Wages for common carrier--the truth REVEILED - Page 4 - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

074344 · **^ Top** #31 10.11.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

Hi

Let me see if I can help.

As far as non-union companies not screwing the employees -
Why do YOU think they are NON-Union ? It's the whole purpose of ousting unions.

In my opinion, not all non union companies screw their drivers. Just about 99% of them do.

I really do think that Originally unions protected workers rights, but they
gone to the point all corporations want to avoid them for exagerations made.

Companies try to avoid Unions because the Union forces them to treat the drivers with respect, provide a living wage and provide benefits as well.

Today it seems I have to go through some secret ritual in a mason's building
to even come close to joining the union, either that or pay dues high enough to
join the rich man club in which case I don't need the union for a job.

Not really sure what you mean. You get hired, pay intiation, sometimes expensive ($300 to 700.00) for most. A small price to pay.

What's the deal ? What gives ? this is the forum for [LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

How come I don't get any information ? No specifics ? You ask non-union questions instead ? Let me put it clear and short - ALL non-union and non-independents are SLAVES to the Lowest Bidder, especially so if they have
families who depend on their income.

Thats right. A slave to the companies. Do yourself a favor and find a good Union company. You have read the posts on here. You have seen the way companies treat their drivers. Why do they do that? Because they can. There is no one to stand up for them in a non Union company. There are some drivers that say that can stand up for themselves. I applaud them for that. Unfortunatley, in the real world, they are fighting a loosing battle. Those drivers are just fighting to make a decent wage to support their family. They are a right to work employee. Terminated with or without cause.

Now tell me, as a truck driver, what can a union do for me ? I only started trucking for the money and I seen none of it. I have an Associate in Computer Science.

You ask a broad question. Union can do a lot for you such as providing good pay, low or no cost benefits, little or no cost retirement, paid vacations, paid holidays, paid sick leave, paid jury service and a voice in your company to name just a few.

Look at the sacrifices that most drivers have to make. They are away from home for weeks at a time. When they finally get home, it is usally just enough time to reset their hours. They don't get paid for all of their on duty time. They sit for hours waiting to load or unload at no pay. They are paid low wages and expected to pay high benefit costs. Paid time off is usually non existant. It is expensive to live on the road. Those expenses cut into your take home pay. Food, laudry and toiletries take there toll. It says something for being home every night.

You don't see to many drivers touting that they work for a good company. The reason is, they don't have to. In fact, most drivers that work for a good company don't even know this site exists.

I started because I like driving trucks. The money is great as well. You said you started for the money and have seen none of it. There are many drivers that thought that way. They just picked a bad company to work for. They picked them over and over again. It's no wonder that they have a bad taste in their mouth for this industry. Where did you start? Is it one of the many companies that constantly has to advertise? If you don't enjoy what you do, use your AA degree and persue that career.

Anybody ?

I hope this helps in some way or another. Good luck to you in your search.

Drive safe

knighton5 · **^ Top** #32 10.11.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

If you love Seattle to Los Angeles runs, you are a professional tourist, we have nothing in
common. How come you "joined Crete" if you were driving for them already ?

Applied for Crete before USX and JBH in Phoenix, they were pussyfooting around and asking
for stupid things, like the latest - "proof of unemployment" for a one year period before I even
started trucking or W4 statements if I was a Freelancer. They don't need more drivers.

Crete is tough to get on, they dont hire just anybody. If there are any gaps in the last ten years, they will pass you up. Its actually a good thing. In your words, I guess I was a tourist, not a driver, but I joined Crete so I could bring along my dog and make more money, plus I got tired of the I-5 corridor.

Andrew · **^ Top** #33 10.12.2008

0744344 thanks again for all you're telling me, I knew in theory, but nothing confirmed.
To ask a more precise and to the point question: where can I find a list of Unions for the Dallas TX area, for IT or Drivers ?
Yes, I knew I was facing a rough and tough job as a driver and I was willing to put up with a lot of the pain if the money promised was there. I started with Swift, school & license then left at 8mon., jumped to USX and then to JBH, too many problems with those companies (some of which you listed), I am thinking of giving up trucking. Jobs in the computer field have gone down drastically vs. a rise in transportation, if nothing than a safety bottom that cannot drop because America is built by truckers, that's my dillema.
I'm not young anymore and I need to choose my path carefully, but my goal is only money, I have no Love for work.
Money buys everything afterall, freedom, time, health, happiness and love (yes dating costs
money, marriage even more). Sorry about sounding negative, I was frustrated and I need really precise information.

knighton5 · **^ Top** #34 10.12.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

0744344 thanks again for all you're telling me, I knew in theory, but nothing confirmed.
To ask a more precise and to the point question: where can I find a list of Unions for the Dallas TX area, for IT or Drivers ?
Yes, I knew I was facing a rough and tough job as a driver and I was willing to put up with a lot of the pain if the money promised was there. I started with Swift, school & license then left at 8mon., jumped to USX and then to JBH, too many problems with those companies (some of which you listed), I am thinking of giving up trucking. Jobs in the computer field have gone down drastically vs. a rise in transportation, if nothing than a safety bottom that cannot drop because America is built by truckers, that's my dillema.
I'm not young anymore and I need to choose my path carefully, but my goal is only money, I have no Love for work.
Money buys everything afterall, freedom, time, health, happiness and love (yes dating costs
money, marriage even more). Sorry about sounding negative, I was frustrated and I need really precise information.

I just noticed you picked 3 of the biggest trainer companies. Either find a better company with your exprerience, I hope you asked around while out on the road, and talk to the companies that will offer you what your looking for. Also, try looking into your local (DALLAS) union openings, maybe you can find something that fits your needs. Good Luck

latanea · **^ Top** #35 10.13.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew

0744344 thanks again for all you're telling me, I knew in theory, but nothing confirmed.
To ask a more precise and to the point question: where can I find a list of Unions for the Dallas TX area, for IT or Drivers ?
Yes, I knew I was facing a rough and tough job as a driver and I was willing to put up with a lot of the pain if the money promised was there. I started with Swift, school & license then left at 8mon., jumped to USX and then to JBH, too many problems with those companies (some of which you listed), I am thinking of giving up trucking. Jobs in the computer field have gone down drastically vs. a rise in transportation, if nothing than a safety bottom that cannot drop because America is built by truckers, that's my dillema.
I'm not young anymore and I need to choose my path carefully, but my goal is only money, I have no Love for work.
Money buys everything afterall, freedom, time, health, happiness and love (yes dating costs
money, marriage even more). Sorry about sounding negative, I was frustrated and I need really precise information.

I posted a "sticky" on the listing for this forum - info for Teamsters..

you might want to give it a read...

[LINK POSTED BY MEMBER] Only Members Can View This Truck Forum Link.

thanks

ziggystyles · **^ Top** #36 10.13.2008

Quote:

Thr truth about the slave wages drivers work for these days, that no one wants to see nor talk about is a shame to all drivers.when you truly break the #'s down its a real joke and we all deserve more...it's not worth it anymore to continue to work for these greedy companies and line there pockets with (the al-mighty dollar) and benifit from the fruits of my or your labor...i have done my hard time since 1986 and i got very wise in all i have been through.

Dude, you drive a truck. its close, but NOT brain surgery.

Quote:

COMMON CARRIER--3000 miles weekly(if your lucky) x .35 cents(avg pay)=$1,050.00 gross pay(IF YOUR LUCKY)

3k miles is good, and making 50 grand a year is not bad at all. That figure right there alone does not count for various pays that the drivers can get, along with bonuses.

Quote:

5 days a week at 600 miles a day...with traffic and sitting on docks at reciever and shippers you are looking realistically at an average 15 hours a day maybe 20 like i used to do.....

Or not. I drive 450 miles a day, day in and day out. My day is about 11 hours long, and THATS because I take my sweet time. I spend 30-45 minutes in the morning with a pretrip and load swap. I spend another 30 minutes here and there. If it takes you 20 hours to drive 600 miles...then get the (Hey Baby) out of NJ or NY.

Quote:

Know 15 hours a day x 5 = 75 hours a week (at least) divided by your $1,050.00 = $14.00 an hour.mind you all- no overtime,no time and a half.total straight time....against the law.over 40 should by law be paid at time and a half...anyway...

And when did drivers fall under the overtime regulations? So...its not against the law. Duh. That and you can drive how many hours in a week?

Quote:

Know out of your $1,050.00 deduct your food expence and your road expences... I gave everyone a break on this one but i put down a generous $30.00 a day x 5 = $150.00 weekly..looking at some drivers it is about $60.00 a day for food alone lol....

This is pathetic...do you really believe this? 30 a day for food? Heres a hint...stop eating at Joes house of heart attacks! Many drivers can easily survive on 30 a week! And really, either way, one needs to eat, so why is this part of the argument? Either they eat at home, or on the road.

Quote:

Know we have $1,050.00 - $150.00 = $900.00 divided by 75 hours a week=$12.00 an hour.no overtime or time and a half...not to mention all the nights sleeping alone away from your kids and loved ones and family and leisure time..which to me is very valuable and priceless.

So...you are taking out the cost of food as part of your calculation for driver pay? WTF...is the company now supposed to feed you as well? Im a former teacher, should I take out what I fork over for lunch every day as deduction in what I get paid? NO! And the family argument. Why are you complaining when its part of the job you signed up for. If you dont want a job that takes you away from the family, then....dont take the job that taks you away from your family. Considering the argument for high divorce rates and many other factors...the family argument is sad. A strong family will stay together or they will say NO to the guy being on the road.

Quote:

$21.00x 40 hrs week = $840.00 weekly
20 hours at time and a half is $31.50 an hour which = $630.00
take $630.00 plus $840.00=$1,470.00 weekly 5 days a week like you...

Boy would you freak out if that OT was taken away by the company making a wise financial decision and hiring additional labor. Gotta love that aspect of the unions. They provide overtime and keep the companies from hiring the additional workers that would cut the excessive extra cost.

Andrew · **^ Top** #37 10.14.2008

Acting is not brain surgery either, those people make millions.
Soldiers get even less than drivers, yet risk their lives for whatever the gov. decides is going
to fill their pockets.
Politicians make 100K+ not counting on bribes, embezzelment and pork barreling. And in view of G.W.Bush's brain, I don't think he'd have survived long as a farmer. Yet here he is - multi-millionare.
How DARE you say "it's just a truck driving job" ! It's a butt grinding, live like a gypsy in a small box and forget homeland, family, friends for as long as you are on the road. It's one of the many hard labors that SHOULD be paid with millions, not to be scorned or laughed at by a wimpy, asjacked, beavis, mouse jockey, tiefighter, monkey in a suit like you !

latanea · **^ Top** #38 10.14.2008

let us get back on track here -

wages for the common carrier...

question ...

what is the normal pay range for non union LTL carriers nowadays?

for experienced? new drivers (little experience) - students???

I remember starting out for the Skunk at like 15 cpm way back when...

Highballin · **^ Top** #39 10.14.2008

Both of you with just one year all ready know more than someone thats been at it all his or her life.You did get the name calling down pat though.

latanea · **^ Top** #40 10.14.2008

*sigh*

common - stay on track

and Highballin - with as much experience as you have set an example - and do not feed into silly comments...

ok?

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