Overtime pay ! Make it happen .

^^ This post speaks volumes. Until you've worked "in the office" dealing with many hundreds of drivers, you have no idea what kind of crap many of them bring to the table. And like was also mentioned elsewhere, it's not just drivers, but most any business that hires many entry-level people deal with so much crap on many different levels, day in and day out. And pay needs to be dependent on many variables because we are not machines, all with the same equipment options and programming.

Deal with them (and the customer/public problems they cause) from the office viewpoint for a month, and you'll have a completely different outlook on how they should be compensated and dealt with.

 

You say this like it doesn't happen already. LOL

The vast majority of new drivers here in Canada are either Eastern European, Russian or Punjabi.

 

Whether it's two or nine dollars an hour it's still an insulting wage that a person can not live on. And it was more of a question than a straw man argument as he said that he just wants his son to earn a wage.

 

I have always thought it took a special kind of person to be an OTR trucker. Weeks and weeks away from home and family. One of the things was a good trucker needed very little supervision. Tell the guy where to pick up and where to deliver. Today though with cell phones, QUAILCOMMs, backward facing camera's etc etc that supervision is more then most factory workers get. My point is this, in the past the job was different then it is today and in my opinion not for the better. With all the crap the average OTR driver has to deal with maybe it is time for there to be major changes in the way drivers are paid. However it has got to start with removing OTR trucking from the list of FLSA exceptions that deal with work week and overtime. I would love to see a marriage between FMCSA part 395 and the FLSA to pay a driver for ALL on duty time. With the general relaxing of max hours and replacing them with premium pay for situations where a load must get delivered. Like now you have 10.5 driving hours inside a 14 hour window. Say allow up to 15 hours driving in an 18 to 20 hour window but pay the driver 3 or 4 times their normal rate for everything past the 10.5.

 

$9 an hour is something that YOU cannot live on. People do it every day all across this country. You cannot compare your lifestyle to what you think others need. Just because someone does not live the same lifestyle you do does not mean that they are not happy and healthy. Sounds like you want to impose a certain lifestyle on others.

When people talk about hardships today they mention no iPhone and other modern conveniences. That is all they are, conveniences. They are not necessities.

Households used to have one car and they kept that car for decades. If both the mother and father worked they worked it out how to get both to work and home. Now people HAVE to have 2 cars in the house and payments to go along with them.

My entire life my grandparents had 2 vehicles. A 1964 Pontiac Tempest for longer distances and a 1956 F100 for around town and working the farm. They had both of those until 1988 when grandpa died because grandma did not drive. They also only ever had 2 homes as they downsized in later years.

Now people change cars and homes like socks. I myself have a 1987 4Runner and a 1990 Honda Civic. I only keep the 4Runner for winter and as a backup. Not even insured in the summer. Bought them used and have had them for years. I will say that if the right 1970's Ford 3/4 ton pickup came along I would buy it. Not because I need it but because I want it.

 

It is 11 hours of driving time in that 14 hours, not 10.5.
Where did you get your information.

And I would object to being subject to 15 hours of driving time in a 20 hour on-duty time.
It would be too dangerous because of fatigue.
Too may stupid drivers would push it for all it was worth just for the extra pay, and it would cause a lot more accidents.
Even without the extra pay, it is a dumb idea in my opinion.

 

Please, even if you got 50 hours a week at a nine dollar an hour job that would be $495 a week gross assuming you got time and half after 40. Now mind you my basic living expenses cost just under two grand a month.

By that I mean food, rent, gas, insurance, cell phone, and credit card payments. And no I don't live beyond my means, I went from a three bedroom/three bath house to a one bedroom apartment and now I am living in a 250sq foot closet that has maybe twice the space of a Volvo 780 cab. The next step down would be moving into my van or a truck sleeper. And if you're wondering I drive a vehicle that's almost as old as your cars and is disintegrating from rust.

 

In fairness to everyone here.........

its Really hard for Folks to Grasp onto that american dream...

over the years(last 20 or so)..Wages did not follow inflation at the Pace it was supposed to...

And I Do Believe this is a product on Why so many people in society Today are flat out "ANGRY" and Simply sick n tired of caring, Working for a living and having Nothing for their efforts.

See What Free market,and Capitalism can do? Sure it can be a good thing...but it also devastates many families.....

I said it before...Most People don't have the Wisdom nor resources to "outsmart" capitalism and Free Markets.. Its Good for the Wealthy and the Knowledged.

 

Your living expenses are 2 grand a month.

Let's see....
Lot rent 370 Includes water and electric.
Insurance 48
Cellphones 145 (not a necessity) I could cut back on this some.
Gas maybe 60 (hence the honda civic)
Food maybe 500 (I grow some of my own and eat good)
Dog food 20
Credit Cards 0

Hmmm seems like $1083 to me. And I could still cut back from that but I like my steak...