Why is trucking such a low paying industry?

Actually a lot of companies pay straight time. They can since truck drivers are exempt from labor laws. I went to apply at a LTL company in Bensenville and they offered $16 an hour straight time and I had to get hazmat. Yeah right. Drivers need to boycott these outfits and not drive for them. They'll get the message to pay a fair wage real quick when 8 out of 10 of their trucks will sit.

You can but it won't be with Swift, CR England, Werner, Schneider, US Xpress, or any other huge bottom feeder.

 

Hey, $18 a hour here in Tennessee is doing pretty good. But like another poster said, almost anyone can do this.

 

I got offered a 20$ an hr job the otger day ltl but it was straight time.... work my ### off for nuttin... hell no

 

If thats the case then why is fuel jobs not paying "great" cause diesel fluctuates between 3.79-4.00/gal and i looked at fuel haulin job down here in tn the other day and it was like 16$ an hr... i mean to me thats low pay for haulin fuel... i've heard that pilot pays great but idk...

 

If you can't beat them join them. Catch my drift.

 

Oh i caught your drift... I haul steel now in knoxville for a temp service for 13$ an hr so yeah I catch your drift real good!

 

We're not a "skilled" labor according to the Department of Labor. Thus, we won't be paid as skilled workers. It's a sad reality.

 

Thats y we all should band together and say hell no we won't go!

 

While I agree, we know that won't happen. Too many people are content working for pennies.

 

Well I am sure this will start a flame fest. The reason trucking pay sucks is because the unions have been driven out and there are too many knuckleheads willing to work for free. When the trucking industry had a strong union presence truckers were paid well and were respected. Now it has turned into the dregs of society out there. When the economy was doing and there was a lot of freight trucking was pretty good. When it slowed down and truckers sat around waiting for loads not getting paid it started to suck. I got sick of not getting paid for my time. I went to work for the railroad. I make a lot more with two years in on the railroad than I did with 12 years driving OTR. If I decide to be an engineer I will easily make a 100k. I also have a lot better and cheaper health insurance and a excellent pension when I retire. It is pretty much moving around freight like trucking but the railroad has a strong union and we get paid a lot better than the average trucker.