The "bend over and squeel" factor here in New Jersey never stops with Mid-Atlantic AAA.
Here is the latest:
Since the dawn of time, AAA has paid us for out of area calls by using the tier system. Other contractors probably know the deal with that.
If we got a tow in the next town/county over we were paid TIER 4 rates which is our regular rate plus $16.50 for crossing into the next town/county. You took the good with the bad as we are close to the border. Enroute mileage for us to our backup areas ranges from 5 to 25 miles depending on direction. So as mentioned, you took the good with the bad and it all balanced out. (I have the spreadsheets to prove that)
Now AAA Mid-Atlantic has scrapped that plan and blew some sunshine up our tail pipes that they have ditched the tier system and are "now going to pay per mile" and "this new robust plan will benefit you the contractor." Sounds good right? Well with AAA you know you're going to get hosed. The catch is that if your call is out of area, you ride the first 10 miles free from your shop and then they will pay you an additional $1 per mile after that. Yeah.. you read that right.
We have a large and busy area of our own and for years we are primary backup contractor for all the towns around us. In all fairness, the ones we backup are also primary backups for us.
The best part is the dumbass road manager actually looked me in the face and said, "This will benefit your shop and allow you to make more money." I said, "How? Are you guys using the some sort of new math or something?"
Here's the deal:
OLD PLAN:
Roll to next town for a jumpstart. Drive 19 miles to get to the call.
Pay: Regular rate $18.00
Pay: TIER 4 Rate: $16.50
Total: $34.50
NEW PLAN:
Roll to next town for a jumpstart. Drive 19 miles to get to the call.
Pay: Regular rate $18.00
Pay: Mileage $ 9.00 ($1 per mile after 10)
Total: $27.00
So after setting up a dry erase board in my office with the math that us regular folks use, I asked my road manager (RM):
Me: "Where is the benefit of this new system for me like you said. I'm doing the exact same call for $7.50 less?"
RM: "It will work out in the end?"
Me: "Yeah - the end, right up my rear."
RM: Silence
Me: "So with this new "10 mile" rule, that means that about 50% of the next county over is now "local" for me. Does that mean that I am now a primary garage for that area?
RM: "No. Of course not. You're backup there as always."
Me: "Diesel fuel cost has just about doubled in the last year as well as all operating costs and you want me to roll to calls for less money?"
RM: "It's not less money. You will actually make more."
Me: "Does it say dumbass across my forehead?"
(For the record it does not say dumbass across my forehead)
Wow.. they really thought we would fall for this. So I now I refuse all out of area calls. Last night (1/15/2005) was interesting as I refused about 8 calls in my backup area. We'll see how long it is before they threaten to jack my contract for violating that invisible "you have to backup other areas" clause.
The problem with that is they will most likely keep you on if they don't they loose money.
Wow, that sounds like a rip off!! hope they dont pul that here!