Question:
I'm a newbie. Been driving now for about 3 months total over a year. Started with Swift, 6 weeks with a trainer, got a truck, quit, got on with another company, did 2 weeks with a trainer, then got a truck, out on my own again. I'm finally getting to the point where I feel fairly confident with my driving. Not slack, just not scared all the time.
Now I can start to concentrate on other aspects of the job, first and foremost of course is dealing with the payroll and accounting folks back at the terminal. I've only delivered about 10 loads total on my own from both companies I've been with and this includes start up deductions for locks, thermometers, insurance, etc. So now I'm wondering (so far) where the money is.
I can't make heads or tails of the payroll recap that comes to the house (I have direct deposit). What should I be watching for?
Questions: How do I get layover pay added to my check? I've been sent a layover pay statement over the qualcom. Then I put that on my truck expense report that goes in the trip pak, but it doesen't appear to have been added to my check. What about detention pay? Guess I should ask someone if my company pays that...took 20 hrs to get loaded at a meat plant with no apprent compensation. What about advances? Are advances billed to one trip or are they taken off your paycheck immediately regardless of the trip? What's "Per Diem"? I know this probably sounds naive but you can't learn if you don't ask. The last company's orientation was 15 minutes on each subject (inclucing payroll) road test, and out the door. Like I said, up till now I've been concentrating on learning to drive and be safe and haven't been paying as much attention to others aspects of the job. Don't want to work for free, you know what I mean.
Thanks for any tips, things I should be watching for, red flags, etc...

Answer:
Well those things are so differant from company to company is hard to give you a correct answer to the questions you have . Layover pay , detention pay , and things of that nature usually go through your dispatcher . You have to hound them not to forget that you have it coming day after day of believe me they will forget .
Not sounding like a jerk , But were you asleep during orientation ? Thats where they cover how you are paid and how the paper work gets done . If they didn't cover this , I think that would been a key for me to go somewhere else .
Answer:

You have to hound most companies for it. There may be a particular macro that has to be filled out (if you have qualcomm) or some other request procedure. Usually the dispatcher must approve layover pay, so you have to request his specific approval. Include date, time, load, shipper and/or receiver, verified arrival and departure times, and written company policy chapter and verse as to how this qualifies you for layover pay. Then politely follow-up if needed.
A dispatcher has maybe 40 drivers to look after. Being due layover pay may be obvious to you, but not to the dispatcher.

Same thing. Ask, document, follow-up. You might not get detention pay unless the delay is at least a certain length and/or certain customers. If it isn't specifically listed in written company policy as to be paid to the driver, then it probably won't be. Asking another company driver will help you to run the traps.

Advances are given to the driver, not the load. They will be deducted from your pay at the first opportunity.

Do a search on this site. Both sides are discussed several times in several ways. For the driver, it's bad news. You get paid the same total, but the company gets the income deduction for your daily away-from-home allowance instead of you.
In general, the company will voluntarily pay you the milage but not any ancillary pay items unless you ask. Read the written company policy on pay to drivers.

Answer:
Dave,
You should probably post the company you drive for, that way maybe there is another driver from your company who would have the specific answers you need. In general though, like these guys said, you have to hound your dispatcher and keep track of these things, and sometimes it shows up later. When I drove I gave up on detention pay, the only thing I really could be sure of was MILES, and it wasnt going to be actual, and tarp pay which was a joke. In your first year just be safe and DRIVE cause you aint gonna be paid for much else, and if you are still around after a while find a better company or go local. Keep reading these boards, there is a lot of experience here inbetween the bitchin.

Answer:
Here are my suggestions.
Keep good records for each trip you run. Include miles for the trip, any accesorial pay (load/unload, detention pay, extra stop etc) and any reimbursable expenses (tolls, lumpers, scale tickets, etc). Take the time to make copies of any and all reciepts you turn in.
Then you need to take your pay settlements into the office and sit down with payroll and have them explain their format to you so you can understand it.
After that it is a matter of going over each settlement and making sure you got paid for what you were suppose to and then following up on any problems, and when you call or go in to discuss any issues have that settlement sheet in hand.
Answer:
Thanks for all the tips and suggestions. After not getting what I was expecting I now document each and every addition / subtraction (xpay or advances) that goes on a trip. I didn't do that starting out and so have nothing to show payroll. Now I know why everyone is lining up at the copy machine in the T/Stps. I'll try to get a few moments with my payroll lady and ask her more detailed questions, but she's swamped and I never get more than 3 or 4 minutes with her. I'm learning.
I'll also talk to the dispatchers about the layover pay they said I was due. As far as the detention pay goes, after the 20 hour wait at the meat plant there's a place on the loaded call macro for comments. I put: 20 hrs to load. No respnse from dispatch, but I've heard this is a common complaint at this particular place.
Yup, should have paid more attention in orientation, but things were moving pretty fast and while the orientation guy was on a new subject I was still writing things down from the last subject. But like I said, my main focus was on driving and not procedure / paperwork. Being a newbie the truck scares you and that's where my attention was, learning to drive the thing.
My current company is Lisa Motor Lines, a division of FFE out of Ft. Worth. If there's any other Lisa drivers out there I'd be glad if you could help me out with company procedure. Seems to be a pretty decent company, haven't heard very many complaints. Getting better money than at Swift.
Thanks again for all the help!