how much is enough?

Well when millions of them dump into a country with no education... What jobs to they take up? They're not CEOs or managers, and I don't think I've ever been asked for a GED when applying for a trucking job. It's not ENTIRELY their fault no, but it has an effect of course

 

Well, you are right on that. My masters is not recognizable here and this was one of the reasons to choose trucking for the beginning. Than hopefully make enough $ to convert it to the American degree.

 

I'm Valedictorian in my high school graduation. Got a 12.01 grade level maxing out some of the tests administered in them days. But you are right. I could get away with a 8th grade education as a drop out and no good for anything but basic math and driving a heavy vehicle for all the good my achievements were worth.

No. One. Cared. The education section of the trucking company application is 4 blank lines for year, date of graduation and school you went to. Period. Dot.

It's a shame. I did go to College like my Dear Parents ALWAYS wanted. But discovered that people are going BACK to get a 4 year. Then a 6 year then the Doctorate then the Diplomat or whatever other higher gilded papers available to them when they finally walk indebted themselves across the stage only to discover that there is a limited Market for people with their very advanced learning. I know that our 40,000 dollars worth of Student Loan financed education is worth something. She is the first to gradate anything in her family and I build very powerful computers VERY well with my own money, however little or much it is.

But building computers, anyone can do it. They are disposable now. But I still continue to do so because it is a good hobby that keeps me out of trouble. And yes the precious Student Loans are all paid for. Giving us the freedom financially to do what we have to do when the time comes.

I guess I can go back and work on that Spanish, German, Russian, Hebrew I always wanted to learn. Or something else entirely. The key is this, Never stop learning something new, however old you are. Within common sense that is.

Now.... I try hard to behave here on Truckers Report and understand that Immigrants are being paid very little because they do not understand that the CDL makes them worth being paid more possibly high 30's per mile as a company driver or even borrowing money to purchase a truck in America, land of opportunity or 10 trucks. Hire their buddies of whom there are plenty.

I have said in the past facetiously with more than a kernel of truth that three immigrant truckers making .20 and are being happy making way more than they ever saw back home in their lives is worth one of me at .60 a mile. Or lord forbid I become a fleet someday and I charge 2.50 a mile to run freight, both ways with a hefty present of deadhead empty miles to get your business. No wonder several of you think there is some kind of conspriacy.

If there is any theories at all, you might want to ask your Trucking Company's Recruiters why they are hiring Immigrants for pay scales that are compared to the average CITIZEN trucker very low. You won't get any answers here on the Internet. Even if a Recruiter knew anything. Likely they will have to be quiet because Uncle Sam and the States Work Force Department has been making a push to resettle many Immigrants into the these United States. Many of whom happen to come from Syria by Executive Order for the first batch of 8000 this year with waivers in place for Tuberculosis for example to expedite resettlement.

As a Citizen who loves America I have a problem with that. But again. No. One. Cares.


Wall Street reports approximately 94 million out of work. All of these working age, able and healthy to go find work. But they are listed as looking for work and not working at all. I use the word Approximately because they are very precise down to the single digit with a very large number. I would not care to be corrected by someone who wants to take the time to provide updated figures from the next quarter's updated figures or even my personal favorite. Corrected Figures from the Federal Reserve themselves.

In 2002, a Taco cost $1.50 in 2014 CPI (Customer Price Index) If there is a Taco entry, it would be $6.50. That is a approximately 450% inflation.

My Vet Spouse only saw approximately 31% in cost of living benefit increases paid for every Janurary by Uncle Sam. Social Security People saw approximately a 24% increase each month due to Cost of Living Adjustment since 2000.

My Gross Pay in 2000 filed jointly for the household was right around 65,000 dollars. Per Diem claiming each day more than 100 miles from home erased the tax burden for that year and then added to the payout giving us back some of the food we bought that year to keep trucking on.

State of Arkansas Taxes however... were paid for by the windfall from Dear Old Uncle Sam that year. I love Arkansas, but boy howdy they are fixing to get pretty expensive, bless their hearts. Other States without taxes are becoming more attractive. Or possibly being a Expat. Travel the world.

 

You got to have money to travel the world.Anyway,you guys are directing your anger in a wrong direction.Isn't this country supposed to be a democracy?That means that YOUR representatives in Congress should serve you but do they?Do they do what you want them to do?But it's happening all over the world,same thing.Governments don't care about what citizens want.
As for 20 cpm,where did you get this number from?I am an immigrant from Poland and 20 cpm is what a driver in Poland makes.Come to Chicago,plenty of immigrants from Eastern Europe here.Come here and try to recruit East European driver for 20-30 cpm.I bet my weekly wage you won't find a single one and you will be laugh at.I drive for 47 cpm south,50 cpm east I don't go west because they only want to pay 45 cpm for west.$50 a stop,$15 detention after 2 h (and it's actually paid!),$100 for leaving Chicago twice in one week.How does it compare to your implied 20cpm?

 

20 cents implied is what we made top pay when we started back in the 1980's Now it's right about .50 or thereabouts. My last job paid .48 however short I stayed with them.

I know nothing about Europe to be honest and anything you can share with European payrates (Exchange rates US Dollar is about 1.21 euro today, I'll have to look it up.. UK is worth 1.32 or more.)

I thank you for posting. Now you have a idea where I got the .20 implied rate from. What Im trying to show is that even at .20 today immigrants from the Middle East with their focus on Syria with our President Obama and his precious Phone and Pen these days... is HUGE money to these immigrants who have nothing when they come here.

America is built on Immigrants as you know. Usually they are hired at the lowest pay scale possible. Or even lower if the Company can get the hire to agree to it on paper.

In our Country, Employment is "At will." For every successful hire in the United States the Trailer and Hotel in Orientation has 50 more ready to hire on each week minus a percentage of rejects.

 

You guys expect way too much from unskilled trade driving a truck is.Seriously, it doesn't take much to drive a truck,you don't need much skills,anybody can do it.I calculated I average $21/h.Now compare that to say,hvac installer/serviceman.My buddy also an immigrant from Poland does it.$25/h but it took him 6 years to learn the trade.I started right off after 6 weeks of cdl school.Trucking is an unskilled trade,plain and simple.

 

Have any suggestions for other employers?

 

The economy is not bad right now...

 

Reach out to the user @Chinatown here on TTR. He's an encyclopedia of trucking companies. Tell him what you're looking for in a company, and he'll cough up a list of companies that fit your needs.