$20/hr minimum

I sure hope so brother, I sure hope so.

 

biting my tongue to avoid losing a thread. But, again, all I see from you is ME ME ME ME ME, give ME ME ME more than I deserve so I don't have to work any harder than I want to.

In part because of pay, but more so because those coming up behind us have no work ethic, they expect and want everything given to them, they don't want to earn it. My nephew quit his job as a cop because he was disciplined following back to back allegations of police brutality. The Dept. froze his pay, and future advancement for 4 yrs, he cried that it was unfair and quit , I told him to his face he was an idiot. Yeah, that didn't go over well.

And a good chef will tell you it's not beneath him to wash dishes, mop the floor, or clean a sink to advance in the world, regardless of the pay.

Then become an O/O from the start and set your own wage. Guess what, my father spent 20 yrs working for someone else as an exterminator before he finally started his own business. He still had to work his way up, sure he brought a dozen of his former clients over to him when he started, but it didn't pay the bills for the first 4 yrs. He worked two jobs, yes, missing holidays and special events, he worked nights and weekends until the company could stand on it's own and he only had to work one job. He's now ready to sell the company and retire, but he had to work his way UP to that position.

And so, then what? Somehow those things make you worth more? Pay Attention, THEY ARE A PART OF THE JOB, IT COMES WITH THE TERRITORY. Just like the arguments and debates elsewhere on this forum about chaining. It's part of the job, if your not going to do it, then go drive a desk, work at McD's. No one said you have to work for the wage offered, if you don't like it go someplace else, if there is someone desperate enough for your skills they will pay you what your demanding, but don't expect it no matter what, and that is what the problem with the kids today. They want want want more than they deserve.

Um, starting wage for Colo. Dept. of Transportation is $36,000/yr, plus overtime, plus shift differential, plus state paid for insurance with a super low co-pay, and until recently a defined benefit retirement plan (which is grossly underfunded but that's another story). I know a 3rd year plow driver for CDOT, he makes $39,000/yr as a base salary, with shift differential and overtime, he made $50,000 last year, the majority of that from working 12hr shifts during the winter. Oh, and he drives a 2 yr old truck, most state owned plow trucks are replaced every 5 to 8 yrs.

Again, all part of the job.

Again, you have to work your way up to it.

Make as much as nurses? Driver, you need some time off. Let's see there are different classes of nurse, there is a RN, LPN, Trauma Nurse, Flight Nurse, Teaching Nurse, Training Nurse, etc., which one should we be making as money as? I know nurses who make 6 figures, work 4 days a week, and constantly are learning new things to stay ahead of the curve. If you want 6 figures as a driver, again, be an O/O for a bedbug company.

All these things you mentioned are part of the job and things you should take into consideration when deciding if this is the career you want. But there are also ways of dealing with them, and it's called working smart and working hard.

 

If you feel your skills and your money is so great, then why aren't you working for Wal-Mart's Private fleet? $75K to start, company paid bennies, 401K, ESOP, new trucks every 3 years, 4 days on 2 days off. Hell, you'd be the top driver there, easily making high 6 figures. BTW, I know some private fleet drivers with Wal-Mart making very nice 6 figure incomes, they had to work their up to that level, they weren't just handed that salary.