Why We Don't Play the "Cents per Mile" Game

In an industry with extremely high turnover, we're proud of our driver retention rates. 

Over the last 20 years, we have consistently seen between 15.5 and 17.5 percent turnover, an incredibly low rate in this business. 

There are plenty of reasons behind our positive numbers, but there's one factor, in particular, that we believe contributes greatly to our success.

We refuse to play the "cents per mIle" game. 

Most trucking companies pay their drivers somewhere between $0.28 per mile and $0.40 per mile, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics. Rates can creep even higher depending on the necessary skill levels or the type of truck, but as you can imagine, with such a range of pay, competition is rampant. 

Over the years, we've observed drivers willing to bounce from company to company over a matter of pennies on the mile. 

Certainly the pennies add up, but as K&J president, Shelley Koch, says, "You don't leave a good company for a gain of a couple thousand dollars. There are more reasons than money to keep a driver at their current employer." 

It's also important to be aware of what the companies who are offering those higher rates are really promising. Often the higher rates go hand in hand with fewer miles, which makes that benefit disappear fast. 

At K&J, we don't mess around with rate baiting, and our employees appreciate it. We pay fairly and treat our drivers well. When you work as hard as we do to create and maintain a positive work environment, you'll reap the benefits. 

Our employees are like family, and we treat them accordingly. It's as simple as that.

3 Reasons to Stay With A Company 

1. Positive Relationships: The stronger your relationship with your employer and co-workers, the better your experience will be. Don't treat driving as simply a way to earn money. With strong relationships, you can not only enjoy your work, but maintain lifelong connections.
2. Fair Treatment and Benefits: Companies bait drivers by increasing rates by a few cents, but signing on with K&J ensures that you'll be paid a fair rate no matter what. We're not out pursuing drivers who can be lured in by a few cents here or there. We want to attract quality professional drivers who care about their work and want a company who stands behind them without the gimmicks. 
3. Great Customers: As a driver, your relationships don't end with your employer and co-workers. You're on the road, dealing with our customers all the time. When you hop from company to company, there's no guarantee that you'll be working with great customers. At K&J, we take great care to work with customers who are just as committed to our values as we are. 

If you're a driver, or thinking about being a driver, we encourage you to pursue an employment situation that you want to maintain for the long term. 

Don't go into the business with the mindset that you'll just play the "cents per mile" game. There's more to your career than chasing dollar signs, and we think driving with K&J could be your greatest decision yet.

If that sounds appealing to you, check out our list of "10 Reasons for Driving with K&J" below.