my truck stop adventur

If I may.........I do agree with you on the HOS and black box issues to a degree..........however, your point about pay being better than it ever has been, I am a little confounded. You stated you making 70k after what appears to be over 10 years exp. Now maybe ten years ago what would someone with 10 years exp. have made?

Next stating the info. you provided about Conway, putting aside the issue of the economy. A driver with 10 years exp. to make .38cpm is that really better? Then to also add the other aspects to make a bonus. Is this truly a reflection of better pay especially considering exp.

This is what I disagree with you on..........I see and hear about the influx of new drivers that is causing a higher demand than supply, regardless of the industry stating a shortage, to help drive the demand factor. If the supply of new drivers is higher than the supply of jobs their is no competition from companies. Everyone would be glad to have a job.......... even as you mentioned in your post.

If pay was better, if conditions were better, if getting home was better, would their be such a high turn over?

 

i fully agree with this post....but ya ya gotta be negative in a positive kinda way that way your life aint misarable

 

I like being miserable.

Company NEVER overstays their visit.

 

I guess my point to this post was this. The economy sucks and I dont think any of us will make what we are used to making and only because loads will be harder to come by. However I believe this is gonna be short term. IM taking a huge step back in pay to go with a OTR dry van carrier. But Im still gonna do better then most people around my area. Im not real happy about the prospect of making only 50k this year! But Im very excited that I will be working. 10 years ago I was as must of us lucky to break 35k a year driving a truck!

Be patient my friends this is a short term piss poor economy situation!


Gator

 

I hope this is short term. But I am willing to gamble right now.

As far as wages, they have gone down considerably. Drive the fewest miles, for the most amount of dollars. nough said.

Mike

 

You know . . . my wife and I make 30k combined. People are getting upset because they will only make 45k or 50k. That is strange to me.

 

Funny this thread should come up. I met a really nice o/o at my local one by wally world who hired me to clean his truck whenever he comes in. I did meet some idiots that are plain crazy and some nice rednecks.

Hunter

 

I love it when the old days come up in these threads. Working 20 hours a day was the norm and none of the modern comforts or conveniences. But a real sense of camaraderie, pretty #### good food in most truck stops and they pumped your fuel. Now money... that's a whole 'nuther issue. Was thinking about it and in 1983 I made more money as an O/O leased to a big outfit than most of the mileage based deals they are offering today. That just ain't right!

 

Thats my pont! we as truck drivers are far above the avg american! I realize we stay out weeks at a time but thats a choice we make! I could get a factory job or even go back into law enforcement but I would make a hell of a lot less. Even with a projected slow year ahead I will still make more then most of my neighbors! And as for my neighbor who just lost his job, he sure wished he had a CDL right now because after 15years with his current job he has nothing to take with him! We as CDL holders have a lot more opportunity then most!!!

Gator

 

Well, it's a matter of prospective. We understand what we should be making. And we know we won't be making it, anytime soon.

I also understand that 45K or 50k sounds like a lot to you. But it isn't. Especially when you consider teens, graduation, weddings, and other things that make life nice.

I could live on 30K a year, easily. But, that's because I have no debt. Thanks to trucking.

I feel your pain

Fuel was .69 a gallon. Rates started around $1.25 a mile. And we were raising sand then. It wasn't enough.

Where did it go wrong?