For those of you wanting to become a truck driver ...

Some of the people I worked my career job with, before the Trudeau crash of 2015+. Got into Costco before the unemployment surge happened, they were only going to use it as a bridge job, until they could find another Corporate job in Oil and Gas or something similar. All of them are still there in 2021, and say they would literally fight to the death to keep that job.

I know the drivers who work for the Costco fleet in the US, say the same thing. So I eagerly await Costco Fleet to move into Canada, and Kick Bison/TransX and XLT out of their DC's

As far as the essential boost, what a #### show, the conditions were insane for truck drivers, and no one I know got it. Even in reefer/food grade/food service.

 

I don't know why anyone would work for that wage anyways. Shows how desperate some people can be. I do regional and take home about $1500 per week after taxes. $15 at 40 hours is $600 before taxes. Not sure I would be willing to work for that.

I have worked fast food before when I was a teenager and you had to look up to your team lead > supervisor > franchise owner. Trucking I only look up to my boss who also does dispatch.

There are decent trucking Jobs out there once you get some experience. Molson (in Ontario) pays $33 per hour for local work. Praxair pays around $27 an hour for local. Some dump jobs are in the 30s. There are opportunities out there, you just gotta find them.

 

Right. I used to haul tanker, diesel and chemicals, b-train, for $33/hr. Stressful, but decent income.

We're talkin' mostly entry level dry-van jobs here, remunerated at cents per mile. Resulting income comparable to minimum wage jobs, and that's the segment of trucking that needs an urgent update.

 

I still think Can haulers are the worst, paid by the move, I knew a couple guys who tried some local CP contractors. Worked out to $8/hr when it was all said and done, 6 days a week, 12-14 hours a day.

Westcan and Seaboard have gone to a similar system now, paid by the move, works out to $12/hr I'm told.

Van and Reefer can either be very good or very bad, there is no middle ground. @Canadianhauler21 found a pretty sweet gig, as some other guys I know (XTL, Coop, Safeway/Sobeys) but like you said, the majority of the Van/Reefer industry is by the mile rolling sweatshop slavery.

If anyone tries to take this LCV job away from me, I ####ing swear to god, I will stack bodies!

 

Container work out of Vancouver ports is now starting $26+ per hour. But yah, I remember doing cans by the move too, no more of that. I did pretty much everything, except logging and oil/gas up in the buttfack AB or SK. I've trained drivers, and still hold a clean abstract after all them years. All that work and experience up for a gig at Costco!

 

Personal vehicles are generally based on who is willing to sign for 84 easy payments. There’s a number of us where I work all driving what are considered vintage automobiles,,,first by choice, second, we know how to spin wrenches...sort of a hobby

 

Had a few muscle cars & old p/u's. Dad was a mechanic so grew up around busting knuckles.
I never bought anything on payments except a ranch.

 

Oh yah but those were the good ole days, now we finance toasters and TVs over 84 easy payments, OAC at 28% APR .. amirite, yah .. quality capitalism

 

If someone takes that lcv job from you I will help you stack the bodies.

Trucking is what you make of it. Although I feel bad for the people trucking on the west side of Canada. You guys have little to no options. Ontario still has hidden gem opportunities here and there.

 

Still good options in the west....