How much of a pay cut would you accept?

Discussion in 'Experienced Truckers' Advice' started by jlkklj777, Jul 3, 2009.

  1. jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

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    Based on the current economy and stories from all over the industry including heavyweights such as Schneider and YRC companies are making cuts.

    Cuts to benefits, attempting to reduce dead head miles, reducing fleet size, etc.

    My question to all is how much of a pay cut would you accept from your current carrier to continue working? Knowing that the likelihood of getting another good paying job is very remote.

    At what point do you reach the point of diminishing returns on your work and decide "I have had enough, I am not working for this and I am going home."
     
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  3. Sad_Panda

    Sad_Panda Road Train Member

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    Zero.

    I won't take a cut when a company boasts of a 753 million dollar profit.
     
  4. dancnoone

    dancnoone "Village Idiot"

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    From my current employer....none.

    They pay much less than most companies to begin with. So any additional cut in pay, would have me at trainee status.

    Please note, I'm not speaking negative of my current company. I knew the pay scale coming in, and the hometime REALLY offsets that .07 a mile cut in pay I took from my last job.

    Hell, I just wish I had applied here a long time ago. I feel better and get more done around the house, than I ever did in previous years.
     
  5. doubledragon5

    doubledragon5 Road Train Member

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    Zero we already took a cut on the hourly side, but not the percent side. if they cut it any lower, I will be forced to live in a card board box.. Or guit driving all together and go out and work 3 jobs, just to survive..
     
  6. jlkklj777

    jlkklj777 20 Year Truckload Veteran

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    You are forunate. Very few carriers are turning a profit today. I have been reading at another forum that NEMF (Eastern Freight Ways parent company) is struggling financially. I know many drivers were laid off on the NEMF side through the Winter and Spring due to the economy.

    I suspect there will be some further cost cutting measures implemented to keep the carrier in business. I simply do not know what form they may take. Anything that happens on the NEMF side will probably be instituted on the Eastern side as well.

    What cost cutting measures have you been seeing or reading about?

    The purpose of this thread is to open a dialogue among veteran drivers to compare notes and to mentally prepare for further hard times.

    How bad will it get? I do not know.

    Will we even have a job by the end of the year? Again I do not know, although I am hopeful we will all be able to hang on and ride out this recession (possible Depression?).
     
  7. Garager

    Garager Light Load Member

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    How much of a pay cut are the big wigs taking, and office personals? Are they cutting back the heat/ac, are they turning off the lights when it doesn't need to be on? Are the cleaning workers taking a pay cut, are they snow plowing their own lots w/their own trucks and workers, instead of hiring this out? Are they mowing their own grass instead of hiring this out? You get the idea right?

    My 1st seat just took a 2 cent pay cut, I'm sure I'll be next. He's a leaser and I'm company. I also wonder, if a company that is still making decent profits, if they aren't just jumping on this band wagon of a recession, meaning they can tell their employee's, that their hurtin' now and need to do cut backs, so they nail the drivers right away, but in reality, they are making more profits because of the cut backs, and will hide the numbers, or slide the numbers so it looks like they're losing money.

    No way will the big wigs take a cut in pay, I am talking large companies. In trying times like these, I think companies will lie their arses off, just my 2 cents worth. Really, can we trust our company, to be truthful? Anyhow, I am happy I have a job and not much to complain about, so I'll stay with them, until I'm absolutely fed up or broke. Which then, I'll move on.....
     
  8. Working Class Patriot

    Working Class Patriot Road Train Member

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    I'll take a pay-cut when Obama does......
     
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  9. kajidono

    kajidono Road Train Member

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    No pay cut for me. The last thing you want to do is try to defray your expenses by digging into my pocket.
     
  10. He who is called I am

    He who is called I am Medium Load Member

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    Actually he got a raise shortly after gaining the office.
     
  11. Ridgerunner665

    Ridgerunner665 Road Train Member

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    I can't afford to take a pay cut....its that simple.

    I can do many other things but I like trucking best...that said, I'll do whatever I have to do to keep my family fed.
     
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