12-25 cpm wasn't enough for me

Lets address this: It is true that unemployment is still a number one fact but I am pleased that most of your big Companies still pay good wages and this is true for the past 30 years but now we are seeing a change in pay scales where companies take advantage of these economics but these are scab lines that historically take advantage of workers.

Let’s take a truck a truck line that is destined to be one of the largest truck lines that is growing and that is Conway. Let’s take a look at Dock Workers; Dockworking has changed, years past it was hard work but these days most companies use Pallet shipments and companies pay deep discounts for these types off reight. It only takes 30 min’s to unload a full trailer with a fork lift and he simply pulls from one trailer and loads another while unloading one. Years past dock workers unloaded by hand each package on a bull float and rolled itto the center of the dock. Then he had to hunt these shipments to load an outgoing trailer. Now it’s less freight in the center of the dock because they use the cross dock system. You see a Conway going down the road and 90% of his freight is on pallets.

Road driving: years passed companies would make you drive even if you didn’t have hours to make the trip and the dispatcher would say make the trip or clean out your truck but the Dot has changed that by making the HOS number one issue and that’s good for these types of companies. I know HOS is a pain for some drivers but this is because of scab companies making you work past the safety limit. Where companies would pay you personal insurance now scab companies are making you pay this and the downside, YOU MAKE LESS. Now what about retirement, one day you will be too old to drive and you retire, trust me, you can’t pay your bills with your social security check then there is insurance, get sick and media care only pays 80% now if your bill is 100 thousand you owe the 20 thousand to the hospital. Think about it, having insurance is a big deal so plan for this guys, it’s a must. Millions of retirees can’t pay their bills.

Drivers getting our of school, you may not find that good paying job but if you keep a clean record these good paying companies will hire you and then you are set for life. Good companies don’t keep you out 2 or 3 months and getting the week end off is a joke, you get in Friday night and Saturday you sleep in most of the day and the company will call your for an early departure Sunday and they call that a week end off.

This is a fact: there is over 1500 trucks that are left abandoned because companies have lied to drivers and they quit and leave their truck where ever they are. US Express is a good company and they have hundreds of trucks at rest areas, truck stops and the driver’s home. Why is this, they have been lied to or driving is not worth the time away from their family. My research has shown that there is 50,000 truck driving jobs waiting to be filled. But the sad fact is most of these are scab companies that don’t pay well at all. Yes there is a shortage of drivers and most of these are not worth applying for. When applying for a job check layover pay, or waiting time to load or pickup pay and do they pay lumper pay and check benefits, do they pay medical, dental, glasses, sick pay or what is their policy for on job injury, these are important things to consider.

The right job is out there, take your time and look but most important ask questions. There is many hardships in the trucking world but be smart, there is a job waiting for you that will fill your expectations, take the time and look.

Good luck guys

 

I'd rather make $15.00 hr driving a truck than $20.00 hr working in a grocery store. Even a new truck driver can make over $50K with a good company & this is for new CDL grads.

There's good paying trucking jobs available for those motivated enough to get all the endorsements & TWIC. The drivers that do this are the ones who refuse to settle for doing the bare minimum just to get by.

Drivers complaining about how much time they're away from home, computes to less than minimum wages. Well, you knew that when you started trucking. Even grocery store workers pay doesn't start when their alarm clock goes off at home; they have to actually start working before the pay starts.

 

$50K + is my 1st year goal.

 

If the $0.40 per mile folks broke down their 10 to 14 hour day their hourly rate would not be outstanding.

Mikeeee

 

Hey doesn't W/S start you out at .25 per mile? Sheesh.

 

They bumped it to 29 CPM. Still a joke if you ask me.

 

Keep in mind, we are talking about $15/hour for an entry level driving job that gets you home every night. If I had the experience you stated on your profile, I would not work for anything less than $25/hour.

 

Good point. I agree. I wish every driver thought that way. I think I need to add a couple more years to my profile by the way. You can do the math. Ltl carriers pay in the upper fifties per mile these days. They get a cent or two per mile increase every year. Old Dominion is going to hit right at .58 per mile next month. Do the math on an out and back trip. Most are meets with a quick drop and hook averaging 60 mph or more. We ain't talking dispatch miles, these are actual miles. 10 years from now we will be competing with the pilots