$ per hour worked..

Feel free to post the link to my other threads! The more drivers that read about my experiences at Knight, the better! Forewarned is forearmed!
At least I am HONEST enough to admit I made mistakes in my past and yes, that is one reason why I ended up working for a bottom feeder company like Knight. (Another reason would be their lying recruiters!) But the fact is I changed jobs so often was because there are TOO MANY BOTTOM FEEDER OUTFITS OUT THERE that dont give 2 shakes of a rat's tail about the driving force behind their profit, US!!! I had nothing to do with enabling these crappy companies to use and abuse drivers, so I dont see how it's my fault.
You are right, some of us HAVE done a better job of avoiding working for bad companies. CONGRADU-FREAKIN-LATIONS! Why should the rest of us be censored by you? Just because you did well now no one is allowed to want to do well also? Because I didnt sell my soul to the steering wheel makes me a lesser man than you somehow? I dont think so!
I'll say it again. How can you find fault with a driver that wants better and isn't going to just take whatever the company is kind enough to give???
We deserve better, even you deserve better! I am begining to think some drivers may have such low self esteem that they just dont believe they deserve better and want to keep everyone else down too. Or maybe there are only a few good jobs and if I want one, you think I might come get yours??? I dont understand why you would feel so much anger at someone who onlys wants a better job, lifestlye or hometime.
Certainly, you are driving a much better truck than drivers in the 50's,60's, and 70's did. Does that make you less of a man? Should we go back to that type of equipment just because "that was how OTR was"? Would you be willing to drive a POS cabover with no air ride seats, spring ride suspension, no A/C, coffin sleeper, no power steering, etc...? Why not? After all that was good enough for a whole generation of drivers! Do you see my point yet?
Changes are needed and they can pay and treat us better but only if we demand it!

 

The way I'm going into this is with the attitude that the only time I'm working is when I'm driving and if I have to load or unload myself. Waiting is just taking a break. Nobody pays me to sit at home anyway.

 

Dave I never faulted any driver for wanting a better job, better pay, better everything, etc......... But don't set here and blame the industry and whine and cry like a little baby get off your ##### and do something about it. That's the point. Crying and whining is not gonna change it. The only person that can change it is the man in the mirror. Anytime I've ever been in a situation I didn't like I had to do something to change it. Whining and crying sure as hell wasn't gonna do any good. I paid my dues and worked for a couple ###### companies before getting to where I am today with a good company. I didn't like it but I did it. I didn't pizz and moan I just did it. Then when I had enough experience to move on I told them to stick it up the ole tailpipe and I moved on to something better. Some people just don't have the testicular fortitude to do that though I guess.

 

Whatever I want to...Sometimes I drop the trailer and go visit with friends. ( I've been out here a long time and know people all over the country) Sometimes I go to a movie or visit local attractions, Check out cool places to eat...etc.

One must be a little creative to function in life...You don't seem to be!

If all you can think of to do is hang around a truckstop and be miserable, Maybe it's best that you found something else to do...

See above...

You must have not had a very good truck....Mine's got a DVD, Computer, Refrigerator/freezer, and a very comfortable bed for me to relax in...Kinda different from setting up a cot in the break room.

Good for them...But it's not the kind of work I would like doing. Everyone's different, Some guys hate being gone and some like being gone...Some don't appear to like anything!

YES! (see above reply) But not working for some sleazebag bottom feeder company!

I make much more than $50/$60k.

And many wouldn't trade this life for anything...


As much as you say you HATE this industry and everything about, You still spend a lot of time hanging around on a trucker website...

 

Because you're AT HOME!!!!!!!
Good Lord...no wonder this industry's in the shape it's in!!!!!!!!!

 

I think you make a real good point here. I definitely fall into the category of a guy who drives a truck. I like to keep up with what is going on around the industry through sites like this and trucking publications but don't want to spend anymore time than I have to in/around a truck.

A lot of it comes down to personal preference. What I do would not work for everyone - 3 hour drive, 4-5 hours on a dock, then a 3 hour ride back. When I did OTR I just hated leaving the house knowing I would not be back for 5 days at a minimum - that does not bother some people. A lot of drivers would rather have 2,000 miles in front of them - I'm just not one of those drivers.

I do believe it is a good thing when pay is broken down to an hourly wage for these big OTR carriers though. If nothing else, maybe some looking at trucking will see that an entry level job is really less than minimum wage in many cases. Bottom line to me, when you're waiting at a customer for a carrier, under direction to do so from that carrier, you should be getting paid the minute you start on-duty.

Before everyone jumps on these drivers for being guys who drive trucks and not truckers, you need to realize there are many who have figured out they would prefer to be a guy who drives a truck but those jobs are not readily available. There is a reason for that that - turnover is near zero -drivers that have em keep em.

 

You're right and drivers for decent carriers do get wait time . I had picked up a load in VA once headed for KY and drove 4 hours when I got a call to stop because the consignee's production line had gone down . The product was temperature sensitive , they couldn't unload it , and I had to take it back to the shipper . I was told to stop and wait while they negotiated pay BUT I was paid from the time I stopped until I rolled again plus all the extra time .
We have 2 hours load/unload time calculated into the rate . Detention time is paid anytime beyond that .

 

Demands don't impress anybody . The only thing that would change things would be to have a shortage of drivers . That won't happen again so business will go on as usual with the bottom feeders .

 

This statement alone tells me that you didn't have a clue what you were doing. Couldn't make a reasonable living? Then you obviously didn't have a proper plan nor did you know how much it cost to operate your truck(s) per mile. With out knowing your cost per mile, you can not quote a profitable rate. If you can't quote a profitable rate, then your business is determined to fail!

Your getting shafted only because you allow yourself too. People come here & whine.... But they never go to the source & whine because they are afraid they will get shafted once again!

Because you saw the billboards that said "Run with the big dogs... Make the big bucks!"

You've noticed that also?

Actually the high turn over rates are caused from people who read billboards & watch commercials that say that trucking is the greatest! You can make a whole bunch of money!!! Then they sign on the dotted line & enter the real world!!! Oh no... I'm skeered.... I don't want to be away for extended periods of time... I thought I was signing up for banker hours!

I'm 100% responsible for the truck, trailer, & load regardless if I'm moving down the road, parked in the truck stop, a deserted off ramp of my choosing (some drivers do that to be closer to their consignee/shipper so they can get more sleep), In fact, I'm 100% percent responsible even when it is sitting in my driveway. So whats the difference if I was sleeping? To me it is part of the job. It is the duty I signed up for.

Man, I wish I had a 8x10 sleeper. I would have a kitchen, shower, toilet, 52" big screen TV.... I would also be the envy on the highway!

Counting.......................... Yep. Only 1 in the past 6 months! And she was cute also. I just didn't have the money at the time. I've got it now stuffed away just waiting for the day I visit that truck stop again.


OK.... I'm tired of quoting people! So now I'll say my peace!

Truckin' ain't for sissies! I'm sorry that anyone is actually gullible to believe all the rosy fairy tails that recruiters tell you to rope you in. Truth of the matter.... The only ones to blame for your dislike of the industry is the ones whining & complaining about it. You should have done your research & learned about what the job description was before you signed on the bottom line! If your not happy with the position the YOU put yourself in.... Then please go back to your factory or fast food joint. The reason why the industry is the way it is today.... is because of the whining complaining babies who feel they need to have everything handed to them on a golden platter... So they insist of changing things for the better! For the better for whom? Themselves.

STOP TRYING TO FIX STUFF THAT AIN'T BROKE!

If you don't like what you got yourself into.... Then leave! Get the hell out.... We don't need you to fix things.... We don't need you to force your ways upon us....


So to add with the above mentioned billboard....

If you can't run with the big dogs.... Then get back on the porch with the rest of the puppies!