American truckers' wages have dropped by more than $50,000 since 1980

It's not just truckers. It's everybody.

In 1970, a day’s wages could buy nearly three quarters of an ounce of gold; by 2010 those wages could only buy a little more than one eighth of an ounce of the metal. Your wages have quintupled since 1970, yet you actually have become poorer. If you are making the average hourly wage of $19 per hour, you are experiencing a level of poverty that was unimaginable to your grandfather, who made only $3.50 an hour in 1970

 

I think with the influx of new drivers streaming into the country this should change course and we'll have to take our money to the bank in a wheelbarrow.

 

Or take your money to the grocery store in a wheelbarrow just to buy a single loaf of bread.

 

I agree. Everyone is experiencing a lack of wage increase. At least in trucking we can make enough money to live on. I have a hard time believing a company driver made 110k in 1980. I've never seen anywhere close to that now, and the last 2 years have been my best years. The thing also that I think drives down wages is how much more costs companies have to put out now. Drivers and workers of all industries have more costs too. The only way to really see any money is to minimize pleasures.

 

Average home price in 1980 was $64,600 and a brand new Cadillac eldorado was $12,000 for the base model. According to some guys I worked with at YRC one years pay equaled a brand new Cadillac and a brand new house. Can't do that nowadays.

 

1980 Teamster Master Freight agreement Union scale was .33 cpm. A Driver who ran hard could make $50k. I remember it well. Seeing my Dads $1000 check for 3100 miles. Take home was less than $750. Average homes in the suburbs were under $50k, new luxury cars just hit $10k.

 

My mom came from a family of 7 and dad 6. Both of my grandma's only ever worked part time every now and then.

 

Yeah, I've always heard that in 1980 drivers were making EQUIVALENT to 110k (or 100k a few years back, inflation, etc).

Nobody was MAKING 110k in 1980, outside of pre-expense owner ops.

 

$50,000 in 1980 would be about $200,000 today, no?

Average homes in the burbs today = $500k
Luxury car = $75k

 

2004 I was making $300 a day as a W2 driver hauling dirt locally.
They must be adjusting for inflation for that $110k.
But the sad part is $300 a day isn't that bad 19 years later. This is a problem for the industry.