Hate to be the bearer of bad news to all of you newby wantabe truckers, but if you are going to drive a truck today be prepared to do a lot of things for free. For the most part the only thing you will be paid for are the miles you drive. If you are a reefer driver you probably won't be paid for the time it takes you to wait at the truck wash and have your trailer washed out. If you drive a flatbed, maybe you will be paid a small amount to tarp your load but nothing for securing the load. If you drive a dry van you may get something for waiting at a dock but usually you have to give a couple of hours before it starts. Each company is different in what they will pay as far as layover pay goes...that is the time you sit waiting for a load, and sometimes it can be days, thats right you may sit for days and wait and maybe your company will throw you as little as $25. for a 24 hr period. In a nutshell, the American Trucker has allowed these companies to steal his time. There is no other industry that asks you to work and not be paid for your time. Why do you think these companies have to have recruiters? You will be frustrated on a daily basis. You will quit your job every day...in your mind that is, and eventually you will try for greener pastures at another company that promises you them. But, your frustrations will start again as soon as they start asking you to give your time for nothing. Believe me, the American trucking companies love this mileage only pay. Wake up drivers, we have become the new American Slave.

if you will (discretely) tell me where you are, I'll come to your rescue with a set of bolt cutters and put you on the underground railroad for passage to the north. I jis hope massa don't find out!

__________________
"that truck driver tried to kill me!"

Exactly why truckers continue to do things for nothing. Probably the lure of driving that big Pete of yours...makes you feel like more of a man. Of course, that ego boost you feel while driving your big Pete doesn't put any money in your pocket now does it? How many hours did you donate this week?

So why are you still driving, if you are? If you aren't, why are you here, crying? And if you are still driving, why haven't you quit to do something else that pays you the way you want?

__________________
"Are you a Mod or a Rocker?"
"No, I'm a Mocker!"

Rockers rule!!

I see you are an ex driver. I'm still driving because there are many aspects of the job that I love. You call it crying...I don't call it crying I call it telling it like it is. There's plenty of sugar coated bull that comes from every recruiter in the country. Are you a recruiter? I'd love to change some things in this industry...things like using our time and not getting paid for it. How about you go to your job tomorrow and volunteer 3 or 4 hours without pay. Will you cry about it if your company expects you to do that everyday? It's the same as not calling the problem by it's real name because you have to be politically correct. I say bull. Some things about this business suck...and if you don't recognize them they will never be fixed. WAA...WAA...WAA.. thats what crying sounds like!

Soon to be a ex ex-trucker. Waiting for a 'come on down' call from 2 companies. Left OTR to go back to the Post Office when the wife was diagnosed (incorrectly) with cancer. Stayed there for a few years, then we re-located a few times. Now we're settled, she has a stable job, so I'm off.

As for working for freebie, it ain't just truckers. Ask my wife. Last job, as a assist. manager, was a 50+ hour week for a salary based on 40 hrs. And there are millions of white collar workers who do it, just to keep their jobs.

As for trucking, if I drive 600 miles in a day at .35cpm, then divide that $210. gross by 14 hours total, that's still $15.00 per hour. There aren't a lot of non union jobs out there that pay that. Add in any additional (fuel bonus, safety bonus, layover, detention, tarping etc... that a particular company may offer) and the total goes up.

Slaves had no choice, and didn't get paid. You do. So if you see it as slavery, get out and find your dream job. No one is holding a gun to your head.

__________________
"Are you a Mod or a Rocker?"
"No, I'm a Mocker!"

Rockers rule!!

Well said. I hear people complain about their job all the time and just wonder why they stay where they are.

Well, I have to admit, this has to be one of the funniest things I have ever read. While I agree that there should be something extra for the effort of tarping, because that is not a function of every flatbed load, the idea that you should be paid for securing the load tickles my funny bone. If you drive a flatbed, then it is an automatic part of the job that the load has to be secured. Not an option, nor is it an extra cost item. It's just something that you do when you pull that type of trailer. When I moved a farm tractor or dozer around on a lowboy, I never thought that since it didn;t ay any extra, I would just forgo the effort to chain it down.

Humor is wherever you find it, and I found it here!!!

I've never driven a pete. how many hours did I donate this week? none! I've been out of work for almost 4 months. I'm happy to be starting a new job tomorrow. I don't know how much sitting and waiting I'll do, but that's just part of the deal.

here's another suggestion to correct your situation - quit driving and get a security guard job. sure, you won't make but $7/hour, but you only actually work about half of each hour when you're making a round. the other half, you're sitting on your can watching TV. this will make up for your last job where you weren't paid for all your time.

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"that truck driver tried to kill me!"

He just thinks that because you have a picture of one, you must drive one. If it had been a picture of the truck from "Duel", he probably would have called the California State Police and reported you for reckless driving!!