Interesting article about pay and shady companies

[EasyRolln]

http://driversmag.com/cover/owner_op..._brady_121306/

[Useless]

Very interesting article, Easyrollin!!

I am sensing the very early rumblings of a shift in the social and economic pendulum; I think that as more and more workers are becoming displaced, and affected by this "economy at all cost" mentality that has become increasingly prevalent, the winds of change will begin to blow stronger.

American jobs are being shipped overseas, and immigrant "guest workers" are being brought in to replace American workers. Now, it isn't going to happen overnight, but I believe that the people who's livelihoods have been adversely affected will take rise, and demand that changes be made.

Yes, I am aware that stockholders may "own" a corporation, but it is the people who are employed by a corporation who make it work, and produce the profits. Their stake is being severely diminished.

As an employer and as a business owner, even I can see this war that is being waged against the middle class. There are many economic venues (manufacturing, for one!!) where it has become impossible for me to invest and in, provide a living wage and affordable benefits program for employees, offer entry level jobs with potential for growth and promotion, turn a profit, and remain competitive.

Hopefully, that will someday change.

[Mackman]

Thats was a good read and i believe it is the truth show them the money

[classicxl]

good article. now if any body in management would actually pay attention to it things might change for the better

[kjax]

And I'd bet articles concerning "driver shortage" will continue to be the norm.

[-FlyByNight-]

Interesting indeed. I've listened to that guy on Sirius Road Dog Trucking. He's...um...different to say the least. However, I do believe he has some accurate points from time to time.

[Jason607]

Good read.

Well, I am on my second half of training, so I am a rookie driver. I kind of jumped on to trucking because automotive fell through the floor. I talked to several guys in trucking and thier paychecks were nice considering it was thier first year in the buisness. Now that I'm out there, I see why it isn't really that good of money.

Most jobs, you work 8hrs day 40hrs or so a week or at least in that range, when you go home, your home free, and there are not much worries. Trucking, well your home is the truck, but you don't have the same rights as if you were in your home. Every aspect of your day is subject to some kind of law. You don't have a second admendment, the fourth is pretty much gone. The truck is basically your home, but if it is a company truck, the company can give permission to search it, the landlord can't do this, but a truck owner can. I have talked to guys who said that the thier belongings trucks been turned upside down and everything questioned. No real reason for the search, just "random" or "routine" searches. We are not prisoners in a prison for some horrible crime. Very few companies will hire a person with a criminal record and any serious crime, you can't even get a CDL. Most truck drivers are law abiding citizens to the core.

[kingajo]

Yeah that was some good info. You know with the poor pay, getting screwed over by dispatch and what toward the end of my over the road career seemed like constant Law Enforcement harassment. There isn't a company out there today that could offer me enough to get back into a truck and drive over the road. The only home away from home that I want to drive anymore is my motorhome, heading for the coast or the mountains.


KINGAJO

[marcel27208]

If you ask me i think a "driver shortage" is good, less trucks in the area= more loads for me to choose from , less trucks on road= less trucks that can be blamed for an accident

[Sassy_1]

the aretical you read was for the O/O. Like most of the CB chatter is what I make and what do you make . O/O pay for all the cost, and get to right off less and less. If you have health insurance be happy, most can't afford it.

[Outlaw7577]

wow! somebody in the press is paying attention!,LMAO! about time!

[dtryanxpress]

Consider this: the average pay for a LTL union OTR driver is around $80,000 per year.

what does LTL stand for?

[Mackman]

Less Then Load or less then truck load. Companys like roadway, yellow, ABF, pitt ohio are ltl companys.

[Wolfhound]

Great article...

I have been getting sick of hearing about the "driver shortage"..

Especially, since it's coming from the ATA...

They do not represent drivers and could care less about us..

Like the article said, it's all part of their "secret evil plan" to bring in foreign workers that they can pay/treat even worsse than they already do the U.S. drivers..

I have been out here almost 10 years now, and I'll tell you what..

They can stick this job up their butts..I've had it with otr..

I am geting out of it, it's about as dead end as it gets..IMO..

I'm gonna find me something local...

They can keep this nonsense, the companies and the industry in general just seem to be in a steady state of decline..

[nsxman2001]

Great article..I think the trucking industry is going to get alot worst before its get better..Hopefully one day it will get back to the way it use to be..

[Phantom433a]

Driver shortage.....how long have we been hearing THAT one? In 2.5 years (after almost 25 years in a truck), I will be joining that 3.8 million myself. The wife will be out of school (nursing) and I'm going to change careers myself.