Trucking overseas (Iraq)

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by TruckingPhotographer, Jan 18, 2010.

  1. TruckingPhotographer

    TruckingPhotographer Light Load Member

    91
    13
    Jan 18, 2010
    United States Citizen
    0
    :biggrin_2557: My husband has been talking a lot about driving truck in Iraq and other oversea companies. I am totally against this idea. Many of the U.S. drivers have actually done this. Going overseas to work for 4 times the money, and not just in Iraq. Does anyone else know anything about this? Why are so many going overseas?
     
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. DevilDog911

    DevilDog911 Light Load Member

    138
    30
    Dec 26, 2009
    Lexington, Kentucky
    0
    I was in the Marine Corps overseas and I know of drivers in Kuwait that were making almost 100,000 a year tax free. That why so many are going over there. Trucking is one of the few industries that you're already away from your family so why not go overseas. I mean 300 miles from home or 300,000 miles from home your still away from home might as well be making good money while your away. I wouldn't drive I truck in Iraq they are just big targets, but Kuwait and some of these other countries that aren't as violent it's good money and your not in that much danger. There is always danger though when your overseas, My Company Commander would always tell us that we are at WAR anytime we are not in the U.S. and that is so true. There is so much that goes on in this world that the news never reports. I been in countries doing operations that were never even talked about on the news and I don't mean black ops I mean 3,000 Marine on the ground in a country and nobody in the U.S. even had a clue. I'm not saying working overseas is bad or good but I leave you with one more thought, when I was in the Corps it was always nice knowing that if something happened too me (ex: taken capture) somebody more than likely would come and get me out. If you really think that the United States is going to stick it's neck out for you and cause an international incident all because some truck driving contractor got captured, your crazy. The odds of someone coming to get you are so FN low. I had a buddy who worked for a private contractor in Iraq that's similar to Blackwater and he'll tell you, that they were told not to get captured because the chances of US forces helping them get a contractor back were real slim and part of that is because contractor and soldiers are not allowed to work side by side due to laws of war. All I can say is being overseas can be scary, especially if you know nobody is coming to save you if something does go wrong while your there, so for me I'll stay here in the U.S.

    Hint:They don't pay you big money overseas for nothing.
     
  4. LodiKen

    LodiKen Light Load Member

    102
    43
    Dec 5, 2009
    The Road to No ware.
    0
    Way to many Video's online showing what happen's to "Contracters" if their captured!
    The Money aint that good lol!!
     
    Bradmartin78 Thanks this.
  5. TruckingPhotographer

    TruckingPhotographer Light Load Member

    91
    13
    Jan 18, 2010
    United States Citizen
    0
    The amount of money he was told was 165,000 a year tax free now. they said it started some years ago at 100,000, still tax free, they pay your way there, and back, give you two weeks off every six months and pay your room and board while there. So it sounds good, except they do say it can be dangerous, you are paid hazardous pay, paid by the hr, have to work 12 hr days 7 days a week. This is what the drivers who have gone have told my husband.
     
    kee1227 Thanks this.
  6. TruckingPhotographer

    TruckingPhotographer Light Load Member

    91
    13
    Jan 18, 2010
    United States Citizen
    0
    BTW, I was wondering if there are any truckers overseas on this sight, that can talk about it.
     
  7. Spyder

    Spyder Bobtail Member

    10
    12
    Sep 23, 2009
    Fort Worth Texas
    0
    I'm writing this from Iraq I'm a contract truck driver here and have over 5 years in country the people talking to your husband are over stating pay and the tax free amount has changed every year i've been here and is not a given you have to stay out of the US 330 day's out of 365 to qulify
     
    kee1227 Thanks this.
  8. Spyder

    Spyder Bobtail Member

    10
    12
    Sep 23, 2009
    Fort Worth Texas
    0
    I made a little over 90,000 in 2008 the tax free amount was 87,500 the amount I made over that is taxed at the same rate as someone who makes 90,000 not someone who made 2,500 but it's a lot safer now than in the past we get attacked a lot less and we have up armored trucks now
     
  9. DevilDog911

    DevilDog911 Light Load Member

    138
    30
    Dec 26, 2009
    Lexington, Kentucky
    0
    Well that's good you all have up armored trucks now I know when I was over there I always liked big rig convoy's cuz the camel jockeys always want to blow them up more then they did me, it's a bad way to look at it but better them then me and I always did whatever I could to keep that from happening but you can stop them all. Keep safe over there it does no good to make that good money if you can't ever spend it...lol Be safe and God Bless
     
  10. slabrunner

    slabrunner Light Load Member

    158
    36
    Jan 17, 2010
    Muskegon, MI
    0
    Wow, I'm surprised at this pay level of 90k/yr. I'd thought it was much higher. My wife makes the same here in states as a hospital RN. She works night shifts (shift pay is higher) and quite a few holidays in ER but her risk would seem lower and she has a home life. Also her shifts are 12 hr per for the most part. Back on trucking, I would imagine most owner operators and even some co. drivers w/ good co. would make around 60k/yr. Because I've only worked seasonally as a driver I haven't cleared more than 25k/yr but if I went year round I'd probably be at 40k/yr. For someone in my area (rural, seasonal employment) it might be worth it. Fellow driver here in Oceana County, MI I know drove in Afghanistan at Bagram Air base for 6 months for kbr but quit and came back. He didn't like it, got bored or something like that. He never drove off base.
     
  11. No Name 38

    No Name 38 Light Load Member

    164
    25
    Dec 28, 2007
    Virginia Beach
    0
    kee1227 and thepurps Thank this.
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.