What is a "Living Wage"?

Discussion in 'Canadian Truckers Forum' started by mp4291, Oct 11, 2011.

  1. mp4291

    mp4291 Bobtail Member

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    I am looking at entering the trucking field after I retire from the military. Can someone please let me know what an honest living wage is for a company truck driver (your annual salary and cents per mile)?

    What would a typical newbie's wage (cpm) be? What does an experienced driver make? If I can make $40,000 or more (before taxes) I will be happy...that would be I guess after a couple of years experience.

    Hope to hear from experienced drivers. When it come to BS in the job I have had plenty in the past 27 years....I dont think I will be either scared or surprised. Thanks in advance.
     
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  3. mgfg

    mgfg Road Train Member

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    $40,000 before taxes is NOT a living wage...not in my world. Take a third out for taxes etc and you are left with $26,000 annual take home pay. You won't raise a family, fund an RRSP or buy a home on that in most Canadian cities. Being as you mentioned being a truck driver let's take $5,000 ($100 a week) out of your take home for on road expenses and now you are down to $21,000 take home pay.
     
  4. mp4291

    mp4291 Bobtail Member

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    North Bay, ON
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    Well, I should have mentioned that I will also have a 36,000 per year pension as well.
     
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  5. crzyjarmans

    crzyjarmans Road Train Member

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    A living wage can be different for all, normally for a rookie driver, I think they start between .21cpm to .23cpm, I could be wrong, but if not, at .23cpm, if you get 2500 miles, thats $575.00 gross, after taxes your looking about $450.00
     
  6. mgfg

    mgfg Road Train Member

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    I was wondering that after your military service BUT I wasn't going to pry.

    My numbers still stand but you are now in an enviable position compared to many that enter the industry either as a first or as a second career.

    Are your plans to stay in North Bay or to move else where in Canada? I took avery quick look @ available driving jobs in North Bay...$18.50 an hour seems to be a starting wage in that area. If they are furnishing benefits and retirement then that's an OK/good starting wage but I doubt that retirement is included as very few offer it today. As far as mileage pay is concerned there are countless variables to take into the equation.
    1) What mileage calculation does the carrier use? There is a minimum 10% spread between hub/actual miles and household goods (HHG). A carrier that offers .40 cpm and pays hhg mileage could be worse that a carrier that pays .35 cpm on hub miles.

    2) Does the carrier have a FIRM demurrage policy? If you get jacked around @ a shipper/receiver or have a breakdown what do you get paid and is it in writing? Many will pay lip service but won't put it in ink. Some will pay you a whopping $100 AFTER the first 24 hours...how generous of them. Trust me, this is a huge issue in the industry so don't ignore it.

    3)How important is home time? If you have to be home every weekend, then working for a carrier that runs to the west coast and back won't meet your requirements unless it is a team operation. Remember that you don't have to work for a home based fleet if you run OTR. Countless fleets run through North Bay daily going east/west so don't ignore them. All you need is a place to park the truck/trailer when you are @ home.

    4)What kind of work/freight/geographic area do you want to do/run? Do you want to pull a flatbed/open deck trailer or pull a van/reefer trailer/ Both have their advantages and their negatives. Personally, I'll starve before I ever pull a reefer trailer because that involves the food industry and their related BS. I was only to food warehouses twice and I don't ever remeber being dicked around as much nor have I ever been treated so poorly. Someone else (with more patience) can do that work and I hope they are paid well for it! Can you/will you cross the border to the US. If not that will severely limit who will hire you. Even if you only have to do it for the first few years of your trucking career, not being able/willing to cross the border really limits who will consider you...especially as a new driver.

    There are countless other things to think of, I'll let you digest these for a while.
     
  7. nate980

    nate980 Road Train Member

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    Thats american..... I dont understand how people can work for that....
     
  8. mgfg

    mgfg Road Train Member

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    Run up a bunch of debt, declare bankruptcy and start all over.

    There's a "driver shortage" out there people...just read about it! It's in all the magazines! Quit working so cheaply!
     
  9. 123456

    123456 Road Train Member

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    Always did like canadian bacon !!!

    That is all I know, about that, sorry !!!

    :mcool:
     
  10. mp4291

    mp4291 Bobtail Member

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    Aug 31, 2011
    North Bay, ON
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    Thanks for the info. If that is 450 per week that works out to 21,600 per year. Welfare pays more than that. How can any driver live off those kind of wages??
     
  11. DragonTamerBrat

    DragonTamerBrat Road Train Member

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    Good golly folks. A living wage is what *I*, not you, need to live on. We've made it this far on far less than $40k/year. And we "own" our 12 acres and home, have 2 kids, one in gymnastics. Don't have credit cards, have one car w/ no car payment.

    Sure, I *want* a nice shiny new car, and a $2k washer/dryer set. But, I don't NEED them.

    And new drivers can earn more than 0.23 cmp, just need to exercise due diligence about where they choose to get hired on at.
     
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