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....the buck stops here..take a look at breakdown below.......


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

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.....

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...

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....

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.

Now you laugh at us ltl guys going home everyday....i ask why? My breakdown......very simple math....

$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...

Now take $1,470.00 - gas money to and from work..15 miles each way
30 miles a day x 5 days a week =150 miles a week..i get 25 miles to a gallon.so 150 miles divided by 25 = 6 gallons x 3.10 = 18.60 a week.i pack my own lunch so call it $5.00 a day x 5 = $25.00 weekly..

So take $1,470.00-$18.60-$25.00 = $1,426.00 gross pay for my family at 60 hours a week...not bad for a middle school drop out.who grew up in ny dirt poor on the streets.SO IT CAN BE DONE..EVEN WITH A CRIMINAL RECORD..THAYS RIGHT -CRIMINAL RECORD.


My point here is THIS--I HAVE good health care now and a good family package,401k,ira accounts,assigned NEW day cab,home in bed with my wife who is a nurse and around the kids for there needs and to watch them grow..i have lost weight coming off the road and feel healthy and look great.WELL NOT LATLY.LOL STEAK AND EGGS EVERY MORNING IS CATCHING ME..its all good healthy trucking and a lifestyle every trucker should be entitled too.each and everyone of us.DONT THINK I AM BRAGGING,BECAUSE BELIEVE ME THIS IS NOT A WALK IN THE PARK..I AM MISERABLE AT TIMES WITH THIS TOO.

I CAN NOT SAY THIS ENOUGH-let the common carrier who does not care about you or your family go broke.do not drive for them.do not call them.pertend they do not exsist anymore.FORGET IT ALL.ITS ONLY MORE ABUSE,DIFFERENT COLOR TRUCK AND MORE HARD TIMES.come off the road,live life,love life,enjoy all the love of your family and FRIENDS and damm it driver start living again.BEFORE ITS TO LATE AND YOU END UP A CRIPPLED OLE MAN OR WOMAN WITH NOTHING FROM THESE COWARDLLY THIEVES..TRUST ME,I HAVE BEEN THERE MORE THAN ONCE.LET THEM DRIVE THERE OWN TRUCKS...SEE HOW LONG THEY LAST...FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS AS AN AMERICIAN PROUD TRUCK DRIVER..

If i can do it you can do it.it was hell for me to be on the road working for these crooks and it was hell starting all over again at the house everyday.i took a job $10.00 hr to just stay alive being at the house evryday.i took every endorsement test i could and started working out and living.i would not trade this for the world.i will drive a package delivery van before i ever work for a common carrier.if i had to be a cab driver with a diaper on my head and do it in nyc i would.anything but to ever go through the hell i went through with a common carrier..lol lol lol

if any of you guys need help during this transistion i will help you as much as i can.i have a long history of going through hell and back with these common everyday carriers,including a stay at the big house to mention a few..i swear my wife says i need to talk to dr.phil.i have post traumatic stress disorder from the abuse i allowed myself to endure from these rotton ########..lol lol lol

i like most drivers and i wish you all well and be safe.they call me mikey and i will be on the side...i have an e mail if you want to contact me,i have a laywer if you need him,i have a bookie if you need him.lol lol lol..i am so happy to be home and have something THAT RESEMBLES A life today...

I understand your points, Mickey. I have also worked both sides of the industry while union and non-union.

Let me correct you terms and definitions. Less Than Load carriers (LTL), with city-delivery or local drivers, are also common carriers. Package carriers (UPS) and expeditors (Panther II) are also common carriers. Their services are available to everyone.

I know the definitions were blurred by deregulation. So called Contract Carriers offering their service to six or fewer customers under contract are difficult to find these days.

Basically, there are two types of carriers: Common and Private. Common Carriers include Truck Load Carriers and Less Than Load Carriers who haul freight they do not own. Private Carriers own whatever is in the box or tank. This is further complicated by produce haulers in the olden days who purchased exempt fruits and vegetables at the point of origin and sold them at the destination.

Anyway, Mickey, I think you mean to point out the working conditions for Irregular Route Truck Load Carriers whereas the other common carriers (LTL) provide the best pay and working conditions with the possible exception of Heavy-Specialized & Oversize.

yes you are so right.thank you for the corrections..i mean your common everyday truck load carriers.and you no who they are.just pick up one of the free books at the truck stops with all the 800 numbers in them and they will hire you over a phone...which is absurd..lol.lol.lol.

thanks for correction

Great pay is needed but if the compans paid by the hour they would tell you how many hours in a run.Then you would allso have drivers spending more time at truck stops.

I've tried a few different types of driving in my career, and I've learned that the LTL route is for me. I think too many people latch to one aspect of the industry too early. Unfortunately, it is treated as a weakness when you do a little job hopping in your career. Personally I needed the variety in order to see what I like. Everything I have done has been a bit different from the previous stop. I think that it has given me a good variety of experience in the industry, and it makes me wish people were more open minded about different types of transportation careers. I think more people would succeed, if they treated this industry like a profession, and looked for something that took advantage of their interests and skills.

That would be like working on salary. I am not sure that hourly would be the best way to pay otr drivers. I think a better way would be to pay them a good mileage rate. Pay them by there hub mile which is what they actually drive. They should also pay them hourly for waiting to load and unload, waiting for a load, breakdown, fuel (15min), pre and post trip (15min each), basically pay for all on duty time.

I think that would significantly reduce turn over and would make driving otr a little better for those choose to do it. I don't think it will ever happen. There are just to many drivers that except the low pay and poor conditions at these companies.

exactly... and that system works and is not a bad thing...


example - our terminal to the Atlanta terminal is 467 miles (exact and verified by GPS).

We are given 9.2 hours to make the run PLUS 1.5 hours to take a break where and when we choose.

Keep in mind that LTL is usually time sensitive and the advantages are that the inbound terminal KNOWS when you will be there...
(read: customers happy and serviced)

as for spending more time in truck stops... - we get 9.2 hours... if you run over that you forfeit your position and seniority on that run.

YOU MUST MAKE YOUR RUN IN TIME!!!

habitual violators are dealt with and punished for delaying freight.

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TEAMSTERS LOCAL 100


Faster than a 60 MPH bullet....

Yes and a lot are coming out of truck driving school.But its like everything else in trucking one person can not do it alone.

Yes but you know there is some companys that would try to pay 8 hours for a 10 hour run.

right... we are GIVEN 9.2 for the run Highballin - but we get paid mileage...


so the 467 miles is paid out the same wether you run it in 8 hours flat or 14 hours....


(i.e. 467 X 58 cpm = $270)

The time is our window of delivery.

make sense?

__________________
TEAMSTERS LOCAL 100


Faster than a 60 MPH bullet....