400,000 TRUCKING JOBS AVAILABLE...Here's why.

unskilled? lets see a unskilled (driver) and i use that word lightly haul a 85000lb excavator down the road and order the permits and route themself and secure the load properly and navigate through traffic and keep their equipment up and oh heck you get the point and ill show you an honest liar.

 

Please refer to my last post (the one just before yours).

 

point taken arrogance is bliss.

 

I am quite happy with a thousand take home pay. Yes it only ends up being about 13.50 per hour, but they are my hours. I drive Company truck also. so none of my money going out into the expenses I did the "skilled labor" thing.... to much stress. give me the truck and my Sat. radio and I am content.

 

lets be realistic,unskilled means pretty much one dont know jack swat!!! but now that you hold a "federal licence" your driveing a vechical that most arnt able to drive,,so being unskilled haveing to do math to figure your hours and your payroll and controlling 80,000 lbs is not unskilled my friend,the unskilled are the azzhats that are driveing around you,besides trucking iv operated almost every peace of dirt equipment there is building roads and bridges,,,,,,unskilled in my book is some one that runs a shovel all day,and you have to direct them to scope the dirt up and place it here,, but the gooberment might see a truckdriver as unskilled till they put there butts in the seat and make it move!!!!! just my opinion

 

wait till oboob passes his cap and trade laws ,,,,and your paying big to the goober ment

 

This might be a valid criticism of JChors, and then again, it might not be. Perhaps he hasn't been fortunate enough to have found the right profession for himself, but to suggest that he's looking for the next best easy buck, is invalid in my opinion.

As far as putting your statement in context with my own personal situation...... I'm not looking for the next easy slice of bread..... I'm looking for the right slice of bread. I didn't job hop while I was driving.... I worked for only one carrier, Schneider (which makes it a little easier to understand why I didn't hop around..... of the mega-carriers, they're pretty tough to beat). And, because I'm looking for the "RIGHT" slice of bread, explains why I'm going back to my original chosen profession. The only reason I left my chosen profession, is because, my profession decided to leave me (battered, bruised, and bleeding by the side of the road, as it headed for ASIA). But, I've recovered from my wounds, and now it's time for some PAY-BACK. Look out Asia, HERE I COME, and you ain't gonna like what's going to happen to you.

 

Great post.. There is indeed a lot of "un-skilled" labor in this industry but overall the skill most experienced drivers have is second to none.. To me, it's yet another case of the 20% ruining it for the other 80% just like everything else..

Great post Working Class Patriot..

 

Welcome to the Great Depression.......

It was 1999-2000 they manipulated the stock market with "stock options"
Gave credit cards to whoever had a pulse..predatory lending

Then we need a war, reason to re direct focus.. 9/11

2004-2008 again to the housing and STUDENT and mortgages. Predatory lending.
Now to the leases trucking companies offer. Set up to fail and they make money no risk to them. Same game new players.

I had a trucking business from 1989 to 2001. Parked my trucks 1997 and went to work for RPS which became FEDEX. Stopped making good money in 1995 and it got worse at FEDEX as a contractor. Sold that and went into heavy construction as an operator and grade setter, union. Good wages but now no work for 2 years.

If the trucking industry paid what it should, the inflation would destroy us quicker than 1931.

SOOOO the big trucking companies and government have a way to keep the cost of goods down. FSA2010 and keep wages down. The trucking companies gathering the "school money" by dis qualifying "students" and collecting both from them and the gov't grants. Replace the drivers with low wages, cpm to start.

Sad what it has become, but it started with the liberation of Afghanistan in 1989 and having them come over and run the trucks for next to nothing.

Now having said all that I am 50, and going to go to school at FFE in Pine Bluff with my eyes open. I am broke, lost my house of 21 years, have child support for kids I do not get to raise due to the "ugly divorce" here in California.

Will it change??? Do not know, but America needs to produce for America again, not Mexico or Asia. That still is not happening, Wall Street again has ruined America with greed.

God help me and help us all.

 

Just wanted to add my two cents to this discussion. I just finished truck driving school and obtained my Class A CDL. In truck driving school I learned a number of skills and had to prove my driving proficiency in DMV tests. I'll be learning more skills over time on the job. To call commercial driving "unskilled labor" is a disservice to professional drivers.

I worked 30 years in "white collar" jobs and dealt daily with office politics, in-fighting, deception, backstabbing and considerable amounts of B.S. and nonsense. I think every occupation has its share of B.S.

How do you get away from the B.S. in an office job? - bathroom visits, lunchtime, sick time, vacation - that's about it. You are in the human "swamp" minute after minute, hour after hour, day after day, week after week and month after month.

I'm not saying it was all bad - I had some good, rewarding experiences and many friends. But it's difficult to escape the daily loads of B.S. and nonsense in an office environment.

I believe the B.S. is not as constant in professional driving. A driver has periodic contact with dispatchers, shippers and receivers, etc. I can imagine some truckers may "fume" about the B.S. while driving which would take its toll over time. Part of this may be the driver's attitude and expectations that have been explored on this forum.

I'm entering the trucking industry with eyes wide open and a positive attitude. I look forward to the open road and the opportunities for some "alone time". I'll hone my driving skills and be the best professional driver I can be.