Grain - How are they making money ?

I interviewed with a farmer to drive for. Grain during the season and regular freight the rest of the year. Everything was going well in that interview, had the job in the bag. Then he said it was $12/hr. I thought he was joking. I said I have to get at least $18/hr and that's my absolute bottom dollar for a good job. He said there was no way he could afford that... With million dollar tractors, four semis, Hooper trailers, reefer, and flatbed. I'm calling bs on cheap farmers. How could I pay my mortgage and live off of $12/hr. Insulting that he wasted my time with such a low wage. May be some of you have some insight on the low pay for farm workers.

 

I seen a hopper that had a flooring that folds down so he could haul dry van freight like onions or something

 

I seen a 39 foot end dump that had steel rings in the corners and a crane operator set a steel coil in a coil rack and someone used a ratchet binder and one inch thick corner protectors so the ratchet Binder and chains wouldn't rub the steel coil. Maybe the corner protectors were home made from a 2 by 4

 

Nope that's about standard for farm work. Back when I was on the farm it was 15.50/hr no o.t. 70+hr/week. Many days I left the farm at 7p.m. got home at 8 turned around got up at 3 and left for work to be in cb by 7 to dump corn. I'd turn 3 or 4 loads in there a day. He was going to pay me 23% if I hauled commercial we never crossed that bridge l climbed back in my truck and said screw it I'm worth more than that.

Something for nothing it's just like the farmers are cutting rates right now to keep hired hands busy...and I mean cutting rates I've seen rates less than 1.60/ld mile with 0 bounce pathetic. But they're the first ones to whine and complain about the grain prices. Don't get me wrong I respect farmers it's a hard life, and they don't honestly make that much when it's all said and done. But I #### sure don't condone their rate cutting this time of year

 

He bragged about paying one guy $50)/ week. But he said "He better nor ##### when we work 70hr week. I make over $1500/ week if I work 70 hours a week. Why would I take a 1/3rd of that.

 

I know what you're saying it's just what happens and how things go. Something for nothing ya know? I will say at leaSt when I was on the farm I could push a broom if nothing else to make money and collect more hours if I needed to. It all got old really quick one reason I went back to driving my own truck

 

Idk it's one of those situations. I was a general hand when I was on the farm did everything including drive it wasn't the greatest pay but it's a labor job more than a trucking job. Probably explains the pay it's about 15 an hour average here but it's big farm country.

Some things make you wonder now days. Rates are #### right now I'm hoping it picks up by next month but the market is flooded by hired hands in farm trucks running elevator to elevator.

Heard through the grape vine last night that guys were bouncing loads on 1.50 a loaded mile. I don't understand it at all.

 

yeah .things are bad for us hauling grain up in the great white north on the prairies .with our dollar in the crapper,/guys from the oilfields taking loads just to pay the bank (more than a few big farming outfits parked up their own motors and use the x oilfield guys and these guys are working the clock) it still is busy with loads going south both grain & potash BUT there is nothing coming north to speak of, lucky to break even running back north. The big players from MN seem to be MIA at my local elevators so I recon they cant find north bound loads as well. People mention the big farms ,running on farm plates ,paying min wage to the hands to keep them busy over the winter that is a real problem up here not so much the fancy rigs but the what the hell are the dot playing at have they went blind when you see the state of some o these outfits! and its meant to be a level playing field .

 

I run local for the most part I'm home every night fuel has dropped enough that I can afford to run a little cheaper right now but I'm not exactly happy about it.

I don't know what it's like for the can. Side of thing I'm unaware of how they do their pricing etc. Govenrment down here controls the grain market it's ridiculous reason nothing is moving is because of the prices. From what I've heard beans have dropped from $14/bu down to $8.50 since july. Corn and wheat are the same way not as much $ wise but percent wise it's the same.

Read today that everybody is going to have to start selling for a loss just to get a check coming in average cost from planting to harvest on corn was $4.02/Bu this year I guess and the price right now I believe is $3.52 #### shame.

I figured it up ealier today sadly the absolute BEST loads I have right now overall pay roughly 1.44/mile all miles to the truck on 933 bushels. Total revenue between my 2 trucks totals about $1300 gross total fuel is about $300/day at 1.729/gallon. It's pathetic but at this point I'll take clearing $2500/wk/trk over sitting and that should last till the end of march...and you can bet your bottom dollar that 1.44/mile will be 2.20/mile by March 20th trying to get the last 30,000. Bushels out of the elevators and finish up the contract.

I have some other stuff that pays better per mile but I'm not taking .14/corn 60 miles, waiting in line for 3 hours bouncing 5 miles and loading .17/beans going 80 miles and waiting in line for another 3 hours. Least with this I'm driving as much as I'm sitting.

I guess it's the time of year that crap sandwiches are getting handed out right and left and everybody's just gonna have to take a bite.

 

I always resented farmers. Don't get me wrong they have an absolutely vital job. But they get so much special treatment its not even funny anymore. Anyone else who wants to transport a 20' wide piece of equipment would need some very special permits and escorts ect. Yet farmers get away with it and won't even move over to let you pass. Everyone else is under the closest scrutiny and they don't even need cdls? Also why do they insist on driving down main highway at 15mph like jerks? Gets old during planting or harvesting season constantly dodging jerk farmers. Even with their pickup loads. Don't bother strapping hay down because it'd take too long... Then they drive at 10 mph. Wtf?