Wake up Newbies.

Does she have the right to take your truck that your paying for and park it for 2 weeks. If not then she's and employees it would seem. It sounds like you are trying to get out of paying taxes on her. It's not supposed to be your option to classify her as employees or independently contactor to fit your needs. You probably will never get caught unless she gets into a accident. That probably when the trouble will start. Because as a independent contractor driver and she does not have any insurance. You have insurance on your truck but then you also have someone driving your truck umder your insurance that's an independent contractor. Sounds like trouble to me.

 

What is the point of this thread. Did op have an ego deflation event and decided to come teach us co drivers that are happy with the companies we work for some high end experienced hand stuff?

OP if I would have ever in my 18 years of work ever demanded anything of an employer outside of safe work conditions and a paycheck, I would have been fired on the spot. Stop filling peoples heads with bs radical ideas like that. There are these awesome things called negotiation and tact. The fact you go on to blame a select few companies for bringing rates down, in an industry that is built on auctioning and brokering of freight, being competitive all the while in a nation that is still e onomically depressed across the board is mind numbingly absurd.

I guess I am just to new to this industry though to grasp the light of ultimate truth. That and understand why the hell it is that there are people that for the life of me cannot be happy with other people, complete strangers, having jobs that they are actually happy with. As opposed to being jobless, pennilesd and homeless.

Newbie out.

 

When I started as a company driver 8 years ago I was happy to make .30 a mile entry pay. I was desperate for a job, having just been wiped out by the housing crash, I was a contractor.

I hired on with a company in my area that did dry van & reefer. When the company rep told me reefer cross country was my best opportunity for miles, I kissed the wife goodbye and hit the road pulling reefer.

That first trip across country I remember thinking to myself, "this job should pay at least 70k a year..."

My first year average was 11,667 miles a month. At .30 a mile it's easy to figure I didn't make 70k a year

However, by the time I left 3 years later, with raises and trainer status supplementing my income, I was well on my way to 70k.

Even now, with my record and experience I could find a job grossing 70k plus a year as a company driver if I was willing to be on the road more. Heck, the company I started with offered me .60 a mile to come back and train for them. It was easy to average 14k mile a month as a trainer, you do the math.

I don't want to do that anymore though...

The OP raises some good points. This industry has a way of chewing drivers up and spitting them out. Having or growing a pair (sorry ladies) in the process is necessary if you plan to stay long term.

Asserting one's self to get what you want and need sometimes is a learned trait. Some guys are like bulls in a china closet for which a lot of companies are more than happy to get off of their payroll.

For those that can survive that first two to three years, the opportunities in the trucking business are pretty good right now.

I chose the owner operator path after 7 years of experience. And even at that, the o/o option is fraught with a lot different pitfalls if one doesn't play their cards just right. It's working out pretty well for me.

I have a good balance of control, income, benefits and home time. Ultimately, what more could a guy ask for in this industry or any industry for that matter?

God bless truckers!

 

I hate to bring this up but all the megas make money that doesn't come from their drivers. Most broker out millions of dollars of freight and make a lot off of it.
I would bet Schneider brokers out close to a billion dollars a year. Next year after they go public you can read their annual report and find out.
ATS brokers out millions in wind energy loads.

 

So very untrue...

I understand your liking the independence that comes with this... As I see it, however, this carrying on about indentured servitude and slavery... Are you not a slave to your truck, Wooly? Are YOU most upset that YOU'RE not being paid well because of the megas undercutting? And it's hurting you? I don't really get the vibe you care all that much for other drivers economic welfare - I mean, really who cares but me, that as a Werner driver I may barely clear $42k this year, my first year in the industry?.... No one but me and whomever is reliant upon my income. My making $42k is of concern to you in that Werner made much more than that which thereby cut into your own ability to be industrious, or more industrious (eg: profitable) than you were for the year...

I realize I'm low paid. I also realize I'm fairly green. We all also realize that when I leave Werner there will be 2.3 people brought in to replace me (230% turnover).

Also when I leave I will thank Werner for the opportunity to test my mettle, for acting as my stepping stone and allowing me to hone my skill at the possible expense and expiration of their equipment.
I will also never consider wedding myself to a truck... You can have that. But be keen to the notion that that is a choice you made - and it comes along with all the bull-#### you're carrying on about. In my estimation you may be more of a slave than myself. I could drop trucking anytime, I'm completely unfettered by equipment and maintaining it / repairing it / fueling it or making sure the bank gets their cut for it.

Perception, perspective and attitude... 99% of the battle. And not to be overtly rude, but to see what's in your mind, it seems to me that yours (p,p & a) is one of self-righteous indignation cloaked as concern for the economic welfare of his fellow drivers.... Meaning you're upset that you feel like you're getting 'had'...

Maybe I'm wrong, and i really mean no offense, just trying to pry your mind.

 

Dude your the exception to "your"own rule.."Your" the only one in "your "company so in "your" case" your" right but that does not apply to every case..

 

Edited cuz this conversation has put me in a bad mood.

 

Many companys out there take advantage of a driver...Up to the driver to decide what he is willing to work for and who to work for..