i am making over 2 times more than i have ever made in my life...

Fine. Quibble if you like. I'm not arguing math.
My larger point stands.
Trucking should be paid like offshore oil work, since it's very much like it in many ways, including being dangerous and separating drivers from families. Two 35-hour jobs done back to back.

Please sir, may I have more?

 

What is your point to that statement? Johnny got his apple where's mine?
Live like animals
Just getting by

Do you think money is going to solve ALL your problems....lol
You failed to see the point I made, it doesn't matter how much MONEY you have, it can be devalued in many ways.

I have a plan, it's already in the works and has been for some time, I will retire at 55 and I don't NEED social security (social welfare actually) to survive once I retire.

You can put this low pay debate to most any job, it's a JOB nothing more nothing less, what YOU are willing to put up with for the pay you are given is YOUR choice, what makes one person happy at a job another hates.

And I have no political or religious agenda so "dog bless whomever you like"

While we are at it lets see....what do you think your servicemen in this country are worth? In dollars as that seems to be the topic..
I'll be back to chime in on that 1 as I have served (by choice)[/QUOTE]

But of course you'll file for your social security, because you worked for it and it's your money, right?
Right.
I really have no idea why you're arguing with me about this. Something in your mind requires others to suffer, or something. These are just typical entitled right-wing Baby Boomer thought patterns, nothing new under the Sun actually.
Pointing out that OTR trucking pays sucks has made me some kind of target for you, for some reason.
Get over it and get with the times, which are a-changin...

 

And like I pointed out, not everyone can be a blue collar Donald Trump.
Maybe one percent are that lucky and have the presence of mind to hold that plan together.
The rest of us have kids, fall in love, get married, own our homes, have car payments, put kids through college, etc.

 

Then you guys need to ALL get on the same #### page when talking to these new bloods. Dont take cheap freight, dont work for cre, dont do anything stupid to risk you cdl. BUT you have to start with #### pay and earn it like we did. We ran 80 plus hours a week and didnt complain. Yada yada, this thread if read back just shows the only thing you exspect these new kids to do is be UTTERLY confused by the mixed signals you guys give out. YOU wont work for .25 cents a mile, when they ##### its man up and put in your time. But in another thread dont work for so little go here or here and make more, then you berate them for just that. Guess what they dont have to. Its not 1970 so STOP acting like it. Its not disrespect to disagree by the way. Its also not entitlement. Its just truck driving dont make it into more than it is, i heard that here to. Or is it a calling that these dumb kids dont understand? Im not entitled i get paid well. I will never tell someone to accept what i started for. Wasnt enough and still aint. You need to be ambitious and aim for the best, unless i ask you then i should start at the bottom and be #### thankfull i got a job right? Unless its cre or swift or whoever your currently hating on. But it is JUST truck driving, that being said 40 years of JUST driving and your going to demand respect? From who? These kids behind computer screens? Ha. For what? Your both directions advice? Sorry just sounds like your pissed someone wants more than you. Thats not disrespect its a disagreement.

 

My first paying job was $2.15 an hour to cut grass and pull weeds.
Do I expect my kids or any kids to settle for that wage just because I did and "PAY THEIR DUES" for some perverse reason not based on any reason at all? We should all want each other to succeed in the best way possible.
When we all succeed, our friends, kids, acquaintances, colleagues, fellow drivers, that means we're succeeding as a nation and as a society.
But when we have biter old throwbacks complaining about entitlement (Imagine that, Americans complaining about entitlement attitudes!), it indicates a deeper sickness.

But in terms of the buying power of wages declining, note that food, energy, and housing are not even included in inflation calculations any more. Another slight-of-hand by the powers that be to keep us ignorant of the economic realities we face now. Twenty dollars in 1975 equals 90 bucks today. My grandfather retired from his job as a heavy truck crane operator in 1972 and was earning $7.50 an hour. Sounds low? Not really when you consider that $7.50 then would be equal to $42.68 in today's money. It's a numbers game, drivers, and if you let the sound of the numbers blind you to the reality of the buying power of today's money, you will miss the point.

So 50 cents per mile and 23 bucks per hour while stopped is actually a pretty fair starting wage for today's truckers.
And what's wrong with a fair wage?

 

Can you list some companies that start out at 40's

 

There are plenty. I just left one. Small company with less then 25 trucks.

And check the threads, like this one:
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/tr...2599-any-good-paying-north-east-regional.html
Companies starting to wake up.

 

When it comes to pay there are two things a driver can do if they don't like the pay offered. Don't work for a low paying company. Find another career. There are quite a few companies that pay a living wage. As soon as you can cure these newbs from signing on with companies paying pennies wages will go up. It's supply and demand. Drivers are being turned out by the hundreds every week. Most are desperate so they're going to sign on no matter what the pay is. Don't believe it when you hear there is a shortage of drivers. The only shortage in trucking is a shortage of good drivers with good records.

 

you sir are part of the problem in society in general go talk to your father or grandfather they would agree
it started as far as i can see when the judge could no longer tell the punk in front of him
60 days in the county or go join the army
respect and a work ethic went hand in hand
listen to howard stern long enough your brain will rot and not recover

 

You assume way to much, all of a sudden you call people sir? My father is proud of me my wife my girls, my never taking a hand out, helping when i can and in general being a good person. Both of my grandfathers are dead. My old man was a marine, i was raised with "we dont plan we improvise" 60 days or join the army? Who are you? Dont get me wrong i belive service should be mandatory. Do your 2 years then you can complain. If you want to be back in the 50's then go to a prarie home compaion taping and cry quietly to yourself. Its not the downfall of socity to ask to be paid well. I have worked many a job in trucking, want to know why im not still at the first? Becuse unlike you i felt i was worth something. Not more than you just more than they were offering. If i want more it has NOTHING to do with you. Shocking i know but your misplaced narcesisem dosent change the fact that no matter how hard you stomp your feet and pout i didnt get that so you shouldent will change that. Had the same argument at work, somebody was complaing that they wanted the hours someone else had, my response WHY are you bringing someone else into the equation? They dont have anything to do with it. You want better hours for you not becuse someone else has them. This actualy means wait for it........ you dont matter. And nither do i. They are talking about themselfs NOT you. They are talking about there life NOT yours. I have respect and a #### good work ethic, not that you would know, seeing as i dont know you from adam. Hell we might actualy get along, i cant stand stern (funny how you assumed that) i am a huge fan of common sense. But this concept that age automaticly means wisdom is laughable, and if you actualy thought about you would HAVE to agree. I, not going to start listing all of the old and stupid but lets just say if age ment everything we would still be owning people. Ok back to the original issue. They want more money for what they do. You dont think they deserve more money. WHY NOT? Answer that first. Dont say earn it we have already proven that is a empty statment, means as much as its the governments fault. Dont bring respect into it. Were online, i can edit my profile too say any #### thing i please and we dont know each other. Entitlement? Define that. Wanting something for nothing? They didnt ask for that, they are willing to work. Willing to put up with the hardship lonlyness exc..exc.. they just want better pay. And now were back to the crux YOU did it so they should. Again YOU are not part of the equation. Next time you choose to make a assumption be prepared to get questioned not blindly worshiped for your years of exsperiance.