Why is trucking such a low paying industry?

Don't feel bad, in 2014 America, everybody is complaining about lots of hours and little pay. Drivers, take that opening you have and use it to get a spread in Playboy/Playgirl, or your own reality television show and stop complaining. Only in America can a nobody make hundreds of thousands of $'s overnight by being in the right place at the right time with the right body or the right personality.

Cheerleader Files Suit For Low Pay

 

Because really, people are willing to do the job for that pay rate.

 

Truckin is a business where if you just go with the flow and take what they give ya, don't expect great things. To get somewhere ya have to study the business thoroughly and get on top the game. And do that from both the business side and the technical side. For one person to learn and be good at all aspects of it is a serious challenge. Most people won't have the multiple skills or be able to take the time to cover it all. For our part (my brother and I) we grew up and live in isolated places, nearest neighbor is nearly a mile away. didn't attend school, (well educated anyway) don't have the people/marketing skills, so we are glad to have a talented man to do that for us, and teach us how. My brother is handling the paperwork and filing, he's done that kind of stuff before. I'm the technical adviser, mechanic, inventor, experimenter, etc. I don't use something long before something's been modified. And usually performance modifications get done before we start using something. I do mpg enhancement stuff to reduce expenses.
We are a 3 person team starting a trucking business, getting our own authority, etc. (mainly 2 but the 3rd will come on when we're ready to roll.) starting on a slim budget and staying clear of debt. 1 truck about ready and a second one bought and waiting for an engine repair. (1 ton trucks to start with, can't afford anything bigger up front) We're a couple weeks from hittin the road I hope. I don't have my CDL yet, but the more I read about it the easier it looks like it will be to get it. Specially since I'm a mechanic and have 30 years driving experience in under 26K private duty/farm duty/off road/double trailer. I'll plan to get the inside test done next week. Then I can drive if my brother is with me. (I get a feel for a truck real fast and then try to teach him how to handle it, but he's the one with the CDL) Then do the driving test as soon as I can get a good idea of what they want to see.

I run a sawmill for years, finally gave up making money at it because the big mills do volume, making logs sell for too close to lumber prices. And because I got tired of the hard boring work. But trucking is a market where we have the big boys going at it, and still room for a little guy to come on board and be successful. With a lot of little things we can do to boost the top end and lower expenses. One of which is buying older trucks and rebuilding them myself, thereby eliminating payments from the start. Many little guys come in and fail because of poor management. A friend of ours did that last year, borrowed too much and had too small backup fund, engine failure put him out of business.

 

Unionized carriers local always your best bet pay wise..

 

The big mega otr carriers were able to finally break the unions for alot of trucking jobs in the 1980's, that's why.

Why do you think OTR drivers are making 1980 wages right now in 2014? Schneider was paying people 40 cents a mile in 1984, but now it is 2014. Minimum wage in 1984 was $3.35 an hour, now it is $7.25 which is a double. If truck drivers had got the same kind of raise minimum wage workers have gotten since 1984 they would be making .80 cents a mile at big otr carriers like Schneider, etc. So where has all the money gone? Into the hands of the trucking company executives that's where!

 

If you want to increase wages, stop programs like those WIA which pays for a lot of people to get into the business without jobs waiting for them and having harder testing for a license.

 

Its called,


The Collapse of the Middle Class.



You are living it.......

 

Ever notice when the Gov. has budget cuts who gets the sharp end of the stick? Not the guys upstairs. [/rant] I would flip burgers before driving a truck for one of those Mega truck Co's. They are parasites of the Industry. Little pay,disrespect and a dead end job. If you have to work there be a professional driver get your miles and get the hell out.

 

It is not a collapse, it was/is a deliberate destruction.

Mikeeee

 

I would tend to agree.