NEW DRIVER PAY

Right again. Back in the 80's I hear the average pay was $100k adjusted... I was still in grade school trying to get the girls to flash me their boobs so I'm not sure but what I heard.... and when I see these videos of drivers having a tough time out here and these muts are filming and laughing, I'm screaming at the video to help the poor dude out.. you sob.... then they pound their chest saying they are the best... makes me sick

 

A few times when I tried to help someone back in they couldn't speak English.
I even got backed into by a driver with a Mexican drivers license.

 

I hear you... it's a disaster out here. That non English dude and the dude who backed into you I bet were making crap pay and starving.... low pay low skill.

 

I believe truck driving it’s like any other skill or sport or whatever you might try to do. There’s naturals and then there’s those that have to muscle through it. I’m not patting myself on the back or trying to brag but I was a natural. Yes, even today three years later there’s still stuff I learned. And I still improve. But I was no trouble for the trucking company whatsoever from the very first load they assigned me. In fact the first week I ran, straight Outta training I did 3300 miles. In my first 18 months with the company I worked for I had not a single late load. Not a single blown tire, never bumped into anything, never cost them a dime.
Fast forward to the three-year point I’m still the same. Only better and I can drive even harder. I feel like I deserve as much pay as drivers with more Experience except one thing. They’ve been at it longer than me, and that loyalty to the industry probably does deserve a few more nickels than I get. But as far as a skill level goes and safety and all that, I think I’m about as good as you’re going to get. I will drive my truck anywhere, in any conditions, I Can maneuver it and position it and back it in and run tight loads with the very best of them. Why shouldn’t I get top pay?

This is how I summarized trucking companies in general. It’s a very simple concept. If you let them step on you and take advantage of you? Guess what? They’re going to do it. It’s part of their business model.

 

I run out of SW Washington - I've never seen or heard of the things you're describing before. I can't speak to the problems of WalMart or TA on the other side of the country but I have quit enough jobs from outfits that always, "need drivers" here are the red flags:

Slip-seating
PPM
Issues - whether it's a declined fuel card, a broken ELD or a dolly ON FIRE issues abound, managers are too busy, "managing" to be bothered with drivers silly little problems. You're on your own.
Ancient equipment. - I don't mean last year's Freightliner, I'm talking about multi-million milers nursed to last with trashed interiors. You'll see maintenance issues that just don't happen on a modern fleet (ie. drive shafts falling out and rolling down the street).

If you see or hear about any of these things at a potential future employer RUN fast! Companies that treat their drivers right and pay them well don't have problems finding drivers. Turnover at my current employer is around 5% - usually because of retirement.

 

I hate when my spell checker is not working when I'm making an internet insult

 

To be honest with you if you can't park you shouldn't be in the seat