Trucking Economics

An article on the economics of trucking in the world of Car Wars / Autoduel. The short version is thus:
==The Pay ==
*Relief drivers, gunners and other assistants make about $40k a year (which is decent in game)
*A frugal gunner on a profitable rig can save up to have their own rig in about three years.
* Most gunners and assistants stick to their rig of origin for a long while instead of moving to their own rig, as the pay isn't too bad and there's less paperwork involved (see below).
===The Paperwork===
Once you've got a rig, you gotta keep it in good condition, pay your gunners, and pay the toll collectors and mechanics. While there are often tales of "Outlaw Country" truckers (in the vein of C. W. McCall) who ram through tolls and weigh stations, the Brotherhood tries to keep these offenses to a minimum, if only to maintain their sterling reputation. They hate tolls as much as anyone.
==Rates==
*The usual highway rate is $2 per mile if hauling the shipper's trailer, or $3 if the trucker owns the whole rig.
*There's a $0.10 bonus for ever 10,000 lbs (up to 80,000, the typical maximum for haulers).
*Hazard pay (for particularly dangerous areas) is $0.30 per mile plus $0.10 for every crewman (including the owner)
*Risk bonus if the cargo is likely to attract hijackers
*Rates are doubled if there's no reasonable expectation of cargo at the destination (meaning the trucker must drive to another location just to pick up a new job)
===Average Rates ===
*About $2.30 per mile for tractors, $3.30 for rigs
==References==
*Autoduel Quarterly 1-4, p.6-10
Category:Concepts