Off to greener pastures, is OTR heading over .60vpm? Going rate

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by Lennythedriver, Nov 5, 2020.

  1. bryan21384

    bryan21384 Road Train Member

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    All jobs advertise man, the meaning of a "good job" is quite subjective
     
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  3. buzzarddriver

    buzzarddriver Road Train Member

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    If recruiter's for trucking jobs were covered by the laws such as in the Fair Credit Reporting Act for truthfulness, job hopping would be cut drastically.
     
  4. bryan21384

    bryan21384 Road Train Member

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    In my opinion, I dont blame the recruiters for job hopping. I blame the employees themselves. You go to a job for one reason: to work. In our world, you pick up loads and deliver them, both on time. Many drivers want the paycheck trucking brings but dont really want to give up anything. All companies are the same. Look at how many newbies expect to make 80k or better right out of school....the reality is, those jobs are few and far between. It ain't enough of those for everyone. Then you get many drivers chasing sign on bonuses, and all these other perks, and accessory pay. To them, that makes a good job. To me, I'm looking at steady freight and miles. You can take a job with a 10k sign on bonus but make 600 one week, 1000 the next, 650 after that, have inconsistent miles, or you can take a job that don't offer a sign on bonus but you make a steady take home of 900 to 1100 weekly. Combine that with good equipment, you gotta recipe for success. I prefer the steady money and miles. To me, that's a good job. Point being, people put too much emphasis on trying to find this heavenly spot for work. Its work. Nothing more or less. No need for high expectations, especially since all companies are pretty much the same.
     
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  5. flybynight12

    flybynight12 Medium Load Member

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    People always posting checks but don't ever put any real money to retirement
     
  6. gpf87

    gpf87 Heavy Load Member

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    I can only assume that you're referring to me since I'm the only one that has posted settlements in this thread .

    If you read my post it says "after taxes , investments, etc" but thanks for generalizing me .
     
  7. Six9GS

    Six9GS Road Train Member

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    While the pay for a place is obviously very important, it is not the only consideration I think. So many other factors to include in the mix.
    I drive for Swift mega carrier. I've been driving for them for just over a year. I could probably get better pay be going elsewhere, especially in about another year when I have 2 years of experience as many carriers prefer. However, I have currently no desire to seek 'greener' pastures.
    Swift has treated me well and kept every promise made to me.
    I have a great relationship with the folks at my terminal and enjoy working for/with them.
    I am probably not an average trucker. I have my own preferences and qwerks. Swift doesn't seem to have any issues accomodating me. FYI, some of those qwerks are: I don't like to drive at night, so I seldom have to (not always). I LOVE my truck and they do everything they can to let me stay in it. I tend to be timid with weather and road conditions and haven't had any problems if I stop because "I" don't feel comfortable continuing to drive. Having been a cartographer in my previous life, I'm pretty good at routing myself. They have no problem if I deviate from my given route and take a different one. Of course, I can always justify why I wish to deviate. Their routing program doesn't factor in several important considerations that I do. So, factoring all the other considerations in, lends a different route as a better route that the one given. There are other qwerks, but are too personal in nature to share on this site.
    After all is said and done, my existing pay isn't really bad. I do get a few extra CPM because I drive reefer, am a Veteran and have been driving for them over a year now.
    Anyway, I understand how pay is a major consideration. But, I'll take a tad less pay to drive for a carrier that keeps me happy as opposed to one that pays better, but is crappier to work for.
     
  8. bryan21384

    bryan21384 Road Train Member

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    None of us truly know what anybody does with their money. It's more than one way to save for retirement.
     
  9. Lennythedriver

    Lennythedriver Road Train Member

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    Most of us generally develop a number and keep in mind to what is worth it, living your life on a truck. And we can try and play mind games with ourselves and twist it and spin in any direction we want, but you’re living on a truck. You are passing through life living in a bout a 4’ x 6’ compact area. LOL how much per week is that worth to you? Driving, time sensitive and pressured loads was never an issue for me. After three years and two months living on the road I realized how quickly my life was passing by and I wasn’t living it.

    For me, $700-$1400 a week take home pay wasn’t worth it anymore.

    One of the things I think I did wrong was the first year that I was out trying to prove myself I only took about 21 days of home time total for a whole year. And I think that set the stage for early burn out. And it also told the company I worked for, I was a sucker of sorts. I was honestly, (without trying to sound arrogant) Probably one of their top five drivers. They said jump and I said how high and I got every load there on time. I worked some of the craziest schedules to get those 3000 to 3400 miles per week that you could imagine. In the end, I just got tired of living on a truck and being gone about a month now has sealed that deal for me. No more OTR. No greener pastures. My life is worth more than $1000 a week!
     
  10. Midwest Trucker

    Midwest Trucker Road Train Member

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    Yeah, if you are working like that then you need to make 90 to 100k per year. 60 or 65 don’t cut it anymore.
     
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  11. Dennixx

    Dennixx Road Train Member

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    In 10 years I've managed to put 15% away and it's added up.
    Whatever work you do, however much you earn, put some away and invest it for retirement.
    Your government will not take care of you!
    Screenshot_20201114-195319_Fidelity.jpg
     
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