alx, obviously has never gone through Toronto in a truck & watched (Mostly in fear and awe) the idot Torontonians barrel in and out of traffic just barely missing your bumper only to slam on the brakes & skid to a stop right in front of you. Someone stated earlier there is no shortage of drivers & I firmly believe that & have for a lot of years. Only drivers willing to work for nothing. For ei. a factory worker & we'll use the term worker loosely because if you walk through a auto plant you'll see what I mean, if he had to work for driver wages & hours or conditions they'd all carry signs. Based on the increases of wages for auto workers & politicans from 1970 til now the average driver would earn 75 - 99 cents a mile plus benifits & O/O would get $5.75 - 6.75 / mile. There's no shortage never has been, just shortage of decent rates and pay.
Carriers already experiencing difficulties finding drivers and O/Os, CTHRC study show
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2
Or on the other hand , take home after taxes close to $55,000.00 with very little eduction.
That is comparable to what professionals take home after having spent 8 years in college.
It all depends on your perspective. To be able to earn that amount of money you have to be good at what you do. It is no different for a driver.
Let's not get carried away about the training, A forklift course for a week end , a HAZMAT course for a day . a FAST- Twix card and so forth are not a substantial investment in time.
I myself had 7 hours training in a truck and had never seen anything but a 4 speed sincro before passing my CDL on the 1st try after a week of theory. First job 2 weeks later and was scared to downshift a 15 speed from MTl. to Waterloo Ont. Never stopped between here and there. Was a pro on my way back!(at least not shaking)
Driving is not that difficult a job , the hard part in making good money is self control and excellent time management skills. This is what is lacking in most of the drivers that cannot make ends meet.
As one of our collegues mentioned earlier , the step to O/O requires business acumen and that is harder to come by.
Re: $55000 after taxes. ................. What you been smoking? Wanna share?
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Buzzy & rockwill
Drove over the road for several years, went through TO twice a week.
Stopped over the road because my daughter did not know me, I know what I am talking about
Never had a problem, if I was stupid enough to go through between 7:30am and 10:00am or between 3:30 an 6:30pm I deserved what I got.
Toronto is the biggest cluster !!!! in north America , I will take New york City any day over it.
Again this comes back to time management.
And Buzzy I will have an opening in 6 weeks if you want to work and earn what my drivers do you are welcome to apply.
As for your auto worker, we had a retrained painter from the GM plant in St therese with us for 3 weeks, training of 6 months paid by our wonderful State.
Worst driver we ever had. Had no Idea as to what he was getting into. I doubt he is still behind the wheel. He actually had work to do that was not at a snails pace!!
I have yet to meet an ex construction worker that thinks this job is hard or under paid, and they make some of the best drivers
Drove over the road for several years, went through TO twice a week.
Stopped over the road because my daughter did not know me, I know what I am talking about
Never had a problem, if I was stupid enough to go through between 7:30am and 10:00am or between 3:30 an 6:30pm I deserved what I got.
Toronto is the biggest cluster !!!! in north America , I will take New york City any day over it.
Again this comes back to time management.
And Buzzy I will have an opening in 6 weeks if you want to work and earn what my drivers do you are welcome to apply.
As for your auto worker, we had a retrained painter from the GM plant in St therese with us for 3 weeks, training of 6 months paid by our wonderful State.
Worst driver we ever had. Had no Idea as to what he was getting into. I doubt he is still behind the wheel. He actually had work to do that was not at a snails pace!!
I have yet to meet an ex construction worker that thinks this job is hard or under paid, and they make some of the best drivers
10
So beat up everyone you want, but if you don't like it get out. I'm sure you will find a much better paying job out there in today's workplace. (not)
What's a driver worth to you in today's market place PackRat? What's a local city guy worth? What's a highway guy work that's gone 5/6 days a week?
Just some quick Math for this almost unrealistic 55000 driver take-home.
Before Taxes: (25%) $68750 (even more unrealistic @ $.40/per mile, this driver would drive 171875 miles or 3580 miles a WEEK!!!!!!!!)
But even if it was possible..... 3 logbooks...etc.
12 months or 52 weeks * 5 days * 24 hrs (away from home) = 6240 hrs away from home or on the job.
$68750 / 6240 hrs = $11.01 per hour .
Now you add your meals, showers, laundry, etc... as your expenses on the road.
The big question here is can you expect anybody to take this numbers seriously and still call it a job.
Before Taxes: (25%) $68750 (even more unrealistic @ $.40/per mile, this driver would drive 171875 miles or 3580 miles a WEEK!!!!!!!!)
But even if it was possible..... 3 logbooks...etc.
12 months or 52 weeks * 5 days * 24 hrs (away from home) = 6240 hrs away from home or on the job.
$68750 / 6240 hrs = $11.01 per hour .
Now you add your meals, showers, laundry, etc... as your expenses on the road.
The big question here is can you expect anybody to take this numbers seriously and still call it a job.
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Walter K
You really seem embittered and your math does not work.
First you really have to get a grip on what you want to be paid for. In your calculation you seem to want to be paid for sleeping as well as driving.
Is this a current practice in other industries?
Why does the time away even come in to question? You chose this vocation and when you run long haul you are away from home.
Laundry , eating and such on the road are all deductible expenses, does a factory worker get that benefit?
So lets get real:
Example : $ 50,000.00/ year over 50 weeks max driving ( Vacation ) will leave you with $200.00 net per day.
Wash clothes once a week= $10.00.
Prepare your trip and prepare your lighter meals ( breakfast - Lunch) you would have to pay the same amount at home.
Have a good supper at any truckstop or diner for $20.00 ( again tax deductible)
Pay = $.29/mile
Expense allocation = $ $.08/mile
Trimestrial safety / performance bonus : $.02/mile
$ 25/ pick up and drop ( all) - 6 to 10 drops a week
$ 18/hr waiting time after
Drive anywhere from 2700- 34000 miles/week.
70% repeat customers.
All of these loads are run legal and drivers are always home one day a week end for their 34 reset
This is pretty standard pay for any reputable carrier.
Now do the math and see what you come up with !!!
You really seem embittered and your math does not work.
First you really have to get a grip on what you want to be paid for. In your calculation you seem to want to be paid for sleeping as well as driving.
Is this a current practice in other industries?
Why does the time away even come in to question? You chose this vocation and when you run long haul you are away from home.
Laundry , eating and such on the road are all deductible expenses, does a factory worker get that benefit?
So lets get real:
Example : $ 50,000.00/ year over 50 weeks max driving ( Vacation ) will leave you with $200.00 net per day.
Wash clothes once a week= $10.00.
Prepare your trip and prepare your lighter meals ( breakfast - Lunch) you would have to pay the same amount at home.
Have a good supper at any truckstop or diner for $20.00 ( again tax deductible)
Pay = $.29/mile
Expense allocation = $ $.08/mile
Trimestrial safety / performance bonus : $.02/mile
$ 25/ pick up and drop ( all) - 6 to 10 drops a week
$ 18/hr waiting time after
Drive anywhere from 2700- 34000 miles/week.
70% repeat customers.
All of these loads are run legal and drivers are always home one day a week end for their 34 reset
This is pretty standard pay for any reputable carrier.
Now do the math and see what you come up with !!!
alx, all I can say is we can agree to disagree on what is realistic in your numbers. After all, the economy will dictate the rates and they will automatically prevail over everything else. I am sure there will be some more opinions on this whole issue, but I will not comment any more as it is pointless and it may go forever..
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Walter K
I am simply stating a fact.
This is how my drivers are paid, and hence why they are still here.
All of our drivers go beyond what is expected of them, everyone works as a team.
We have been working together since 1994.
I am simply stating a fact.
This is how my drivers are paid, and hence why they are still here.
All of our drivers go beyond what is expected of them, everyone works as a team.
We have been working together since 1994.
10
Wow. Neat thread.
First...Do you guys think it is just trucking that has had shrinking margins? Ask a farm equipment dealer what his margins are compared to 10 yrs ago, ask a printing company what the computer world has done to his business. Times are tough all over folks. We are not alone.
Second...my drivers gross between 60 and 70 per yr before road expenses. I know guys at other places making near 100, running legal...granted not not freight van...and with a grade 10 education or less.
Third...Owner ops have always baffled me in a lot of ways. There are some damn good ones out there that shop the market, know their costs, and operate a good, viable business. Unfortunately, there are too many guys that should have never left the company driver ranks. As someone else said, no business acumen. (7" stovepipes and chrome windshield wipers sure help the bottom line)
Its truly unfortunate that truck driving has such a low respect factor. Granted, a lot of carriers have helped cause it with lousy pay structures and general screwing, but with the right outfit, a person can still make darn good living vs their education costs, and still have a home life. A driver just needs to search out those companies. There are bandits all over.
Go get a pilot's license, and sit at WAWA airport for free waiting for your next flight to Red Lake. Sure, you get 60.00 per flight hour, but you might only get 3 flight hours a day...and after spending 50000 on licenses and ratings.
Its not just trucking folks.
First...Do you guys think it is just trucking that has had shrinking margins? Ask a farm equipment dealer what his margins are compared to 10 yrs ago, ask a printing company what the computer world has done to his business. Times are tough all over folks. We are not alone.
Second...my drivers gross between 60 and 70 per yr before road expenses. I know guys at other places making near 100, running legal...granted not not freight van...and with a grade 10 education or less.
Third...Owner ops have always baffled me in a lot of ways. There are some damn good ones out there that shop the market, know their costs, and operate a good, viable business. Unfortunately, there are too many guys that should have never left the company driver ranks. As someone else said, no business acumen. (7" stovepipes and chrome windshield wipers sure help the bottom line)
Its truly unfortunate that truck driving has such a low respect factor. Granted, a lot of carriers have helped cause it with lousy pay structures and general screwing, but with the right outfit, a person can still make darn good living vs their education costs, and still have a home life. A driver just needs to search out those companies. There are bandits all over.
Go get a pilot's license, and sit at WAWA airport for free waiting for your next flight to Red Lake. Sure, you get 60.00 per flight hour, but you might only get 3 flight hours a day...and after spending 50000 on licenses and ratings.
Its not just trucking folks.
Ralphthetrucker
Ralph, I think you are missing the point or more specifically, my point. What any driver is worth to me is irrelevant. It's what they CAN earn should they wish to seek out other employment if they are unhappy with their current situation. And do you know what? There isn't a blanket "net worth" of a driver. Do you think that all drivers should earn the exact same amount because they all have an AZ? There are many drivers out there that earn a good living because they work hard and work for the right company. And they don't let someone else tell them what their worth is....THEY decide what it is and THEY work for who they wish.
What's a driver worth to you in today's market place PackRat? What's a local city guy worth? What's a highway guy work that's gone 5/6 days a week?
Ralph, I think you are missing the point or more specifically, my point. What any driver is worth to me is irrelevant. It's what they CAN earn should they wish to seek out other employment if they are unhappy with their current situation. And do you know what? There isn't a blanket "net worth" of a driver. Do you think that all drivers should earn the exact same amount because they all have an AZ? There are many drivers out there that earn a good living because they work hard and work for the right company. And they don't let someone else tell them what their worth is....THEY decide what it is and THEY work for who they wish.
10
Ralph, I think you are missing the point or more specifically, my point. What any driver is worth to me is irrelevant. It's what they CAN earn should they wish to seek out other employment if they are unhappy with their current situation. And do you know what? There isn't a blanket "net worth" of a driver. Do you think that all drivers should earn the exact same amount because they all have an AZ? There are many drivers out there that earn a good living because they work hard and work for the right company. And they don't let someone else tell them what their worth is....THEY decide what it is and THEY work for who they wish.
You're absolutely right.
Some drivers are worth $25 an hour or more and some are worth $5 an hour. It is up to the driver to search out better paying jobs if that's the rainbow they are chasing. In the same respect, a carrier paying under $20 an hour has no business jumping on David Bradley's band wagon and complaining about the "mythical" driver shortage.