How to Deal with Company that does not pay well

Who are you with what part of the country are you in. Oh by the way lesson in money management is do not spend it before you have and tell honey to go get a job.

 

1st off don't try to live a $60,000 life style on a $40,000 budget. Thats how you get in debt.

2nd $40,000 may not be great but what kind of 40hr a week job would you need to make the same. 40.000/52=$769.23/40=$19.23 an hr. And thats if you work 8hr EVERY day of EVERY week. How many jobs pay that kind of money for some one who is new or has no exp. in that field?

 

Wait a second here, guys...
Where are you figuring $40k?
Werner (aka: The Big Blue Screw) starts drivers out at around .25 cpm.
If this guy averaged 2500 mpw and stayed out on the road all 52 weeks per year never going home,
He'd make a whopping $32500.

The reality is that he won't even clear $30k.
And that's for 70+ hour workweeks with no overtime after 8/40.
Which breaks down to less than 7 bucks an hour.

Where I live, McDonalds is paying $10.00/hr.
Two fast-food jobs and you'd be ahead of pulling for Werner.
No CDL, no trucking school, no getting pimped by a "trainer" (6 months experience required) who doesn't bathe in a team truck.
Plus you'd sleep in your own bed everynight.

Trucking is nothing but a dead-end racket filled with low-wage/low-class burn jobs.
Smart people stay away.

 

He should be making 40-70K a year, that's what I see advertised. If he isn't making that, call the US Marshalls or hire an attorney-and sue them !!!

 

What are you smoking? 1st .25x2500=$625/40=$15.62 an hr. If you want to figure what you job would pay you have to compare it 40 hrs a week. Not what you do but what you would do.

2nd you want to work 2 jobs to make the money of one? Do us a favor and go work at micky D's. They need more losers to screw up the orders. Besides That leaves more loads for me.

 

What am I smoking? LOL...I don't know any OTR driver who works a 40-hour week.

Wake up...it's more like .25X2500=$625/80=$7.81/hr
Don't forget to factor sleeping in a rolling cage, weekends spent in the truckslop, plus road expenses.

That's what I'm saying.
Two fast food jobs at $10.00/hr X 35 hours/wk = $700.
The burger flipper works 10 hours less (at least) than a Werner driver, earns $75 more, and sleeps in his own bed everynight.

That just shows you what a bust-out loser job trucking has become.

 

Check with your local LTL companys. I have been working for Southeastern Freight Line for aobut a year and a half now. I have a cdl and im 19 years old, they wont let me out on the road but I drive the yard truck and work on the dock. I work between 50-55 hours a week # $19.15 an hour. I absolutely love my job, mostly bc of the money but the work isnt that bad either. Have full benes, 401k, paid holidays, 2 weeks vacation after 2 years. This year I have made $45k, just got my next to last check the other day. LTL for the win! Definately check your local ltl companys.

 

You numbers don't really add up. If you are working 80 hrs a week (we will ignore the HOS violation on that) then you should be doing more then 2500 miles. Or if you spend "weekends in truck stops " then you are not working 80 hrs/wk. So which is it? Plus, comparing, working at a ff joint to driving is like apples and tomatoes (the are both round and red but that is where it ends). Lets also add in benefits, what kind of health/retirement plans are you getting working 2 part time jobs flipping beef? (this is non political, so plz keep the rep/dem rants another place). Then the opportunity for pay or hr increases is pretty limited at the local burger joint, when working part time. Whereas you get a pay increase, just being with a truck company just over time. (plus if you get more then 2500 miles once or twice per month you paycheck is bigger also).

And finally, if driving a truck is that bad. "bust-out loser job" as you describe......why are you doing it. Why are you not the one taking my order at burger heaven?

 

You can't compare a ff job to trucking, for me, you may earn a paycheck at a ff job, but you will not have job satisfaction, being proud of what you do. Before entering into trucking I was in sales and a traveling sales person which is much more comparable. I knew when I was sleeping I wasn't making sales therefor not making money. I knew I had to manage my travel expenses to maximise my earnings.
I also agree with the previous posters statement that you have to pick the companies you are going to work for, it may be quicker and easier to get hired on with the werner type companies but you get what you went with.
As for newbies expecting to make ooodles of money their first year or two, be reasonable, you are stil technically still training, it take at least a year if not more to really be trained and gain experience, really your first year or so is more like an internship, you don't get paid a lot, but you get to gain actual on the job experience.
Common sense is also called for, you have to live with in your means, on the road and at home, if it means a smaller home, one car instead of two, you got to cut back where you can.
To the OP, I would check out the local market and all and see what is available for ou with the experience you have. But also keep in mind, it may be beneficial to stick t out with werner to have the experiece and work history...

 

I say make it through a year at your first company, then start looking. Getting away from van freight should get you into better paying loads, and get you away from warehouses and lumpers and all that jazz.

When you get to making good money, save your money, dont get in a big hurry to become an owner opp, save your money, pay cash for a truck if you can, if you are strict with your budjet you can do it. Life is a lot easier on the road when you own your truck.

With the economy being the way it is, you can buy a truck for 20 grand today that you would have to of given 40 for a couple of years back.

Also you want a step deck if you are an owner opp, not a straight flat.