@Chinatown is the Greatest

I'd be angry too.

You talk off making a paltry 35K while others in the cryo field pull down more for just being truck drivers.
Apparently they are worth more, or companies would not be paying that.
I started driving 49 years ago because I liked and wanted to operate equipment and see the country. The lifestyle suited me.

It soon became apparent to me that not all driver jobe are created equal and I moved to a higher wage position. Never have I regretted it or will I apologize for it.
I'm sure the first responder and those in healthcare didn't chose the respective fields based solely on compensation.

Sorry you're upset and frustrated but that is just how the pay scales go.
If you worked haz mat without being properly paid for it that's on you.

BTW I think you are wrong in your assessment of the industry as it relates to the economy.
1)Vast majority of customers still need and use the products even during a shutdown.
2) Most have usage and inflationary adjustments in the customer contracts, allowing to company to maintain pricing.
3)My company guarantees a weekly salary whether we work or dont.
4) The weekly wage you posted is 20 to 30% low.
5) In order to make said wage you must be willing to be flexible and adhere to stringent rules and operating procedures ,all while being watched. Including working nights,weekends, holidays outside in all weather conditions.
6) Operate units w a 1 million dollar value (includes cargo) day in and out in inner cities w access most would shake their head at.

My salary has increased almost each year and I feel fortunate for that but I've worked hard to achieve it. Only 2 more years to go before I retire and I hope I can make it.

In closing my "rant" I'd say if you don't like your lot in life then try to improve it.
I'd never berate a sector because of perceived economic inequality. I'd try to join it.
And yes I drive cryo for worlds largest provider for last 12+ so could be a bit biased

BTW props to @Chinatown

 

Addressing your comment narrowly.

To live and raise a family, buy a nice house, and not have to worry about unexpected medical bills all while saving for your own retirement, 110k isnt neccessary... depending on where you are. But even in relatively cheaper areas to live, you probably need about 80k pretax.

If you luck into a cheap house or your spouse works, you decide to go without kids. Or a few other things, you can maybe make do on a bit less.

But thats what it takes to not be paycheck to paycheck and up to your eyeballs in debt.

Housing, medical, kids, vehicles, food, and most importantly saving for retirement, all these costs have skyrocketed in the past 20 years.

Economists looked at the age-old "does money buy happiness?" 15 years ago in the us, on average, taking locality out of it the answer was yes, up to 80k, beyond that had diminishing returns. That being 15 years ago and only using inflation as the metric: $112k a year.

A relevant point from another member above:

 

I'm well aware of the difference in pay in America, I worked my way up to a union job, and in 1998, $35 grand was indeed "making it". There have always been those jobs that paid extraordinary, and cryogenics is one of them, but it's unfair to think anybody can jump right in to those jobs. While I'm happy for you, most drivers will never get a chance to work for those companies, and may go into trucking because "Chinatown says we can make 6 figures driving a truck, oh boy", and are usually disappointed at what they end up with.
I don't believe in the"adjusted for unflation" malarky, I still say it was easier to come up with $100 back then, than $1,000 dollars now,,,,adjusted for inflation, that is. I knew a couple guys that worked for Air Products, try as might to get in, they NEVER had openings and for good reason. It's highly specialized, and Joe( or Joanne) newbie will never make that kind of money. My other point still stands, 6 figures to drive a truck, ANY TRUCK, when people are saving lives for a lot less, it contributes to the American axiom, "I'm okay, who cares about the rest", and will be the final nail in the coffin for America. We're almost there now. I know it may be tough for you to see, having money, but our glitzy way of life is in peril and you'd have to be living under a rock not to think so until you go to the bank to cash your big check, and the teller says, "sorry, we're out of money", the fun stops there. Too harsh? Maybe, but this old timer sees a path we're on, we won't be able to recover from, no matter who is in charge. Quite frankly, I hope I'm dead by then,,,.

 

It doesnt stand to reason that if group a is being underpaid, they shouldnt complain or get better wages because group b is underpaid too.

I was grossly underpaid at 36k a year in 2011 as a salaried inexperienced individual at a steel shop where i was essentially shop foreman, job estimator, all material ordering, sometimes delivery guy and also errorchecker for blueprints before hitting the shop floor.

Should i have been happy to go trucking for the same hours every week but none of the previous headache for 7 k more a year (edit, had said week)? I was, for a time.

But once you have experience, theres a limited pool of drivers because not everyone is willing to do the job, forget capability.

If you think 35k in 98 was reasonable, fine, but dont say that we today who think 100k+ is actually a fair wage for experienced safe drivers are greedy or lazy, this past 2.5 years showed us how much we arent valued but the job we do is. So PAY us

 

Don't just thank him, Cut him a check as well

@Chinatown name ur figure,

 

Yes Chinatown is a good man and a great example of an old school trucker always looking to help a fellow driver.

 

.

 

South Florida the worst parts of NYC and Caribbean
North Florida is the southernmost regions of GA and AL.

 

Ex-actly!!!

If you still want a "deep south" feel....stay north of Gainesville.

--Lual

 

Northeast?