After doing a little more research, I found some interesting numbers...when we look at the average median income for the various locations in question, you'll find that the actual GPD raises may have been more in line than what people actually thought.
When we look at the average median income for CLT, we'll see that it's $51,251 a year...and CLT was given the bump a couple years ago when that number was actually higher than it is now.
http://www.deptofnumbers.com/income/north-carolina/charlotte/
When we look at the average median income for CUB, we'll see that's it's $48,672 a year...and CUB didn't receive the bump.
http://www.deptofnumbers.com/income/south-carolina/columbia/
When we look at the average median income for CRW, we'll see that it's $45,251 a year...and CRW didn't receive the bump either.
http://www.deptofnumbers.com/income/west-virginia/charleston/
Now when we factor in the wage difference, $1.40 an hour for 2080 hrs (40 hrs a week X 52 weeks) we'll see that if using CLT as a baseline, CLT and CUB are about in line with where their wages should be.....however, using CLT as the same baseline, the guys in CRW are actually overpaid!!
Redracer, I give you high praise for attempting to provide some rhyme or reason to the methods. Few even bother. Again, I appreciate the effort!
I too looked at the "average" (mean) wages for all occupations, in various locations. NOTE: "Mean" (average) is far more relevant than "median". For those not familiar with the terms: Median is the middle number between highest and lowest, with no weight given to anything in between. Average (mean) is all the numbers added together, then divided by the total, thereby giving "weight" to each wage throughout the progression. How much weight depends on how many make each given wage.
A couple things:
If they used numbers like you showed, the process is in fact proven to be deeply flawed. Even in they used the Mean (average), that too is a deep flaw because FedEx is not able to draw from all occupations. At Freight they must draw from a specific skill set. One that has nothing to do with the population at large. One area may have a multitude of rocket scientist (or migrant farm workers). But few that could qualify for all of the requirements placed on FedEx CDL drivers. DOT Medical, FMCSA, HazMat, background checks, Drug tests, Driving records, etc, etc, etc.
You see, there is a certain pool of qualified drivers. While it doesn't have to be LTL specific, it certainly has to be on the high side within the industry.
When I looked at those Mean numbers (
all occupations) a while back, I found inconsistencies there as well. Again, I use Bureau of Labor Statistics 2014 numbers.
CLT 23.22
GBO 20.12
HKY 17.82
THE ABOVE QUALIFY, THE BELOW DO NOT
CUB 19.72
GSP 19.51-19.36
CHS 20.56
As a reference to further show the inconsistency, even if they used "all occupations", look at this one:
Reno NV 20.75 :Note: Charlotte does not make Reno wages. Certainly not
above them.
Bottom line: One location may have some high wages, in general. Isn't CLT a banking powerhouse? Their wage has nothing to do with drivers. So we must look at wages within our sector of the economy.
Now, I'm not about to make the case for every single location. I think I've made the case for my area, as far as qualifying for a GPD adjustment. Certainly some areas are right in line with where they need to be. Other than Crazy Trucker, I don't see too many making their case. Either the case can't be made, or they choose not to.
For a fee, I'd be happy to go to HARRISON OR MEMPHIS and help provide some consistent data. That fee would likely be less than half of what they currently pay for irrelevant data.
Back to the weekend festivities.
