Will Wage and Hour Rumbles... Affect You?

I don't think you see the irony in your own post

 

Do you run a business? Do you have employees?

I've never had a job where I was paid to take a break. When I was a corrections deputy I was on duty my whole shift. No breaks, no lunch, you eat while on duty when you get a minute.


In trucking I see it as you don't work, you don't get paid. I'm paid percentage, I see at the end of my night my 30 minute break and fueling the truck are just factored into my pay. I know it's not, but I see it as what has to be done to get the job completed.

When you get hired on and they tell you, "we don't pay you to fuel or for breaks" and you say "ok", then you have no right to say "hey, I now want to be paid for sitting on my butt not doing anything and fueling the truck"

 

Hi DD,im down with not getting paid for fueling,pre/post trips checking in if we could log all that as off duty.Don't you think since employers won't pay to have all that is done everything should be logged off duty and driving?People keep saying drivers this drivers that,what about the employers they're getting compensated for every single thing.Far as brakes I agree we shouldn't get paid for that.Min wage is suppose to be going up drivers pay should also be factored in somewhere with that law.We are the most underpaid occupation there is.Some companies have never increased their driver pay since I started back in 2002.Don't say you don't like it find another job jazz,that does not fix the problem.Thats one of the lamest lines in this industry.All drivers want is to be respected and noticed for the hard work they do.Many loyal drivers to their companies but companies can't see that.You cant tell me companies can't afford to pay a decent wage for the hard wok drivers do.There is way more unhappy drivers then happy ones.You're getting paid good money otherwise you would be defending the drivers of America that wants decent pay to support their family, bills and living on the road.Sure they can find another job but whats the point its the same thing.Many drivers love driving van love reefer but hates the pay.For the newbies they get paid a straight salary while training no matter how many miles they drive.Its pretty bad teenagers are making more then some of the drivers are and working less hrs.Like I said employers are making money for every single thing drivers should be too.They're the ones that's dishonest how they do business with drivers and trainees.

 

You know Patty, you are right with some of the stuff you say but I look at it like this, when people have great expectations to make big bucks and they find out that there is a learning curve and the money isn't what it supposed to be like that some guy who has been driving for the same company for 15 years is making, then they become disillusioned. Too many don't get that they are compensated for all of that work, pre-trips and so on, because it is part of the job as the regulations state. No one is going to force a shipper or receiver to pay for a driver to wait to be unloaded, that would hurt that company in the long run.

On top of that, there is the personal factor involved. What I mean is I look a driver who can be two different people, one is selfish and only for themselves - they seem to complain about how hard this job is, how unfair it is and so on. while the other one is one willing to overlook the BS stuff and get the job done. The latter is also the type who seems to understand that it may take him/her a few turns around the block to find a company that they fit into and understand that the company's culture isn't going to change for them but they have to find one that they can adjust to. The former is the type that goes to another company, finds out they do the same thing and get mad.

The adage of if you don't like it, then find another job actually isn't BS, it is fact that many people can't work with one company or another and ends up being frustrated when all they have to do is move. With our system, employment is easier than it is outside the industry, if people stopped with crap that screws their chances to move, then they could easily move. I don't include those who have other issues and are angry to begin with.

This is personal observation interviewing drivers and having them drive my trucks.

The union tries to equalise all of this but fails.

 

when I was otr I was paid mileage, I never claimed detention because I'd have to log it on line 4 which would just burn my 70 and for what? $15/hour. No thanks. I'd rather keep the wheels rolling and earning more money.


I'm only paid for working, and when I was otr I had the same thought.

my thoughts were, if I'm not working, I shouldn't be paid for it. I define working job by job. So otr, to me, was when the wheels were turning. While local now I count work as hauling fuel and delivering. Fueling the truck and pti I don't count. It's just my way of thinking. I favor in the companies view points, I think of it as "If I were the owner and I was out here working, what would I be paid for?" Customers aren't going to pay you for fueling your truck.


Since Im paid percentage, I look at it this way. If I get paid $40 for a load. I count driving to the rack, loading, driving to the customer, and unloading as what I'm paid for. The less time I take, the more per hour I make. Some nights I average $30/hour. Some nights I average $15/hour. Though since I'm not hourly, I don't and can't compare it to an hourly job.


Patty I know I went off topic, I appologize. Though I agree with you on a lot of things we also see differently on several points.


there are companies that will pay you for everything you do, even sleeping in the truck (walmart I believe), but I don't work for a company like that and a lot of others don't either.


I'm a strong believer in working for your money.

 

From this post here you work smart not hard.Meaning you know how to make the HOS and pay work to your advantage.

 

I have to ask, why isn't all of us veterans as one voice demanding that those entering this industry learn how to work smarter?

 

Heck veteran company drivers don't work smart like DD does.Im going to start asking him for advice,lol.As company drivers getting paid by the mile and low pay at that a lot of the newbies or rather most have no clue about the industry because they don't come to forums.They listen to eventhing the recruiters say on the phone and at the schools.In this industry the way companies treat drivers with low pay and low miles its hard to work smart.