how common is it to not have benefits in this industry??

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by ad356, Oct 13, 2017.

  1. ad356

    ad356 Road Train Member

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    why should it? because it exists in all other industries. i worked previously in manufacturing, you get paid holidays and vacations after 90 days. that's pretty standard in the workforce. why should trucking NOT receive the same?
     
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  3. ad356

    ad356 Road Train Member

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    this is amerika. we have a serous problem catering to the rich in this country. nobody cares about the middle class/blue collar truck driver, or blue collar in any other industry. we don't matter.
     
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  4. ad356

    ad356 Road Train Member

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    overall the pros have out-weighed the cons, i dont hate my job either, not like i hated the last job. would i go back to where i came from no way. i have no regrets.
     
  5. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    Not much money in this racket anymore, that is why. Good benefits used to be the norm, but the costs of everything has skyrocketed while rates have not done much in 30+ years. I always carried a Catastrophic insurance plan and paid cash on the road if I became ill or injured. Now, seeing as I'm over thirty, I can no longer legally purchase one of these plans. I'm a vet, so back to the VA and I still pay cash at the doctors, MY doctor. I am eagerly waiting for these new health associations to fire up, I want my old $70 a month Cat Plan back.
     
  6. ad356

    ad356 Road Train Member

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    my wife carries the health insurance and gets a great plan at a great price. she works at a community hospital and gets it full family coverage, no deductible, no co-pay at an incredibly reasonable price. i am very thankful for that, extremely thankful.... i know how bad and expensive the plans can be. paying hundreds upon hundreds for a plan that will never pay out.

    if i worked in a manufacturing plant that offered no paid time off yet every other place offered it, i would be leaving. it should be universal.
     
  7. fuller

    fuller Light Load Member

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    As far as the trucking industry goes, pretty well union outfits are the only ones remaining that offer any real "benefits" over and above your base pay.

    And even they are whittling those benefits down, so assume that sometime in the future, trucking in general will actually be the worst job to have, compared to other industries.

    It is what it is... And they wonder why more people don't want to do this job?
     
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  8. Justrucking2

    Justrucking2 Road Train Member

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    That is what I see up here in Michigan, Detroit area. The union guys have benefits, along with a few medium sized outfits. The benefits are expensive though, and I know more than a few Teamsters that have lost well over half of their pensions. Not good. Then we have the equipment, not the greatest, some down right dangerous.

    I'm an O/O, I'm out here for the money, not the benefits. Problem is, since Ocare, affordable insurance is nowhere to be found. I just priced out a plan, $970 a month, $12,000 deductible, and 60/40 co-pay. That is not insurance, that is theft. I was recently divorced, wife had the insurance. Now, it is back to the VA, I cannot afford to just give $12,000 + a year away. That would be financially stupid.

    Oh, I agree, trucking is no longer fun, and it is not an occupation I would recommend.
     
  9. fuller

    fuller Light Load Member

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    I'm from North of the border, so our healthcare system is a little different, so it would be difficult for me to comment on that aspect of costs relative...

    However, it still gets paid one way or the other, with higher taxes.

    Trucking is a terrible industry, as far as profit margins... I am an O/O also, but a town clown. Funny thing is, I don't even have to warn people away from this industry... They figure that out all on their own!
     
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  10. buddyd157

    buddyd157 Road Train Member

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    this is too funny. i had actually gone and applied to a job a few years ago. apparently the owner of the company started out as an o/o where he had nothing regarding benefits, vacations and such. as a result, the guy interviewing me (not the owner) said that since the owner started out with no such things, he didn't feel he should offer them as well.

    when i went there, he had a building, a garage, an office staff, and several trucks and trailers.

    i thought to myself during the interview, just because he suffered with nothing as an o/o, why should he make his employees suffer, if he wants good quality drivers?

    well, i pulled back my resume, AND my application from the guy interviewing me and thanked HIM for wasting MY TIME, MY GAS, to go to a worthless job offer..

    so for me, anytime a job is online or where ever else, and the ad reads something like, "benefits available or offered"...WATCH OUT, YOU MAY BE PAYING for everything.

    if in the ad it says BC/BS, vacations, extra stop pay, etc, then you apply, all others can kiss mine (or your's ) grits..
     
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  11. ad356

    ad356 Road Train Member

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    the type of driving i do is very different then what most everyone else here is doing. its not really effected by traditional freight rates. the truck owner gets paid hourly for how many hours the truck is on the job. it doesn't matter if the truck sits on the side of the highway while the construction workers stand around and pick their nose. pay is the same, which is why my pay is unaffected by sitting on the clock
     
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