Advice? Don't become a trucker.

I've been in what is now called IT (we called it telecommunications when I started) for about 26 years. A lot of companies now hire contract employees for their IT needs, when 10 years ago they would just hire a full time employee. The company you are contracted to rarely pays benefits. No medical insurance, 401K etc... Also if you are an IRS form 1099 contractor, you have to pay your own taxes, SSI, Medicare etc out of pocket since the comany doesn't with hold them. In certain instances you are on the hook for the full 13% of SSI deductions as the company doesn't kick in half like they would for an employee.

It's a pure cost saving mode. I don't blame them.

 

Sounds a lot like trucking - just bring in the cheap labor. I suppose it's like that everywhere now since the sheik thing to do is simply cut costs with no consideration given to the service or product.

 

I think its in every industry, from IT to trucking and everything in between. Now I also own a power washing company that I do on weekends and after my FT gig and I'm looking to cut expenses, though I'm not hiring indians, I'm just looking to buy my cleaners cheaper. So doing things cheaper is happening everywhere but some industries are getting hit harder then some.

 

While you have some good points, it's not all true. If people would simply do some research, go to a Vocational/Technical school instead of signing your life away to Swift and Werner for a year, it makes things a lot easier or at least less miserable. But then again, Werner and Swift would not be around if there weren't enough gullible saps running to them.

"Trucking is a hard job, always has been, and always will be, IMO."

100% true. I don't think I've heard anyone ever say it was a lady's or gentleman's way of life.

"If you want to make a lot of money, and do it easily, DO NOT become a truck driver!"

In this day and age, big money does not come easy no matter what your line of work is. That goes for accountants, farmers, soldiers, preachers or teacher's. Money does bring true happiness and never will. Satisfaction in a job well done and appreciation for good work is much more desirable. If you truly enjoy what you do and have the ambition to do your best, you will more than likely be happier than simply getting a big paycheck and being burnt out all the time.

I think the point you were trying to make is the general assumption that Truck Driving has always been viewed as a last resort job that America could always fall back on if all else fails. Kind of like high school graduates who don't have the money for college, they run to the military.

The wrong school and wrong company can quickly turn your life into a nightmare, not to mention a river of debt. Trucking is not for everyone and 7 years has shown me it is not for me either.

Over the road trucking is NOT just a new job, its a new lifestyle. Bottom line, before any major lifestyle change, DO YOUR RESEARCH FIRST!!!

 

If you owned a company... Would you gladly pay somebody 15 bucks an hour if you could get another person to do the same job for 8 bucks an hour?

I doubt it.

Direct labor costs are the easiest for company owners to control, and the smart ones that stay in business do just that.

 

sounds like you need to find a new profession

 

OK Noob, explain your POV.

We are listening.

 

I just think if you do not like driving otr or driving in general you should find a new profession, thats all i am saying, just like the situation I am in right now, been working in retail auto parts for over 5 years, I am the hardest working person at the store i work at, I pretty much do it all with no help from anybody else, but I am the second person down from the store manager, I make about 11 dollars a hour working about 35-38 hours a week making a little over $600 for two weeks work after taxes, I am college educated with 40k in debt just from college not counting monthly bills and I am wanting to get into trucking to make about double what I make now, I am planning on going otr with one of the big companies, toughing it out for a year and finding a local driver job instead of being otr for a lot of years.

 

I concur that if you don't like your current job, try to find one that you do like.

Driving OTR might net less than you anticipate.

What is your degree in?

 

Gee, I wish I would have read this before I went to work for Maverick. I would have given up and never even tried. I would have stayed on unemployment......
But I went on anyway. I get home every weekend. I have good health insurance for me and my family....and after only doing this for four months, I am making $1,000 week.
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