Is first job with Canada Cartage a good choice?

I based it on still having some kind of life of the road rather then being burnt out in comparison to 480 miles. Yes, driving @ 65 mph (most trucks in Ontario, Canada) are governed legally at 65 mph (105 kph) so you can drive for 10 to 12 hrs (650 mi to 780 mi). However when comparing that to a local Unionized Trucker earning $30/hr plus who maximizes their hours from 12 hrs/day 5 days a week (60 hrs) over time after 45 or 40 hrs in some cases their earning $2025 minimum @ 60 hrs per week ($105,300/annually) in some cases I know drivers who max out their hours weekly 70 hrs/weekly earn $2475 which is $128,700/annually (in most cases the average driver has their 4 to 6 week vacations so depending what's in their vacation bucket annually they might be slightly less and earn $125k). Point being, Otr drivers in order of earning $125k/annually would have to drive 3700 mi/week which is 740 mi's daily in 5 days or 616.6 mi in 6 days. Now factor in traffic for downtime, winter weather and the driving regulations of 11 hrs in the USA states it becomes almost impossible to earn that kind of money otr @ $0.65 cpm. Again, having some sort of life as a driver such as seeing your wife, kids or having hobbies daily or sleep in a regular bed besides a truck is the difference. Working local has its ups and down but the point of weighing out a pension, pay rate and work load whiles factoring the quality of life is the difference. When otr starts paying $0.75/mile to $0.88/mile would be more considerable because then it's comparable to unionized trucking companies.

 

Hope you did manage to find something, any insight of how did you get your first job will be appreciated

 

For the most part Fedex, Canpar, DHL, Purolator trailers are all dragged by power only companies to reduce shipping costs and the expense of maintaining employees.

 

purolator would be the last company i would ever work for they treat their employees like crap . one of our day shift drivers was told in the interview that it’s 3 months probation and if they don’t like u before that your gone .purolator is well known not to hire drivers right before probation ends .A day shift driver where i work found that out the hard way was even warned by a friend clear your sh$t out on the last day before the 3 months are up .A good friend who i work with on nights worked inside on the line working with packages he left couldn’t deal with the bs anymore . i’ve heard depending on the time of year ups does layoffs and being the new guy never knowing when u will work . from the adds i’ve seen on indeed starting pay sucks too .

i would look at martin brower or fed ex if u want a union position. i don’t see many adds for fed ex through

 

I’m an owner op. But not for challenger.

 

Canada cartage isn’t unionized as far as I know. I could be wrong though. As far as I’m concerned unions only do one thing. And I can’t say what that is here.

 

Who said Canada Cartage was Unionized?...

I'm just saying and telling drivers that working a unionized job beats driving otr oppose to living in a truck, sleeping in a truck and keeping your foot to the floor because if you stop the clock is still ticking and the nickles stop accumulating opposed to a unionized driving job paying $30 plus an hour plus a pension.

 

Well this thread is about Canada cartage. My mistake I guess. Not all have to ride the governor by holding the pedal to the floor all day. And to be perfectly honest, I’m from ontario, and I drive slower than most guys in company trucks governed at 65. I’m not a company guy. But most ppl who have never been in business for themselves have zero idea the cost incurred by employers. And that’s non unionized. Now throw a union into the mix, and the costs are double or triple. And ppl wonder why a watermelon is $15. Or that loaf of bread is $4.99 compared to years ago. Unions only protect one type of person. I stand by my words. I make excellent money where I work as an owner op. But company guys who complain bout needing a union, drive me up a wall. Like what i say or don’t. I’m honest and blunt.

 

I delivered to unionized place one night. The forklift driver had his feet up one the desk, leaned back having a snooze. He kind of looked at me standing at the window out of the corner of his eye and went back to sleep. After about 20 minutes go by he comes over to the window looks at my bills and says I'm about to go on break I'll get you unloaded afterwards. Should be back in about 15 minutes. 40 minutes later here he comes sontering along.

 

The OP wanted to know what job would be good to start with. As for Watermelons costing $15 I haven't seen that yet (maybe $9 or $10) but there are more factors then just unionized jobs causing inflation prices.

I've been on this forum for a few years now and the number one complaints are 'Wages'. I worked as a O/O back in the early 90's when i got my AZ (Cdl) so I do understand both ends of the Owner Ops and driver alone. The only reason I even joined this forum is because at the time I considered going back to O/O but listened and weighed out my options including family life vs. Being on the road and the payday in end. My suggestion for the OP was to see if they like a well paying job with less responsibility (less work load) vs. more strenuous work and lesser pay.

Yes, Unions have a good Majority of lazy workers at times.

However, what about job security for those truckers who work for non unionized trucking companies and their boss/owner is having a bad day, week or month and decides to let them go over something that a unionized driver had someone fight for them?

As a driver, (like the majority on this forum) when reading that a good Majority complain about 'Pay & Wages' doesn't that matter to them or do they enjoy earning less and doing more work and enjoy the stress worrying about their next load including thoses Owner Operators? For personal financial reasons as a driver with logical thinking for oneself, I would think earning the most money whiles working is the goal in the end and not trying to burn yourself out whiles doing it.