How to calculate your equivalent hourly pay as an OTR driver

If you really want to have an argument start looking at how all trucking companies pay exactly the same rates and yet avoid being brought up by the Combines Act.

 

Good point.

Another thing most drivers don't take into consideration is not only are they not paid for time spent waiting for dispatch to 'move' them when they are in reality 'on-duty', they also do not get cost of living increases in their pay.

If you made $15 per hour in the early 90's you should be making $24.87 per hour minimum today to keep up with the cost of living.


There's online cost of living calculators available to show you how badly you're being ripped off by management that refuses to pay you what you deserve.



And if companies truly were serious about safety, drivers would all be paid hourly for all their time. That would include, driving, loading, unloading, waiting for dispatch to find loads, breakdowns etc...

And overtime paid after 44 hours on a weekly basis.

There'd be no more of the ' I haven't made anything today because I haven't driven any miles today so I have to run all night now to make money and pay my bills' mentality.

 

Any union job will pay more than what the slave owners that run this industry rape drivers over with not paying them what they deserve.

Why?

Because a large powerful united voice will always have more power over the individual.
Keeping the worker down is what has allowed the vermin in management to get rich off drivers backs.

 

Are you forced to accept a wage, or do you freely agree to it? If you work for peanuts, it's not "vermin in management"s fault.

 

Ah yes the typical 'right wing' corporate response.

Well why is it then that management forces drivers to work 6 days in order to have 1 day off.

Why is it then that management forces drivers to drive on runs throughout the night to make appointments after having kept them awake all day long waiting to pick up another "hot load" without being paid for their time.

Why is it that management continues to refuse to pay more than the slave labor rates they dictate and treat drivers as simply a body to fill their trucks seat.

How come management isn't forced to provide cost of living increases in salaries to drivers on an annual basis. You know that management gets it though...

I guess my question to you is... why would you defend these deplorable practices that rape drivers out of the compensation and respect that they deserve for putting in far more than the hours they get paid for...

 

Not sure what "right wing corporate response" is, but the fact remains that drivers are not "forced" to do anything. No one turns the key but the driver. Don't like the companies practices, leave the truck. Or better yet, get your own truck.

 

I see what you're getting at but that does not hold true right now with the way you worded it. Segments of trucking that have had a union presence over the years pay more - LTL, tanker, and car hauling have had a union presence over the years and they pay better than the typical truckload job.

The reason I disagree with you is even though we're non-union, my wages are substantially better than any union driver working under the NMFA contract. They were even slightly higher before the wage reductions started a couple years ago. That said, UPS who operates under their own contract make much more than we do.

I see and respect what you're saying and tend to agree with the principal of what you're getting at, but you have to be careful making blanket statements like that..

 

The point I am trying to get across and I believe you are onside with is:

Drivers need to start declaring war against these slave labor pay rates and demand to be paid hourly for ALL of their on-duty time which includes ALL time spent away from home except to reset their HOS. With overtime paid after 44 hours.

Only a united voice will accomplish this and unions are the way to go to get this done. Management loves not having to fight a mass protest because they can control the individual through the threat of termination or starvation.
When you have strong representation, they have to listen.

There's power in numbers.

Why should drivers be treated like slaves and 2nd class citizens when they're the ones inheriting the greatest percentage of risks involved in transporting the goods that keep the economy moving.

The ATA speaks and lobby's government to implement rules and regulations that primarily benefit only on its corporate sponsors..carriers and management.

Who speaks and fights for you the working drivers' rights..

 

The driver has to do what he thinks is best for him or herself, not you, not me, not the company.