPM and I know for a fact they'll get you 3,000 miles per week if you can handle it, which it sounds like you can.

Any Prime drivers to collaborate this? Especially the reefer part?

Often missed is LTL - I team at .68cpm, average 3000 a week, and gross over $2000/week.

Our solos run 2500-3000 miles at over .54 cpm.

One user on here that I have met in person hired on straight out of CDL school , trained for 3 weeks and is on his first solo run tonight.

For him, $70k + gross in his first year is great!

Just to show it is possible.

Bel A. Could you share your company's name?

The one company I can say off the top of my head might give you a shot at maximum mileage, better pay, and better equipment is Prime Inc. But be aware of two things - you're going to be pulling a reefer and you're going to be in a lightweight truck. That means you're going to be dealing with grocery warehouses all the time and you'll be in a truck with a lot less room than you're used to. But you'd be up above 40 CPM and I know for a fact they'll get you 3,000 miles per week if you can handle it, which it sounds like you can.

Any Prime drivers to collaborate this? Especially the reefer part?

Contact Daniel B. Here on the forums, he currently runs for prime in their refer division.

I run an avg of 2300 week as I go home every 10 days and make around $700 week. Perfectly happy. There is room for more but I'd consider it a bonus.

Often missed is LTL - I team at .68cpm, average 3000 a week, and gross over $2000/week.

Our solos run 2500-3000 miles at over .54 cpm.

One user on here that I have met in person hired on straight out of CDL school , trained for 3 weeks and is on his first solo run tonight.

For him, $70k + gross in his first year is great!

Just to show it is possible.

Bel A. Could you share your company's name?

Yes - it's Old Dominion.