What happened to wages in the trucking industry?

$100 today isn't the same as $100 yesterday. I remember years ago in 2012 driving to Buffalo, NY going to McDonald's for a Big Mac Combo paying $5.60 USD when it cost $8.99 CAD Ontario, Canada. Now that same combo cost $7.99 USD and $11.51 CAD. Inflation has taken a toll on all of us while in many cases for non unionized truckers decreased because of capacity. Also, foreign cld drivers will undercut the majority with this I will 'Do it for half the price b.s.' or haul a load next to nothing. No one can compete with that and it exacerbates the entire industry. I remember obtaining respect as a CDL driver back in the mid 90's and people showed a sense that truckers are needed in today's society. Now owning a trucking business and driving people look down at you as if you're nothing and truckers get a stigma of either being from a 3rd world country or some junkie struggling to keep a job. Younger teens when asked dont see a future in trucking as a majority. So this affects wages especially when in the 70's a trucker was a known as a prestigious career choice.

 

I'm definitely not the driver of 1980. I could break a nail changing a tire. I hate uniforms. Twix has two sticks, so I'm ok there.

Muscle-ing a steering wheel without power steering is something I can do, but I'm glad I don't. Maps? I don't miss relying on an atlas.
Throw hands? "Give me three steps, mister, and you won't see me no more."

I don't like paper paychecks, either.