The more I learn, the more I cant believe the amount of risks truckers take.

Great post x1heavy it took me a while to digest it.

I would never work for $0.35 per mile even as a complete newbie. I don't know why guys work for such a pittance. I got hired for $0.50 a mile fresh out of CDL school. I am now at $0.55 per mile .... ) $0.54 per mile with the company per diem program to save me on taxes.

 

The JOB for me right now is a stepping stone for me at the moment. I rather be on the beach working 5-8 hours a week living in south east asia making $15,000 a month like I was before doing my online business 7 years ago. But that is not an option for me anymore. It was a great while it lasted though.

For now this trucking is the best JOB I ever had so far, (just don't like the risk and some other factors) I really enjoy driving out west through Utah and Colorado. But I cant see myself doing this JOB as a career for 10/20/30 years. No way in hell, I will be out of this industry in a few years for sure.

 

Lawyers are very good at twisting the narrative or shifting the blame. You can be a trucking professional for 44 years and then in a split second some 4 wheeler sedan out of nowhere cuts across 4 lanes on the highway because he missed his exit. You slam into his rear end killing his 2 kids. Unless you have video evidence it will be your word against his. You could easily be accused of causing the accident. You were tailgating following to closely is how his attorney will spin it at your court hearing. "how much justice can you afford on a truck drivers living?" Most likely you will be pushed into a corner to show remorse for your actions and take responsibility for the accident or else face harsher punishment even if you felt it really was not your fault.

You say you make an above average living (this to me would imply you make more than 50-60k per year) but you rarely work 70 hours a week and sleep in you own bed each night and make breakfast each morning. If this is true I am sure many truckers on this forum would like to know how to reach your level. Most OTR drivers are making about 60-70K but they are working about 70 hours a week to do it. I am sure they would all love to know how you can show them a better way of same amount of money in less time.

I would expect for true professional drivers who work as company drivers as if it was their own business to be able to gradually climb the ranks within the company as the company expands or roles open up. Drivers who consistently try to save the company money on fuel and lost productivity should be cross trained to learn other skills within the company. Bring him in for a few days and let him learn from risk management and accounting and safety departments. Over time if the driver looks to be a good candidate to fill a position then give him a shot. Many guys just need an opportunity to prove they can.

The reference to "beg" or "raped" was not to be taken literally. Many drivers are paid per mile tho if they do the math they will find they really only make about $15-$18 per hour. I do feel for as much time and risk as I and other truck drivers are putting in truckers are not paid no where near what they should be paid. Truckers made more money 30 years ago than they do today, that should tell you something is wrong with this industry. I might as well just go get 2 full time warehouse jobs making $15-$18 an hour. You would make the same amount of money in the same amount of hours roughly. At least then I could be home every night long enough to see my family a few minutes each day and sleep in my bed and not have to worry about going to prison for an accident that might not have been been my fault.

The "freedom and independence" you speak of is an illusion for me. I don't have freedom if I am driving 70 hours a week, I don't have independence if I am dependent on my company or broker to keep providing loads or else I don't make money.

Real freedom and independence is where you own your own fleet of trucks (you run when and where you want, but the side effect is then you absorb alot of risk when things go wrong) and have your own freight contract (IE: independence to work on your terms bound by the terms you agreed to in your contract with the shipper). You don't rely on a broker for loads, the broker will want some control in the deal and that is not independence to me.

Many single truck O/O's talk of this freedom and independence. The truth is single truck O/O are just buying themselves a job (much like 7-11 franchisees). They are fooling themselves if they think they are a BOSS. A real BOSS does not trade his time for money, A BOSS hires others to work for him instead. You start getting into BOSS territory when you own multiple trucks and hire your own drivers and negotiate your own freight contracts.

I respect the fact that you made the attempt to make a serious reply even if we don't agree. I can handle a disagreement. I am not sensitive to disagreement. Trolls will be treated accordingly.

 

Don't send me your going away present yet... I am not ready to leave yet...