Question:
I have a interview and drive test today with a company that pays by the load and only does california.
I would like to have some question lined up and understand more about payed by the load when i go there.
Could you all give me some question for the company and a brief overview of payed by the load..
I dont know if it is a % of the load or a flat rate of the load.

Answer:
Are you going to have multiple loads in one day?
What type of areas are you operating in Metro or rural?
How far are the loads dropping from the starting point?
These are just a few others will post more I'm sure.

Answer:
Most likely they'll pay you a percentage of what the load pays. Say maybe 25%. That can work out pretty decent for you, but most times it doesn't.
Why you ask?
If the load pays pretty good, say........$1.75 per mile (gross), you'd get .43 cpm.
If the load pays say.......$.85 cpm (gross), you'd get .21 cpm. NOT GOOD!
Ask if all 'extras' such as driver assist, driver load/unload, multiple stops, etc...... are passed on to you 100% or are they included in the overall percentage.
IF I was a company driver, I'd prefer to be paid mileage, not percentage. That'll help curb their urge to keep the truck moving at your expense (so to speak).

Answer:
There are lots of ways companies pay by the load.
Some as Hoss says are actually a percentage base, but others are truly paid by the load on a flat basis....ie you get $30 for every load hauled.
Be sure to get as much info as possible before accepting a job of this type. You could easily find yourself running you azz off all day long for $75 or $80. Not too good when you work 14 hours.
Answer:
Called the company location and this is some more info i have from it..
this is the website for the company
http://www.sfti.us/
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Multi-drops = yes paid for each drop
metro and rural drops
pay = 25% of the load
Orentation 1 day
no training period right out of school go to solo driving

Answer:

Better find out just what the company charges it's customers for YOU to unload their freight! Granted, it might be a once every 2-3 month thing, but why do it for free or cheap?

Answer:
Frogot to mention i have already been pre hired by werner also at .25 cpm when solo and 325 a week for training.
just trying to make a decent decision for my self and kind of finding it hard lol with so many choices

Answer:

That alone makes me not only say NO, but HELL NO!
Run, not walk, away from that offer.
If they don't care enough about you to give you a couple of weeks with another driver to get your feet wet, they don't care enough to not screw you unmercifully in every other aspect of your employment.

Answer:
That company looks OK from the add to me. You'll probably have to unload some freight but if your paid and how much it might be worth it. Paid by the load can also be a good deal.
I've worked percenatge and did very well. I've also worked 2 seasonal joibs hauling watermelon and tomatoes. Both paid by the load. The water melons varied alot because most runs were to different places. The tomatoes payed flat rates. The lowest was $75.00 per load and the highest was $125. per load. Of course the least paying was easier at about a 3 hour turn around and the highest was almost 5 hours. We did 2 to 3 loads a day. The bad part was I worked harder and longer days with few days off. But I was paid better and had less out of pocket exspense. The other downfall was no benefits. Lots of local places dont have them.
Over the road is easier than most local type jobs because you dont do much except drive. It is also more boring than most local jobs and keeps you away from family and friends for long periods. One of the reasons i believe most newbies quit. Separation and being alone is hard. Also the time spent out with all the cost compared to your actual income in many ways isn't worth it to most newbies.
So to me an opportunity to stay out a max of 3 days. What looks like fair pay and OK equipment is more appealing than OTR. You'll have the opportunity to be out in a truck a few days a week and get experience while learning the ropes and still be home often. Doesn't sound to bad. But you do need to know exactly how and how much loads pay. the types of benefits and other things you need personally to be satisfied with your job. Make a list of needs and desires and see how the company compares.
Werner might be ok if you dont mind being babysat and watched everyday. Some people like it and probably need it. I dont like it and could never work there. I work for a larger company now but am happy that they hardly ever bother me. I get my load assignment and go. Very little communication in between. I've always preferred it that way and have always leaned toward smaller companies for that reason and others until now.

Answer:
Actually.....
All trucking jobs that "pay by the mile" are technically "pay by the load". You're getting a fixed amount of pay for the "paid miles" that load represents - usually the shortest legal truck route between the cities/municipalities based on one of several reference lists used by the industry to determine these "paid miles".
This does NOT include extra miles you may choose to run to get there faster (interstate vs two-lane) or extra miles you may drive to fuel or reach a customer on the outskirts of that town, etc. A load from Los Angeles to Phoenix pays a fixed amout based on the "paid miles" between those two cities. That paid amount typically is supposed to represent payment for ALL the duties and work you encounter in completing the trip, which includes a lot more than just driving those miles.
But back to your original question....
How much will I make every day?
How much will make every week?
How much will I make every month?
How much will I make my first year?
When it's all said and done.....these may be the questions you most want REALISTIC and HONEST answers to.[/b]

Answer:
I am on a percentage base pay. As previously posted, it varies with the load. The good part is I get paid pretty well, and don't drive an awful lot of miles( 2400 per week average).
Some like it, some don't. A lot of your smaller companies will pay based on percentage, whereas Swift, Werner and such, it is just easier for them to calculate your mileage...probably more profitable for them too. As stuffs said...no benefits. You'll find that with a lot of smaller companies, although not all.

Answer:
When you start digging into how trucking companies pay it you will find all sorts of variations. The important part is to make sure you fully understand what, for what, and how you will be paid before taking the job.