How much should an OTR driver earn? Here's my opinion!

As the inflation rate rises and the rate of pay stays the same, it is actually a pay cut.

If a driver made $30K in 1990 and makes $35K now he is making less. Considerably less.

 

When I drove a company truck I earned a very good living. I had no problem running by the mile or percentage. I never thought that the pay was "crap." In fact, I usually felt that I was well compensated. But, I didn't spend time complaining about how bad things were or how little I made. I planned my day and trips and went about making a living. I am sure there are other ways in which you can earn a living where you are not paid "crap." If I felt that I was being paid "crap" I would have done something much different. If I were as unhappy as a few of you profess, I would find something to do for a living other than driving a truck.

 

A lot of people don't even have a job. There are many who are making less today than they did a number of years ago, when you consider inflation and higher taxes we all pay. One thing you should understand is when wages rise it fuels inflation. In fact, labor is a key contributor to inflation.

 

Where did you learn economics? Fox News?

Never mind you're right. Suck it up all you #####y drivers and do whatever your boss tells you. Don't expect anything more just work hard and if the big boss feels you are worth it he may toss you a cookie.

 

Because the load is your responsibility. If the truck gets broken into and stolen, you're at fault because you weren't there.

 

It's abandonment. Most carriers have guidelines to follow for off duty periods while laden; and going home doesn't fit the bill.

 

You could probably learn something if you watched Fox News. I did learn economics at one of the leading universities in this country. But, you don't need to take a class at a university if you use common sense. When labor or other costs go up then those costs must be passed along to the consumer. If labor costs go up dramatically in the trucking business then rates must rise. Shippers then must pass those higher costs along to their customers who then pass any increase to their customers which ultimately result in higher retail prices. When that happens the cycle begins all over again. There also comes a time when the consumer is not willing to pay the higher prices which results in a stagnant economy. See how it works?

I am curious, have you not been paid by your company? Have they asked to to run miles for which you were not paid? Have they paid you as agreed when you took the job? If you are not happy running over the road then why don't you find a local company that will pay you by the hour? Since you keep mentioning McDonald's, I am sure they can find a job for you. Don't expect them to pay you to sleep.

 

Not true. The load, and the truck is still THEIR responsability, if they send you home with the load knowingly. running flatbed for a crappy company(lj kennedy), i got sent home all the time with loads. i would say about 2/3 of all weekends there was a load sitting on my deck. they never acted like it was a big deal.

My point being, I don't care how they want to send me home, if i have a load or not. if they send me home with a load, its on THEIR shoulders, not mine. and I'm not going to "remind" them, or ask them twice either, I'm just going home.

 

I am not drawing conclusions. Admittedly I have zero experience at trucking. I typed my observations after reading the direct experiences of truckers on this forum. When I read about a trucker telling about chaining-up on the side of road next to traffic in a snowstorm that is in harms way to me. Truckers telling of how they carry a peice for protection when they have to park in an unsavory place because they have to get some sleep is in harms way to me. The average 'Joe Public' knows nothing of this including me before coming to this forum. I wasn't pretending to have any personal experience of my own.

I think education is a wonderful thing. People need to expand their minds and question everything. It will change their life. But it's not a 'worth' or 'respect' meter. It was a decision they made from a desire within. Like someone quitting smoking, its AWESOME but I'm not going to respect you more for it, I will think you did a good thing for yourself. But its the individual, the quality of their person and how they live their life that warrants respect.

I have no complaints about the wage/compensation truckers receive or believe everyone is entitled. That is a variable based on individual performance & the work ethics of the trucker. I was stating in agreement with a previous trucker post who said truckers should make $1000 a week. No, if someone is slow, lazy and hanging out in truckstops all the time they do not command $1000 a week. It's all subjective.

My post was written in admiration not in self-entitlement.

Anyway that's all.....

 

The point is that he was off duty when the truck was stolen. According to some drivers on this thread, mileage pay is enough. You shouldn't be paid for time off duty or in the sleeper berth, because you're not doing anything. However, you're still responsible for the load and the equipment, and are expected to provide security for it. If you don't, you can be terminated. Just another uncompensated task for most OTR drivers.