Doesn't at Least ONE Trucker Enjoy Their Career? Stop Whining!

He'll have to fight otherhalf for it.

 

10-4.... I figured that!!! And otherhalf's not gonna get off of his throne either. RowAshore might have to settle with being one of the court jesters....

 

You got that right. It´s now in a race to the bottom.

No they won´t, they´ll quit, as they have been. What is the average exp of an OTR driver today...6 months(?), what was it in 1980?

Not because they´re not tough enough, or can´t drive as well, etc., etc. but because their pay is so low.

Thirty five years ago this was a solid income middle class occupation. Now it compares to fast food places and on the horizon, Mexican wages.

The only question is how far they can drop the driver wages until no one will drive or public safety goes to an unacceptable low.

 

I strongly resent you calling this twerp an Old Fart. That should be reserved for those of us who have EARNED it.

 

This is still a solid middle income for those who come into this business. Most new drivers don't leave for the pay but because they can't deal with being away from home. People still earn a decent living in this business. I don't know many fast food workers who earn $30-35,000 starting out. That is about what most new drivers earn their first year as an otr driver. With only a year or two experience drivers can earn as much as $40-45,000/year. New drivers are so hooked on technology that they cannot stand to be alone with their own thoughts. Drivers spend most of their days by themselves. I happen to enjoy the solitude, but some don't. The reality is that most of those who leave this business do so for other reasons than the pay. It is easier to save face if you blame the reason for the pay rather than not wanting to be by themselves. Some miss being with their friends and families. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be home, but be honest about your reasons for leaving the business. Most of those who leave the business will be hard pressed to earn the same paycheck outside of trucking as they can as a driver. If you don't like the pay and think that you can earn as much at a fast food restaurant then there is nothing to stop you from going to work for McDonald's or any other fast food restaurant. Let me know how that paycheck compares.

 

Ah c´mon. My father drove a truck OTR 35 years ago, sole bread winner, raised 4 kids in a comfortable middle class home. Could this be repeated today...I don´t think so. He´ll be the first to tell you there is no money in trucking these days.

Work a fast food place M-F, deliver pizzas part time on the weekends. Still be home in your bed everynight and make as much as a starting OTR driver easily.

What´s average starting pay these days for OTR, 25 cents per mile? What will the average miles be over that 1st year be...2,000? How much time riding with a trainer will there be and what will be the pay? How much will a school cost to get the CDL in the first place...$5,000?

 

My sincerest apologies, Don...

 

But its okay for you to whine about truckers whining?...

 

Your training period should be from a few weeks to a few months from what I gather in talking to people coming into this business. I would expect miles to be high during a training period. Most drivers should average from about 2,500-3,000/week. During the slow time of year miles may drop somewhat and when business is good miles could exceed 3,000. I don't know of any job where you start at top pay. Everyone pays their dues when entering a new job or profession. Trucking is no different. One reason some may not do as well is because they move from one carrier to another. Every time you move you will lose 1-2 weeks pay, minimum. If you change jobs several times during a year then you will lose quite a bit of income. Perhaps it is more of a money management problem than a pay problem. No one is forced to work in this business. Those of us who do stick around do so because we enjoy it. If you have a good attitude, do your job, keep your nose clean, you should do pretty well in this industry.

I would think that most people in just about any industry feels that they are under paid. In truth, many are probably over paid for the effort they put into their jobs and the way that they take care of their equipment. In this industry, you can be making $40-50,000/year in as little as 2 years. I challenge you to name me one profession that you can enter with only a few weeks training and and no degree where you can earn that much money in only a couple of years. In fact, I would challenge you to name one fast food restaurant where you can earn $30,000 your first year or even with several years experience. About the only way you could earn $30,000 in fast food is to be a store manager and that would likely require a BS degree and/or several years experience in the business.

 

For the original poster. I have a good education and many years experience running companies. I could do other things rather than being in this business. I CHOOSE to do this for a living. I have a good friend who is also in this business. He also has many years experience running companies. He CHOOSES to do this for a living. Another friend has a MS degree and is a former college professor. He chooses to stay in this business. I have several other friends who also stay in this business. If we didn't enjoy what we do and earn a decent living doing it then I don't think that any of us would stay in the industry. Like all businesses we have our ups and downs. The last couple of years have not been one of our best times, but we have survived. I expect to continue to survive and prosper in this business for as long as I choose to work in it. I don't expect to get rich. Most people don't get rich working in any profession. But you can earn an above average income. It can be challenging at times. There will always be things that you dislike about any job. This job is no different. I think some people just like to whine and complain. It seems to be rampant in this industry. If I disliked this business as some profess then I would find something else to do for a living. I would not worry about listening to the whiners. They would likely be unhappy no matter what they did for a living. Some people just prefer to be unhappy.