Getting the system fixed

That is what Corporate America wants. You are to poor to stop working, so you will put up all the #####, and pay cuts.

It seems there plan as worked.

Mark

 

Spot on point, stepnfetchit!!!

We try this and we try that and in the end...it is really only a supply and demand issue. A huge part of that is attributable to the evolution of our economy from one that was manufacturing based to one based on services. You can't haul services in a 53' trailer.

"American Made" or "Made in the USA" are foreign (no pun intended) concepts. And only so many trucks are needed to haul all of the pencils needed to document the services we provide. Soon, there won't even be pencils to be hauled because everything will be totally electronic and paperless. We are there now with technology, however it hasn't made it to every corner of our country yet. But it will. Soon.

In the early days of pay at the pump, there were tons of places who didn't offer that service. Cost of the pumps and communication network required was just too great to justify it. Now, the difficulty comes in trying to find a station that isn't PATP (not sure why anyone would want to go inside to pay but nevertheless that's where we are).

So, that is exactly why I chose to go with a company that hauls food. We will eat in good times and bad. Whether we are paying for it from pay we have earned by the sweat of our brows or whether we will use our government issued ID cards to collect our government-determined rations...the food will still have to be hauled to the distribution points.

And oh yes, there will come a day... I hope I am dead and gone by then. But at the rate of destruction currently, I may see it in my lifetime.

 

This plan you speak of didn't work for me because I retired early with a hansom retirement. I worked for corporate america and they learned along time ago that good trained drivers are an asset to the company and it's much cheaper for them to pay the drivers a top hourly wage then to spend time in the courts fighting off lawsuits. So there are companies out there that are great to work for. The point is for the new driver to have a plan to reach those types of companies and not settle for any old trucking company that pull the tactics you refer to. You would think with such a life changing event you would check and research every avenue you could and not just the recruiters and computers. Remember the better companies have no need to advertise.

 

Trust me I did......................I did 3 years OTR for Millis, i good training company, around 500 total trucks. I have nothing bad to say about them, pay was good, got home on time and had good equipment. If I had to go OTR again they are my first call.

I then moved on to a small company that pays by the hour, and hauls there own product to customers. The company I work for now has 10 trucks, they have a full time mechanic that inspects and fuels the trucks and trailers every night. All I really do is drive the truck, most of the time I'm already hooked to my first load. He finds stuff before it causes a break down. In my second week with them I got a flat, when i got back to the yard the driving manager was out there to meet me and apologize for having to wait on a tow truck. So, yes there are the exception to the rules, but most of big trucking doesn't want the experienced driver.

Mark

 

Sounds like you have a good start. You're also a minority. Most do not look pass getting in the truck. At this time in your career I hope you're investing in your retirement because it will be upon you before you know it. You'll want a nice figure so you can relax and do what you want. I worked at a great company that offered three different programs you could retire with. It wasn't nothing to see a driver go out with 30 years and have 7 figures. That is of course he invested all he could. Most start out single and buy all the toys one should have!

 

GasHauler, before I went into trucking my retirement was set. I'm just waiting for 59.5 years old to get my money tax free.

I work to pay for my hobbies, motorcycles, competitive shooting sports, owning and flying a plane. I drive a truck because I like to do, most people don't understand that. I know that I work for a great company.

My wife has a great job that cover all the medical we need. She is an engineer for a major truck manufacture.

Mark

 

WHAT driver shortages? That dog don't bite anymore! Every trucking company out there has a stack of apps they can pull from! All these companies are doing now is putting older drivers like me with experience that were pulling in over $.40 a mile on the bottom of the pile and putting school grads on top because they are desperate for work and will turn the key for $.25 a mile and be an indentured servant and think the world just gave them a bunch of roses!

Just don't put that stupid arsed phrase DRIVER SHORTAGE out there again as there is NO shortage of drivers when unemployment is at 10%

 

Or real unemployment close to 20 % !!!