Questions about what it's like to drive a tank

Quick update. All of my complaints were addressed within the same week by my driver advocate. I had uniforms in my locker the day after I spoke to her about it, and I have been receiving advanced notification about what I'm expected to do. I'm supposed to get paid next Friday, I'll let you know about what I get. I don't know if I already mentioned it, but i love that they ask you what you need minimum to stay afloat each month and if nothing else they will try to do all they can to make sure you at LEAST make that. But of course the goal is to make over that, but at least you won't be behind on your bills or too broke to afford food. That's a plus in my book because my buddy and I have a lot of "I'm so broke that..." stories from Swift. Like "I'm so broke that I cant afford a cheeseburger." True story. We were that broke. It's funny now but it was horrible back then. I'll never go back to that so again, I appreciate the minimum month thing they're doing.

Alright, peace out! And for Christ's sake, be safe!!!

 

Well you said yourself on one of your posts that you do believe that may be because of where you were located, or whatever. Almost every driver at the terminal I'm at has had correct pay, decent pay and nobody holds their hand. They come in, get their load info, and they're out for the day running their loads. Don't see or hear from anyone til you get back.

Now I will agree with you about the biweekly pay. I've been used to being paid every week. However, I thought about and pretty much every other job I've had outside of trucking have been biweekly. I mean, it's kind of the normal thing in the country. Everyone else I know gets paid biweekly so what's the big deal? If I make enough I can still pay myBill's. So I'm not worried.

Who knows, it may be a decent company for me. And some of the other drivers. If you're right, I promise you can say I told you so. But I have to at least try. Best of luck to you and as always drive safe.

 

One more thing. I think "good pay" is subjective. According to your Groendyke post, you were grossing 1150 a week, which is 2300 biweekly, which is 4600 a month. That's almost 5000 gross. Health insurance is deducted from the gross, and for one person is about 140 a paycheck ($280 a month, not bad to me). That puts you around 4300. After taxes you'll be somewhere around 3800. I could live off of that. And I don't have a wife like you do, which if not a second income, would alat least lower taxes, etc.

And the more longevity you have, you make more. You get raises for sticking it out, you get safety bonuses, etc.

 

Thanks. I just like to try things for myself. And companies change all the time. For instance, there have been significant pay raises since Ducky left. And that was only like a year ago.

Life is short. I'm just trying to enjoy it, survive a lil bit, and hopefully make it through the pearly gates at the end.

 

Clarification update: My driver advocate says health insurance is actually taken out monthly. So if you get regular insurance for one person its 127 a month. If you get major illness and accident included, its 143 a month.

BUT WAIT! THERE'S MORE!!
If you do a "360 health check", which is basically just blood work, and you score above a 71, its 100 bucks off a month. So instead of 143 or 127 month, you would be paying 27 or 43 a month. Pretty cheap right? You can't beat that.

 

Oh-and today was my first day by myself. I did ok for the most part.