NEW DRIVER PAY

How much experience do you have?

 

Who's, "WE" - do you have a mouse in your pocket? I get $30/hr, home in my bed most nights and weekends off. Stuck in traffic? I get paid. Waiting at the DC for the trailer to be ready? I get paid. Pumping fuel? I get paid. Classroom training? I get paid. Driver facing camera? You want to see my junk you need to purchase a subscription to my LoyalFans account.

You get what you're willing to settle for. Apparently, you're willing to settle for cpm. It can take 20 minutes or 4 hours to cross Portland on I-5 (I-205 interchange to the Washington state line). Worst case, even at a dollar a mile you're getting $20 for FOUR HOURS. I'm getting $120 unless it's OT then it's $180. Seattle, Sacramento and LA are WORSE!

New drivers have little to no bargaining power because they're a liability. >90% don't last 6 months. Those that stay have a much higher rate of accidents, incidents and tickets than an experienced driver would have. They're not in a position to be making demands. Yes, some starter companies get strange with the change and have idle restrictions and other forms of needless oppression BUT it's easy (and free) for a potential driver trainee to find out about all that by reading here and on other forums and websites. Choosing not to do research before you sign a contract is NEVER a good idea.

Why does this thread remind me of that viral video a while back where the driver was ramming his truck into a loading dock repeatedly and then a week later we were supposed to feel bad because he was having a stroke at the time?

 

Yea, work for what you want, it's the way to earn respect and open doors. These people whining about starting wages are the trucking equivalent of fast food workers wanting skilled labor wages.

 

I don't see it as Harold whining.. I see it as he's right. A lot of drivers are getting whizzed on stepped on because they are suckas, which keeps all our pay down

 

Then he should put a new driver into a $160k tractor, with a $40k+ trailer and put his money where his mouth is.

 

I can't argue with a man who I don't know... other then I know is he has a real sharp looking pitbull.... but.... Harold is right. These dopes working for crappy rates with a smile on there faces are driving our pay down. I have a real good job, but I hate these mother fuuuckreeers.... I'd love to park my truck and never see them again... but they got me by the balls... if I leave I'll be lucky to make half what I make now. I know it's tough out there. And I know I'm sitting pretty where I'm at

 

4 years recently, CDL 1979, 0 PSP, 0 moving violation. No DOT accidents.

 

Those years of experience net better pay and benefits, they are rarely given to trainees. I won't argue that low wages hurt the industry, I've turned down enough brokers in the last 9 months because they want me to work cheap. However, a driver in their first couple of years should be looked at as a paid apprentice. They're making low wages because many of them will destroy equipment, and/or leave the industry while costing their employer money. Most skilled labor jobs you pay to go to training/ school for and only if you're lucky do you earn any money in that first year or two. Hell, it's bad enough replacing tires/patching then because you can't avoid road debris, I'd never put a rookie in a truck to pay for his education.

Now I get to go play with the idiots on I-10 going into Florida, it's like they were taught to cut off trucks then slam their brakes down here.

 

Pretty much daily ... Seen whole sections of Walmart empty, from produce, to canned good to water.

Go west of the Mississippi and TA seems to be having a heck of time finding fueling companies that keep enough drivers to deliver fuel.

 

Ryder has a flat bed job for 1635 a week.