Is it me or is freight very slow @Werner now.

Where did you get the impression this driver or his family is Financially Irresponsible? I took from her post that her husband has worked for Werner for 18 years and his job is on the decline. It is not as good of job as it was in the past. She wants her husband to be able to run like he had in the past. Like her family had become use to when things were good. I think her point is they have the same bills to pay. That is rent, utilities, kids to feed. NOT FUR COATS,SPORTS CARS,AND DIAMONDS. If that was the case it would be financially irresponsible.

 

She's not telling it all . If they were just paying necessities as she claims they should have a substantial savings reserve .

 

I have been trucking for over 20yrs. I have a son who is a freshman in college. I need my current job to continue as it is so I can make every effort to give my son a better future.
I do not know this lady in this thread. She is concerned about her family. I do not know why they do not have a substantial savings reserve. Maybe, she has a reason. Mine is I have a son in college that needs financial support. Who knows what her situation is?

 

I think you are correct she is not telling it all. It is judgemental to say he family is FINACIALLY IRRESPONSIBLE with-out knowing her situation fully. That is my point.

 

Any job, any level, that can sustain you through a economic downturn. Is a good job. But only if you plan for the worse, and hope for the best. So what if your 401k lost half its value last year. What will it look like 5 years from now? Does anyone know?

The downturn has lasted a little bit longer than they expected, So now is the time to be concerned?

Let's sum this up in a nutshell. They are now having to cut back on their lifestyle, to a level they find uncomfortable or unacceptable. Their retirement isn't looking as rosy as it once was. So now it's perfectly acceptable to throw away an 18 year career with the same company.

His miles, most likely will never return to past highs. The recent flood of new drivers will allow companies to spread the wealth even thinner, as they accommodate the newer drivers who want to be home. This is the future of trucking. And you should plan accordingly.

The truth of the matter is, Werner will be here next week, next year, and most likely 10 years from now. But they're willing to jump ship at the most impractical time. During a down economy.

Companies nation wide, trucking and others, are imposing pay cuts on their employees. Some as high as 30%. Thank God this isn't France ! Some industries there are requiring relocation AND an 85% cut in pay.

So what is it he is going to do? Go OTR ??? Take a cut in pay, thereby forcing extra miles to make the same as before.

The goal is to reduce your workload, and enjoy your latter years. You can always make money. You can never regain lost time.

Obviously our priorities in life are different. As is our priority in our job. I got 3600 miles this week...and I'm not a happy camper. I'm perfectly happy with 1500 - 2000 a week.

And rest assured, my wife isn't complaining one bit when I get just 1800 miles a week.

 

I tend to be less judgemental. I understand what you are saying. Life is about choices. Some people make good decisions. MOST DON'T. Sounds like you have made some good ones.
I am lucky my wife has a good job. Her job provides our health insurance. Between our two jobs we are happy with our situation.
I ran 2400 miles last week. I am like you I can live on less but,I prefer consistancy.
We are in our 40's. Guys like us should have a few things in life figured out.

 

I was hoping you wouldn't take that as a personal attack.

In all fairness, many of us make bad choices because of the people we love. We know it could be better, but we have difficulty saying no.

I'm still kicking myself in the ### about my daughters wedding. $$$$$ And I saw that train wreck coming 6 months ago. But I had hoped the ex had gotten better in her financial responcibilities. But nooooo. So that burden was left to me and other family members who helped.

Thankfully, my current wife understands what the plan is and is onboard the train. She still tweaks me though. When she thinks I'm being too cheap LOL.

 

I did not see it as a personal attack. I think we have a lot in common.

 

I guess we can pat each other on the back for awhile LOL

I often think about leaving the industry. Then I think about what I would have to give up.

The money is good, it has been better. But that's not what keeps me here. It's the control of time, that keeps me. I can take time off at seemly odd periods for the general public. It doesn't always work out that way. But it does more often than not.

I enjoy being able to tell my sister/mother/wife/kids YES, I want to go rent a cabin on the lake with you guys next week. Let me call my dispatcher, and see if I can get the time off.

And Deer season ? OMG !!! My dispatcher informed me on my first day deer season opened on July 1st, and closed on June 30th. My kinda guy

But like you, I worry about these new guys. Not so much about their intentions and their desires. But how much they are being taken advantage of. And most of them too scared to say no, for fear of losing the only job they could find.

That too will change, soon enough. And just maybe some of them will come out the other side of this recession, with open eyes. And plan better for the next one. And we all know there will be another.

 

I posted a message on another discussion group and was referred to this forum. I am questioning my husband's explanation as to why he makes poor pay when he is driving alone but when he has a student he makes very good pay. It is important to notice that when he has the student, my husband is only driving about one hour a day. I can tell that he is doing this by looking at the logs that Werner sends to the house. This always happens when there is a student, pay is good. Without a student pay is bad. My husband has been doing this job for three years. Without a student he drives about 5 to 6 hours a day. This past week my husband drove without a student and made $214 for seven days. He tells "its the runs" the dispatcher is giving him. This makes no sense. Every time he has a student, the student is driving fulltime with hardly any driving done by my husband. What is the difference if it is my husband or the student driving? My husband 's explanation doesn't add up. Can someone PLEASE shed some light on what is really going on????