Quote:
But I still can't imagine being paid less than $13 per hour to do something that many people, drivers and non, would consider very dangerous work. See the chart on page 5:
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf
You've got an 80,000 pound behemoth under your hands, specialized training, and more responsibility than anyone else on the road. Watching out for 4 wheelers, dealing with weather, dealing with DOT regs and possibly getting smacked with huge fines that the company won't pay for, having to chain up and run in winter because dispatch wants you there tomorrow, etc., demands a lot more than less than 13 bucks an hour.
Originally Posted by DoubleNickel55
$55,000 per year at 70 hours per week would work out to about $12.22 per hour straight time, assuming two weeks of vacation per year. And I'd think a truck driver would make this after getting 1 or 2 years of experience under his belt.But I still can't imagine being paid less than $13 per hour to do something that many people, drivers and non, would consider very dangerous work. See the chart on page 5:
http://www.bls.gov/news.release/pdf/cfoi.pdf
You've got an 80,000 pound behemoth under your hands, specialized training, and more responsibility than anyone else on the road. Watching out for 4 wheelers, dealing with weather, dealing with DOT regs and possibly getting smacked with huge fines that the company won't pay for, having to chain up and run in winter because dispatch wants you there tomorrow, etc., demands a lot more than less than 13 bucks an hour.
I don't consider truck driving any more dangerous than driving to work every day. It is all about your perspective. If you want to work 40 hours per week and make $300 then by all means, go to McDonald's or any of the other fast food restaurants and they will fix you up. This is not a business for everyone. It takes a certain type of personality to make it work. Unless you work in one of the specialized segments of the industry, you won't be doing a lot of physical labor. Most drivers don't chain up unless they run in some parts of the northwest during winter. Even then, it isn't always a requirement. You can always wait until the roads are cleared.
Driving relaxes me. I would think that many of those who have been doing this for a number of years feel the same. There are frustrations, as with any job, but the pros have always been greater than the cons in this business. So what if you work 70 hours in a week. It isn't like you are working on an assembly line or standing on your feet all day for those hours. You get to see this great country of ours and someone pays you to see it. This business pays drivers based upon their performance. Those who are the best performers earn the highest income. You are never limited by an hourly wage, unless you choose to work locally. You always have the opportunity to buy your own truck and earn more money. You can build your own trucking company or fleet of trucks and don't need a college degree to do it. Most experienced drivers like the idea of being paid on performance. I don't see that changing. If you don't like the way drivers are paid then there are other professions that you might enjoy better. Go to college and spend 4 years and you can get a decent job in another field. You may or may not make more money than your average truck driver. You will likely have someone looking over your shoulder. That isn't the case with otr trucking. There are many college graduates who have come to trucking as a career. It is one career that you won't be forced to retire as long as you can pass the dot physical and have a clean work history and mvr.