What is a decent starting hourly wage for truck driving?

[kc0iv]

I'm not sure why, as a former or retired driver, you put yourself and others in this industry at the bottom of the workplace chart. In reality, I've always considered truck drivers as skilled or semi-skilled labour, depending on the type of job/route they had. When you hold many companies' pay scales to that criteria, they are underpaying drivers. That's why drivers with several years experience avoid the well-known crap paying carriers and drive for better companies or go out on their own.
To answer the inital question in this thread, in my area the average wage is probably around $15-$17 per hour, which I consider the minimum. Companies paying by the mile average .40cpm. $50,000 a year is probably the average, and many of my friends exceed $60-$65k.
And kc0iv, like you, I started driving truck back in the dark ages (before power steering and radial tires) went back to school and got a couple of degrees, and have been in and out of trucking since 1973. Your example of an airline pilot is a classic "red herring" style of debate that is high on hype and low on relevance. Truckers, compared to skilled or semi-skilled labour, makes a more rational comparison in the job market. Check what a millwright makes and than ask if a guy with 10 years accident-free OTR driving is paid a reasonable amount. Compare a new P&L local driver's wage with an apprentice mechanic, and that may be a reasonable comparison.
Truck driving is a profession that suffers the slings and arrows of outsiders all the time. It's worse when it's one of our own.

Professor I don't put then at the bottom of the chart by any means. I'd list truck driving as a low skill worker which is what the government also list this occupation.

Talk about a "red herring" to compare a millwright to truck driving is a real streak. First most millwrights are union jobs and secondly most millwrights serve in an apprenticeship program for 4 or 5 years. Look at qualifications for a millwright:

Education and training. Employers prefer applicants who have a high school diploma, GED, or the equivalent and some vocational training or experience. Courses in science, mathematics, mechanical drawing, computers, and machine shop practice are useful. Once hired, millwrights are trained through 4-year to 5-year apprenticeship programs that combine on-the-job training with classroom instruction, or through community college programs coupled with informal on-the-job training.

Apprenticeships include training in dismantling, moving, erecting, and repairing machinery. Trainees also might learn carpentry, welding, use of concrete, sheet-metal work, and other skills related to installation and repair. Millwright apprentices often attend about 1 week of classes every 3 months. Classroom instruction covers mathematics, blueprint reading, hydraulics, vibration analysis, conveyor systems, electricity, computers, electronics, machining, and instruction in specific machinery. Millwrights are expected to keep their skills up-to-date and may need additional training on technological advances, such as laser shaft alignment.
from the website: http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos190.htm

Now compare these requirements to truck driving at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos246.htm Not much. Don't you agree?

You said to compare truck driving to apprentice mechanic. Will that is a little broad. So I looked at Diesel Service Technicians and Mechanics One of better paying jobs. See: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos182.htm

As you see there is quite a bit more requirements for the mechanic than required for a truck driver. For which the they make $17/ hour ( $35k /yr ). About what a second year truck driver makes ($18/hour [$37k/year]).

Look I'm not against a truck driver making more money. But what I do see disturbing is people thinking their position is worth more than skilled labor.

kc0iv

[kc0iv]

By using the term "truck driver", you are painting the industry with a very broad brush. Yes, a "truck driver" could mean your dime-a-dozen OTR steering-wheel holders. But it could also mean a guy who's got 25 stops to get off his wagon in 9 hours battling local traffic. Or drivers in the oil patch and heavy-haulers/car-haulers with alot of specialized knowledge and experience required to do the job.

At first glance, $50k does sound like alot of money. And it would be for someone with no education in an unskilled 9-5 job. But trucking is more often than-not a piece-rate 7 day, 60, 70...even 80+ hour work-week with NO OVERTIME. Irregular work shifts. Living on the road for weeks (and weekends) at a time cooped up in a box away from family/friends. A much higher mortality and injury rate than the overall work-force.

$50k is often chump change for what is demanded by this job. Why do you think the turnover rates are through the roof?

ColdFrostyMug I don't disagree truck driving is not the best job. However, have been in the field for 15 years its not as bad as many would like to paint it. I've been in positions that are not much better for far less money that required a lot more education.

Try field service in the x-ray and/or patient monitoring. The average work week was 60-70 hours and for that I made around $10/hour. One mistake and it could cost a patient's life or cause thousands of dollars in damage to equipment. Take that x-ray you had taken just the tube cost $20-50k. And just one mistake and you can smoke that tube. Or hook up one lead wrong on a patient monitoring system can kill the patient. Add to all that driving 50-60k miles per year on top for the service makes for long stressful job.

kc0iv

[Orangetxguy]

Ok I drive team. I drive from NC-CA every week. So-cal base pay is 850. N. Cal is 900. then I get stops which isn't much 50.00 at most. You tell me where I can get these jobs making 1000+ per week. I'll be on my way in the morning.

You say we are cheaping the pay for all. Where are these jobs you keep talking about. Name some companies. I want a list.

Dude !! If you are turning one round to Kali every week, you should be knocking down at a minimum of $1150 per week.

[Orangetxguy]

There is a pretty good article about the cost of living at http://mercyman53.wordpress.com/2007...-and-expenses/ Once you read this article I think your concept should change.

As the article states from 1957 to 2006 the cost of living has gone up about 10 fold.

Now if you look at wages you see the same 10 fold increase. So in 50 years the cost of living vs wages have remained about the same.

Now why are more people having problems today vs 50 years ago? From the article:

There was a time in this country, not too many years ago, when people simply “made do” with what they had and could afford. With the advent of credit cards and cheap credit lines, people have been conditioned to get whatever they want, when they want it. There is no financial discipline or maturity to speak of. This ugly mentality is now being passed on the next generation who has been conditioned to have everything they want without working for it, saving for it or waiting for it.

Looking at at family of 5 ( as you have ) the poverty level is about the same as it was in 1957. So it hasn't change much. What has changed is how peoples spending habits have changed.

You ask what a truck driver was making in 1980. I don't remember exactly but it was some where around $10-12k per year.

You said "I know a couple of people in both fields, and they both make more than I do." And[ in my opinion both should make more than a truck driver. Both have a greater requirement for education and more responsibility.

We can go round and round on this subject and I'm sure neither side will yield.

I still say -- If someone wants to make more -- Then make themselves worth more.

kc0iv

In 1980 I made $27,385.87. In 1981 I made $33,895.36.

:shock: :shock: As for those with a "higher education" deserving more wages than a truck driver.... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: Why does someone whom has the higher education, and need's a truckdriver to haul the toilet-paper they wipe their ***** with, deserve more???

The ability to deliver TP safely, alone, makes my skills worth more !!!

[kc0iv]

In 1980 I made $27,385.87. In 1981 I made $33,895.36.

:shock: :shock: As for those with a "higher education" deserving more wages than a truck driver.... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: Why does someone whom has the higher education, and need's a truckdriver to haul the toilet-paper they wipe their ***** with, deserve more???

The ability to deliver TP safely, alone, makes my skills worth more !!!

Using your logic then a brain surgeon should be paid the same as a truck driver.

kc0iv

[Evinrude]

In 1980 I made $27,385.87. In 1981 I made $33,895.36.

:shock: :shock: As for those with a "higher education" deserving more wages than a truck driver.... :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: Why does someone whom has the higher education, and need's a truckdriver to haul the toilet-paper they wipe their ***** with, deserve more???

The ability to deliver TP safely, alone, makes my skills worth more !!!

Using your logic then a brain surgeon should be paid the same as a truck driver.

kc0iv

Kc0iv, if your making too much money as a truck driver ask your boss for a pay cut and leave the rest of us get a raise.

I my day 0f 2 hours of loadind and unloading for free are enough reasons to ask for fairer wages.

[kc0iv]

Kc0iv, if your making too much money as a truck driver ask your boss for a pay cut and leave the rest of us get a raise.

I my day 0f 2 hours of loadind and unloading for free are enough reasons to ask for fairer wages.

Evinrude had you been following the discussion you would have KNOWN I'm retired and have been for a few years.

As to your comment about getting a fair wage for loading and unloading I never had that problem. While I was a company driver I was paid a rate where loading/unloading was included. If the time was longer than normal I was paid an acceptable amount for waiting time. As a O/O I didn't accept a load that required long waiting time. Or I charged detection time. And I didn't go into an area without having a return load that paid what I charged. I was never in this game as a hobby it was a business plain and simple.

kc0iv