Driving shouldn’t be this low of pay
Posted by eman8906@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 283 comments
What’s going on everyone. Anyone else notice how little drivers get paid? I’m not sure about yall but I been at 25/hr with two companies in the past 2 years.. it’s just simply ridiculous that most companies will not accommodate you properly.
Turbulent_Diamond352@reddit
lol I'm in cali I get payed per load. Work around 10 hours a day I did the math and make around 18-20 bucks an hour
deezkeys098@reddit
Holy shit do you live in your car? How do you pay bills living in cali
Turbulent_Diamond352@reddit
Yea bro I still live at home...25 and living at home. Ain't that a bitch...and I use credit card to help me subsidize my bills...
Snoo-6053@reddit
You can do good on $25 per hour as a truck driver. IF..... you get paid time and half at 40, and can average 60 hours per week.
That's around $90,000 per year before any bonuses. That's not bad if you live in a LCOL area.
This is similar to what I do hauling fuel local.
tinysavage@reddit
That was normal pay for non hazmat in Chicago 20 years ago. Until the 2008 financial crisis, when all the companies gave all the employees a pink slip. Then offered them back their job in the same envelope sans overtime pay.
If you are averaging your pay with overtime, I suggest you fix your spending pronto. A lot of drivers went through really bad times when they lost their overtime.
Snoo-6053@reddit
Lol no.... We can't only work 40 hours a week if we wanted to as fuel haulers
tinysavage@reddit
The jobs went straight pay. You could work 70 hours a week with no overtime. Just regular hourly pay. The companies found a way to not pay overtime, and everyone was screwed. Overtime pay means paid the hourly plus half the time after 40. Straight pay means paid hourly only.
Snoo-6053@reddit
My company could screw us on OT pay if they wanted, but no, they choose to pay us 1.5x after 40 hours. They pay us 8 hours + double time if we work a holiday.
Snoo_24930@reddit
A airplane Refueler at LGA before 2019 was 19$/hr. We now get 28$/hr which is a good rate I feel.
tinysavage@reddit
That was even low pay in 2019. Back in 2006 you would have been paid more. The companies are not transparent about pay. Many old timers are also thinking they are gatekeeping on trucking by not telling about tne pay they used to get. You would have been paid $22 per hour back in 2006.
Snoo_24930@reddit
Could be that the pay went down after 2008 but I've seen the pay stubs (I was talking to the boss and he originally told me) at least in 2019 they paid 19/hour. I'm 2018 it could've been really 100$/hour but I would not have evidence for that.
Living-Law-6918@reddit
I haul fuel local. I wouldn't dream of working for 25/hour. I bring home 2500 a week after taxes.
Snoo-6053@reddit
It all depends on where you live my friend. In the South you're not making $35/hr outside of some extreme outlier situation.
I make $28.10, but starting pay at my company is $25 on dayshift.
I could move to the PNW and make near $40, but cost of living would go up in kind.
Interested where you bring home $2500/week post tax, because in order to do that you are grossing $175,000 per year on a W2
Living-Law-6918@reddit
I live Washington State and I work my ass off. I run Spokane to Seattle daily. I get 70cpm and when my clock runs out I work local no ELD until my clock resets. I get paid 35 to load and 35 to unload. I get paid 15 to fuel my truck. I get paid 20 for split load and 20 for split delivery. Theres other pay as well I can't think of it all right now. Washington State also has no state income tax.
Wide-Yellow-696@reddit
Poor baby! Maybe go and get some type of degree instead of being 25 and still living home with mommy and daddy!
El_Jefe-o7@reddit
Ehat masters degree do u have?
TwinSpinner@reddit
He's a troll, just look at his comment history
BriskManeuver@reddit
It's pretty normal now in this economy. I used to when I was around that age too 5-6 years ago
Fluffy-Caterpillar49@reddit
What do ypu mean at home? Like with your parents?
Or your own home? Lol
Fishdude909@reddit
Fuuuuck that, I get paid by mile, load and by hour. No matter what is happening I’m making money and it’s roughly $40 an hour
Prestigious_Try_134@reddit
Same first driving job too
Swifty-1985@reddit
These types of jobs should be the norm but it seems taking advantage of the inexperienced is still the international norm.
Like you I'm getting paid km rate, loading/unloading rate, meal allowances, overnight allowances, demurrage rate. The only time I'm not making money is mandatory 7hr rest between days. 4000km week equates on average to around $2200 NET for 4 days on.
The good jobs are out there and those experienced among us hold onto them for dear life when we find them 😄
mvamv@reddit
Shiiiiiit you're getting screwed hard. I was making $20/hr as a local driver in the inland empire/Los Angeles area back in 2015/2016.
You'd be better off working in McDonald's.
Come to think of it, your boss might be lying about what load is paying, but then again, there's too many variables in this industry.
I don't know if you work local or intrastate up and down i-5, mainly metro areas or suburban/rural, if you touch freight or not, loading/unloading times, because all those things are factors into whether your paycheck is decent or not.
Turbulent_Diamond352@reddit
I work for ecology. Hauling trash to the landfills. Yea we get paid per load. 45 bucks per load. So if it take you 2-4 hours to do a load that's all you get paid my guy. There's days where it take 3 hours to drop one load off and all you make is 45 bucks. Monday I had to take in my semi into service from Irvine to LA I didn't get paid to take it or the three hours I was at the shop. Company's doesn't pay for any of that...
P3asantGamer@reddit
That job is trash
Turbulent_Diamond352@reddit
Literally and figuratively lol I haul trash🤣🤣
Swifty-1985@reddit
Yeah you're getting taken for a ride because you're inexperienced... Your employer is banking on you not able to make an informed decision as you're unfamiliar with general travel time between a set of locations.
I'd also check your employer is paying taxes or any other obligations because the ones who do piece pay arrangements are notorious for other shady business practices.
Ps I'm from Australia where companies generally pay employees taxes and superannuation (your 401k I believe) contributions as government mandated. Our version of what you're doing is hiring drivers as subcontractors but not informing them of their obligations to pay tax as the gross income earnings look more attractive on paper to the tax-uninitiated. Employees then get stuck with a giant tax bill at EOFY
Turbulent_Diamond352@reddit
Bro I've been driving for 3 years
Swifty-1985@reddit
Yeah cool. I'm at 17 so far...
robexib@reddit
If you're not getting paid by the hour, you're getting shafted when the truck decides to shit the bed.
mvamv@reddit
You need to find a new job man, that job is trash, literally and figuratively speaking.
Turbulent_Diamond352@reddit
Any good company's you can recommend? I have 3 1/2 years of driving experience. All my endorsements. No accidents and no tickets and zero moving violations
Tired_Montanan@reddit
Look into LTL. SAIA, ABF, Estes, OD, XPO, Central Trans, T-Force, CEVA etc should all start you at or above 30. In Most places 32-37/hr for P&D. XPO bids routes so you’d probably linehaul at night but the rest have P&D daytime routes you can start. Linehaul usually pays a lil better.
Medium_Chain_9329@reddit
Ferguson, (plumbing materials) they are everywhere. Might get lucky with them. Gnal lumber maybe? Just gotta look around. There's always waste management, cal trans, county or city jobs.
mvamv@reddit
I don't live in California anymore, and I was owner op for like 3 years before leaving that state. I don't know where you live, but my previous employer might be in need of drivers, look up RRL logistics, last I heard, they're in Rialto CA. I don't know if they pay decent enough for what you need, last I worked there was 2019. If you can't find contact info for them, feel free to PM me, I think I still have one or two contacts who's still with the company.
HighwayStar71@reddit
These MF'ers need to be taken all the way to the Supreme Court and that BS hourly pay exemption law of 1938 or whenever that trucking companies have been using to get free labor out of their employees needs to be struck down as unconstitutional.
Turbulent_Diamond352@reddit
Dude I've always wondered how they get away with screwing us...in any other industry it's illegal other than the trucking industry
Elodins_Haven@reddit
If they’re forced to pay us more EVERYTHING gets more expensive, and no one on either side of the aisle wants the stigma of raising prices. It’s political suicide as we all just witnessed. There’s nothing more American than cheap shit
socialrage@reddit
You know what would lower prices even more?
Slave labor.
BobdeBouwer__@reddit
Slave labor, it's gonna be awesome. I wouldn't call it slave labor though. It's freedom. The freedom of any driver to take a job or not. And that driver can pull himself out of poverty by working 5000 hours a year. The power will be in the hands of the driver. It's gonna be great:D
FlyNuff@reddit
Definitely not normal bro I think any other job would pay more
cheapesttesticles@reddit
Even mixer truck drivers make over 30/h in Cali. You should definitely look for better options.
daemonescanem@reddit
Alabama, mine varies since I make both per mile, and flat rate depending if its an in town run.
Typical range is $40 per hour for runs outside of Birmingham area, flat rate runs are $86.69 and take about an hour each.
USS_peepee@reddit
I had a job offer like that in Indiana. Dry bulk. Guy was like “oh first year people make 75-80k easy” did the math on the loads and it would be around 17-18hr which was a pay cut. Also it would be working like max 70-80 hours every week. Full 14.
I’m currently sitting at 86k on the year and around 45-50 hours. But I have a life.
Nelo92@reddit
$18-$20 driving Class A ? If you’re in LA considering driving buses. Metro city drivers making $80k+. Hell, school bus drivers making $30-$40hr
HighwayStar71@reddit
But school bus drivers only work a few hours per day and you have to deal with disrespectful students all the time. City buses I can only imagine what you're dealing with.
Mickey10199@reddit
Dadgum buddy I work for C.R. England in NC. Most days I average $27-$30 but even my worst days are $22-$23
Turbulent_Diamond352@reddit
Damn I really gota looks els where
12InchPickle@reddit
I agree. The issue is people will take it. Just like taking loads that pay low. Employers know someone will take the load or job. So they keep paying shit.
It’s outrageous, egregious, preposterous.
OneRadish3344@reddit
You could always call up Teamsters and ask them about unionizing the place but well, you know truck drivers. So since drivers refuse to do that, find something else.
I'm in that process now of finding another job and actually have interviews with two different Teamsters unionized places because I'm done with this shit.
ProudChoferesClaseB@reddit
best thing they can do is repeal the FLSA exemption so companies hafta pay OT after 40 hours in a week. that'll change a lotta stuff overnite, either they'll try to send you home after 40 or be stuck paying you fairly for all the extra work!
ScaryfatkidGT@reddit
Late stage capitalism
No alternatives and the other option is starving
rvilla1970@reddit
Yes, bc either socialism or communism are so much better. Nobody is forcing you to drive a truck. If you think the pay is too low, get different skills and better yourself. Or take the risk,and start your own trucking company and pay really high wages and see where that gets you.
xDoomKitty@reddit
Lol
Tru3insanity@reddit
Most jobs pay shit anymore and people still need to make a living.
Coompa@reddit
Taking loads that pay low like a hooker on sunday morning.
Beginning-World-1235@reddit
We’ve been smeckledorfed
Feisty-Season-5305@reddit
Hoodwinked
Nyx_Blackheart@reddit
Bamboozled even
lonelyboy069@reddit
Even yep
disturbedrailroader@reddit
That's not even a word and I agree with ya!
Todd2ReTodded@reddit
You get paid the amount of money you'll accept. I get paid more than 25 dollars an hour because I have to not smell like shit and can't claw the crotch out of my pants immediately. It's a give and take
jm_j_bullcock@reddit
It's ponderous, man. Fuckin' ponderous!
Naborsx21@reddit
"people will still take it"
Hello, I live in my truck and have 0 expenses besides this pos that keeps breaking down.
When it comes down to taking cheap loads or what? Being a tilt-a-whirl operator? Nah there's nothing else for me out there. I can pretend this is a decent life at $2.xx / mile lul.
stormiu@reddit
Most drivers are like this. Especially new, young and/or immigrant drivers. Myself included.
Why break your back in some lousy 9-5 when you can just sit there and drive with basically 0 expenses. Should driving be paid more? Yes, obviously. But it’s never gonna happen and you will just have to make do. (Thanks NAFTA)
I’ll admit that more specialized transports should probably see some inflation adjustment though.
Naborsx21@reddit
I mean, I've tried. I'm a college dropout that has done a bunch of meh jobs. Trucking is at least okay for me. After years of experience and saving up I own my own rig so I eliminate a lot of the bullshit. Meh I'd rather be making a little money and not listen to someone , nap when I want and generally be left alone.
If I can be profitable now which most people say the past year has been the worst freight market that's ever been.. then I'll always stay profitable. Well hypothetically..
Grand-Ad-965@reddit
Literally would have been making 30+ an hour at my last job by now if I didn’t go trucking (3 years now). Honestly I haven’t learned anything of significant value being on the road except for the grass isn’t always greener. I’m going back to my old job and maybe back to school. Hopefully y’all will get more money or ask since more people are leaving.
ConcernedCitizen7550@reddit
What was your old job?
ProudChoferesClaseB@reddit
FLSA exemptions, union busting, cheap immigrant labor and CDL mills, and instead of fixing all this the government is giving regulatory waivers to AI companies so they can try to replace us entirely.
that's just how america treats most of it's workers unfortunately, big business and big government collude to fuck us
DragonsHelm@reddit
Unionize boys!!!
downtogetloose@reddit
This is the answer.
Join a Union. Teamsters or Operators.
I’m a member of the Operating Engineers and am primarily a crane operator. Although I am not 100% truck driver, I do my fair share of it working for a Crane company.
$58/hr while splitting gears homies.
Outside of that, Teamster driver members make $30-$50/hr in the area.
Living wages for the PNW.
Wage scales may be less in other areas but will likely be living wages with benefits.
supergoosetaco@reddit
How do you get into that? Is your title actually an engineer or a crane operator or both?
downtogetloose@reddit
I’m primarily a crane operator. But there’s no shortage of truck driving that I do if my crane doesn’t have work that day. Pulling counterweights for larger cranes, boom sections for lattice cranes etc…
And like mentioned in other comment, find your local Operating Engineers local and apply for apprenticeship.
Theclerkgod@reddit
Ioue website
DragonsHelm@reddit
I’m a proud Teamster driving a straight truck. I work 4 days a week with every weekend off. I’m making over 31 an hour w great benefits and vacation package. I will never go back to a non union shop. In MD for reference.
I_hold_stering_wheal@reddit
I did otr for a year. I make more working at a warehouse and doing Uber in the same hours as driving truck.
I just wanted a job I could move around at. After 8 months I started looking at taking on more responsibility and applied for an apprenticeship. They pay for school room and board, plus my hourly wage. When I come back I’ll be making $26 an hour. After 10-12 months it steps to $36 + an hour. At that point I will likely still be underpaid and could probably apply to other companies and make more. Position caps at around $45 an hour
stephenforbes@reddit
I made $140 today doing rideshare after gas for 7 passengers and it took around 3 hours of drive time. When I drove for Amazon Southeast regional my pay was $180-$250 a day for a 14 hour shift.
supergoosetaco@reddit
What kind of apprenticeship?
I_hold_stering_wheal@reddit
Building maintenance on a tech heavy warehouse. Job looks pretty easy at first glance . The guys are happy and don’t seem to work to hard is what I’ve noticed.
CartoonistRelevant72@reddit
I'm a unionized yard dog. I have zero regrets not going over the road. We negotiate our contract every 3 years and just saw a nice raise due to inflation.
Just hunt around. There's always a diamond in the rough.
Theclerkgod@reddit
This is the way. I’m in food service lol making 42hrly all together with free benefits and pension
Cruzer2000@reddit
Do you mind sharing how the pension works?
Theclerkgod@reddit
You get pension after 3-5 years it starts accumulating towards your retirement aka vested. Pension acts as a 401k but it is paid out until you’re no longer living. It’s also pays monthly like a regular paycheck.
Cruzer2000@reddit
To my knowledge, 401K is invested in the market and you choose what amount you want to withdraw.
Is your pension also invested in the market?
Usually 401K returns dictate how much you will be able to withdraw monthly. Is your pension also subject to the same restrictions? If no, how does it work?
Theclerkgod@reddit
No, investments are handled by the company. In anyway shape of form that they choose. They just pay you x amount for x amount of years u have worked for the company.
Cruzer2000@reddit
That’s cool, thanks for answering
Theclerkgod@reddit
No problem bro 🫡
Usa696969@reddit
How much
BolognaIsThePassword@reddit
Fedex express was paying me less than 25 to drive class A. 53' trailers and not even no touch freight, we still had to use pallet jacks and load our own shit at a lot of stops. I moved over to food service and actually get paid real money now but it's a hard fucking job.
ThatOneHelldiver@reddit
It's pretty bad. I drive local flatbed for Lowe's. It's a Class A truck, touch freight and I have to load and unload using powered equipment such as a Moffett.
Whopping $20.67hr. In Dallas/Ft. Worth. I know non CDL drivers driving vans making more than me. Minimum for me should at LEAST be $26hr to $27hr.
JaviersitoSuavesito@reddit
You should stop driving local flatbed for lowes... look ibto class b driving. Concrete mixer is easy but hours are sporadic. You may start anywhere between 1 am and 7 am and work 8 to 15 hour days. Average pay 24 to 25. Theres also hydrovac that looks fun and pay starts closer to 30.
Outlaw11091@reddit
Higher.
I live in a 60k pop city that has a large population of truck drivers.
The worst job to take here is Lowe's/roofing supply companies....and they all pay $26/hr.
Casey's pays $30, Pepsi and coke are in at $32.
Living in Dallas should bump those pays up by...well, something considerable. DFW is fucking dense. You should be able to wipe your ass with $26/hr if you drive there every day.
Emergency_Ad1152@reddit
Overall Dallas jobs definitely pay a lot better than surrounding cities. He’s definitely getting underpaid.
Outlaw11091@reddit
Doesn't the rail pay pretty good?
Emergency_Ad1152@reddit
Yessir, especially car haul.
ThatOneHelldiver@reddit
Navigating some of the places I have to deliver to here can be incredibly taxing. Especially in older neighborhoods and downtown.
$20.67 isn't cutting it.
canviskillr@reddit
You can make $20/hr moving trailers around a yard in DFW... Do you have less than a year of experience??
ThatOneHelldiver@reddit
2 years.
canviskillr@reddit
Definitely getting underpaid for the area unless you just really need a certain schedule. I've been over 85k a year doing LTL or pulling doubles in the DFW area since 2017
Kaidenshiba@reddit
I talked to another Lowes driver, making 100k a year. Local. They're very hit or miss on the pay for their drivers. Seems to depend on the location.
Ok_Judgment3871@reddit
This but still dfw, should be way higher but ive seen they pay less than that in another city so not sure where thid 100k driver is.. ca?
Kaidenshiba@reddit
Washington/Oregon. I was offered the job in missouri and it paid 24 an hour. Ouch
Madmagician1303@reddit
I've worked same companyfor over 5 years now. Came in at top scale .605 cpm. Was decent in 2019 sucks in 2024. Run regional dedicated account. Easy runs laid back boss and 3 weeks vac.1year or less to retire so I'm not gonna quit but really over 5 yrs no raise for COLA?
JayGT1@reddit
Driving semi should be $30/hr minimum period. With all the responsibilities and stuff to be held accountable for ? And meanwhile some "jobs" up around $20/hr ? Yea the entire pay scale is out of whack yall
stephenforbes@reddit
US Express is advertising. 40 a mile in my market. It's a race to the bottom.
TruckinSongster@reddit
Starter companies can rob you because they know you need the experience... First chance you get, come over to walmart transportation! 30months experience with a combination vehicle, clean record, and you're gonna startvat $110k. A month of paid vacation, quarterly safety bonuses, new equipment, paid activities including layovers, and wait time...
Durty-Dan-193@reddit
You're getting paid by the hr?
Kiklanisune@reddit
Canadian here. used to run team usa Canada now I run single just Canada. Making basically 18-27$ an hour depending on weather. I'm in the mountains. 0.60 per mile sounds swell until I'm reminded it's in Canadian dollars and short stuff.
Don't feel bad though. I've moved home 6x over the years. I'm mid 30s now. Been homeless working ft also in service industry prior. My partner said had the industry been this way when he started he would never have stayed in it. Gov begging for drivers but now I know why.
hekahe@reddit
I make 24 an hour with 12 hour blocks. Maje my money from overtime. If it wasn't for that I'd been living in my car
Sad-Damage2019@reddit
Give it until January when a bunch of people get deported maybe some of them will be drivers thus increasing wages ??
rsqx@reddit
Not gonna happen, he was just saying that to get dumb people s votes, and remember Hispanics voted for the guy. He ll deport a dozen here and there and make sure it s on fox news
ReapOutOfMyMind@reddit
The issue is the CDL is easy to get. Truck driving now is an entry level job and not skilled trade.
Add on the fact others will take cheap loads. Newcomers will happily take the jobs. Then the fact most jobs across the board have been stagnant with the increase in inflation since the 80s.
XanJamZ@reddit
Been doing this for 5 years pays the same as it was when I started not including initial orientation pay periods.
Autistic_Armorer@reddit
Some days I'm at $10/hr. Sometimes I wonder how they can pay professional drivers like this. The problem(in my opinion) is that some drivers in my area are ok with low pay and the brokers/customers get used to that.
Longway23544@reddit
I’m getting accommodated properly
Overall_Reputation83@reddit
You can get a CDL in less than two weeks, and everyone in the US can drive an automatic vehicle, it either should be this low, or the DoT needs to require longer form more expensive training.
P3asantGamer@reddit
I'm getting 30 an hour, OT after 8 and a guaranteed 8 hours a day and OT whenever I want... and I still feel underpaid
PsychologicalFood780@reddit
I get paid 36.12 an hour. However, living alone in Denver with 2 dogs I'm barely scraping by.
AndromedanPrince@reddit
teach those dogs how to drive. they gotta help out
Horror-Situation2151@reddit
Met a guy at England who's been working for 10+ years at 37 cents per mile. I've been hauling for 5 and I get 35. Stay away.
AndromedanPrince@reddit
37 cents! oh hell nah
trucker96961@reddit
Holy hell in 1997 i made 36 cents/mi
ElectronicGarden5536@reddit
Dryvan doesnt pay well?? Since when???
AndromedanPrince@reddit
last tuesday
officejack@reddit
So you guys tell me that is my starting wage I'll pay guys $90-100k with 401 match and full health benefits. In a LCOL area, you guys would all flock here?
Because I've only met lazy drivers that like everything. I just said except driving a 10 or 13spd manual...
AndromedanPrince@reddit
ill drive your 10 speed for 100k. whats the catch?
Mmmdonutss94@reddit
Honestly just move jobs and try to find a union gig if possible. My Dad and best friend are truckers in Louisville,KY and one averages around $50 an hour at 50-60 hours a week and the other $36 an hour with 50ish hours a week. The one that makes $50 also works the dock while waiting on loads so that non of his time goes unpaid.
I’d imagine things would be better elsewhere? How is that pay even legal in California?!?!
mzc36@reddit
Look into LTL. I can’t imagine dealing with the bullshit that comes with driving a semi for $25 or even less. I’m in a medium cost of living area and the average across the board here for P&D drivers is around $35.
DW_TheTruckDriver843@reddit
LTL requires looading/unloading right?? (Serious Question).. if so, alot of us are too lazy for that 😂😂 as bad as it sounds.
mzc36@reddit
As a city driver doing pickup and deliveries, yeah sometimes it does. There is such a huge variety of stops you deal with at this job. Some days can be very challenging but for the most part it is very easy and either places with docks or simply moving freight to the back of the trailer to be unloaded. Definitely not the job for those who are lazy though, LTL linehaul on the other hand is easily six figure potential at any carrier to go terminal to terminal at night and still be home daily with the worst thing being hooking and breaking doubles.
FossMan21@reddit
I was going to mention the LTL pay. I’ve been at my current company for less than a year and make almost 36 an hour 40-45 hour weeks with possibility for more hours.
Choice_Manufacturer7@reddit
I've made as much as $50/h hauling anhydrous ammonia, and I've made as low as $30/h hauling asphalt.
I averaged about $32/h over 1.5 years of doing hazmat/tanker work. I also stayed on the road a lot, as much as 4 weeks out at a time.
When I had a home daily flatbed job, I was averaging about $28/h and wish I hadn't quit.
It's not that driving pay is low. Wages have stagnated for years. It's obviously just my opinion here, so don't be upset about it. The minimum wage should have been $20/h years ago.
robexib@reddit
I get $26 with overtime after 40 in a VLCOL area. 45 hours a week usually.
I don't make as much as a lot of folks out here, but I also have literally zero debt, and two weeks' pay is enough to pay for my entire monthly expenses. I think I'm doing alright. ¯\༼ᴼل͜ᴼ༽/¯
Lopsided-Walk-7743@reddit
Yeah I always thought drivers make a little above the average, which some do and a lucky few go beyond that lol.
I'm a few months away from coming up on my first year and OTR pay felt decent but was actually garbage if you factor in the 70 hours a week, like below minimum wage.
Got a local gig like 4 months ago that pays 28 an hour to pick up used oil, waste oil and hazmat stuff occasionally. I drive the little tanker truck more than the big rig now lol. Easy job but dirty job but im doubtful it'll ever increase in pay like OP.
R34CTz@reddit
Gotta work for smaller companies it seems. I started with Schneider, pay was pathetic. Now moving to a smaller company that pays .13 more per mile, gets way more miles, and multiple different bonuses on top of a much nicer truck.
Cfwydirk@reddit
$25hr LTL local. 12 hours per day $1750 per week plus benefits.
Top LTL pay is $35hr. at many carriers. 60 hour workweek = $2520 per week.
Not for everyone but, home every day, weekends off.
ThePeacekeeper777@reddit
Did you have to start on a BS 3am/4am start time, or start on nights?
My first home daily gig was fuel hauling & for a month I had to start at 4am with a trainer, and then the last week they wanted me to start at 2am....... for $19 an hour the entire time until I finished to get $24/h to work nights.. I went back over the road.
Cfwydirk@reddit
I am a LTL Teamster. I have worked days, nights, and weekends.
Every start time you can imagine. 55-60 hours per week. The last 8 years 8:30am start. 10-12 hours per day 55-60 hours per week. 55 hours work = $1800.
For this I got 100% company paid family healthcare premiums. Value $500 per week. My pension if 100% funded by the company. Value $3000 per month for 30 years of service.
I would have turned down the fueling job too. I can put up with the BS hours when the compensation meets my needs.
ThePeacekeeper777@reddit
Sheesh.. Isn't that every truckers dream? An 8:30am start time, home daily & great pay? I get why companies want early start times, but man... I could deal with 6am, but 2 & 4am for $19 an hour was miserable. I'm a late nighter type of guy cant help it & having to go to sleep by 8pm to get any sleep was depressing at 23 years old..
I think over half of all home daily truckers would be a lot better off mentally if start time was 7am at the earliest. I went home daily for some home life, and that home life was basically eat, shower & go to bed.. Why bother when I can work banker hours for 10 days out & 2-3 days off?
OneMulatto@reddit
27.92 garbage man. 10-12 hour days. Lots of overtime. Paid weekly. It's a cluster fuck most days but, I spent over a decade in foodservice delveries.
AGuyWithTwoThighs@reddit
I've been wanting to get into waste management, but I didn't even have 6 months experience yet >.> How bad is it when you gotta shower off the stink after work?
OneMulatto@reddit
I personally don't go hands on with the trash to much. I was a swing driver but, now I have secured a ASL (truck with the arm) route. Only time I touch a garbage can is if it isn't close enough to the curb or if I accidentally drop one while servicing it. You do have to get behind the blade occasionally but I keep that clean so it doesn't take me long.
You get used to the smell. Most garbage isn't reeking though. It only gets bad when people put tons of food in their garbage can and it's sitting outside all week until their pick up date. Other than that it's just normal trash that you or I would throw out. I will say that some people are nasty. Some people are very nasty and you can just tell by their garbage. Poor people usually have a lot of garbage and rich people keep their garbage nice and neatly bagged up properly.
AGuyWithTwoThighs@reddit
Thank you for the insight, that makes s lot of sense! I would imagine certain holidays, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, might have more food waste baking outside for ya.
I live in California, so I'm sure the heat wouldn't be kind to any food leftovers here
OneMulatto@reddit
Amazon has really fucked us because everyone talks about saving the environment but hardly anyone breaks down their boxes. Instead they shove or try to shove a huge ass box (or boxes) into their garbage can. It's fine. I can't say shit but it's stupid.
It makes us waste more fuel and hours because we usually have to break off and dump earlier. If people would break down their boxes more, the boxes would take up less space in our trucks.
And when I have 1300 garbage cans in 1 day, I can't stop and pick up everyone's trash they leave outside surrounding their garbage can nor do I have time to stop and pull your can down if you forgot to bring it out.
I do that one time and lazy people try to take advantage of it. Then your neighbors see me do yours then the whole town is leaving shit behind their garages or in the back yard. I can't stop and grab your can. It's not because I'm an asshole. I have 1300 or so more garbage cans to pick up in the next 4 counties. I gotta keep rolling.
And yes holidays means way more trash. A route that takes 6 hrs can now take 10. And that's just one out of the 29 routes we have daily. Halloween. Superbowls. Christmas. Any excuse their use to go out and buy more stuff, people do it and just throw it all away.
I judge people off their trash lol.
AGuyWithTwoThighs@reddit
Absolutely fucking judge them lol. I worked in a movie theater and grocery store, and experienced similar feelings of, "if people just put in a little effort, it would make such a HUGE difference in my day and help everyone out, collectively."
I can only imagine how much more frustrating it is when you interact with that many people's trash in a single day lol. Literally the most entitled part of people's lives: assuming the trash will always be done. Why would they bother putting any thought into it? Absolutely inconsiderate
BobdeBouwer__@reddit
I'm in Europe so can't be to sure. But I 'd be worried about unidentified trash. I know that people just put asbestos with other trash to get rid of it cheaply.
AGuyWithTwoThighs@reddit
It's probably the same over here in the US, honestly
DeathxEnabled@reddit
You gotta keep looking for a better job, after 6 years I finally found the perfect job. Home daily, pneumatic tanker(no endorsement needed) food grade material, and I work 6 days a week and I average $2200-2500 a week gross. I just hook up a hose and let the truck/trailer do it’s thing.
And to make it even better, I live in an area where the median household income is $42k, where just me I make around $120k. Living comfortably is an understatement
William-Burroughs420@reddit
It's been like this since I started in 1990.
Greed is timeless!
SOTF777@reddit
That’s why i sold 2 of my 4 trucks couldn’t pay drivers what they deserve with these shitty rates. If the market gets better than I’ll probably get another truck or two till then I’m a one man operation.
William-Burroughs420@reddit
These covid carriers are here to stay.
Word got out and everyone and their mother is still piling in.
1.5$ per mile is still more money then they've ever seen in their life.
Spankpocalypse_Now@reddit
I’m part of the problem. I work at a mega and make about $20 an hour on average. If not for this CDL, I’d be making $16 in a warehouse or restaurant. From what I can tell, 99% of people at my company would be in the same boat.
William-Burroughs420@reddit
Yeah I understand.
Us old hands have seen much better days.
Even on a bad day, you're ahead. I get it.
Take care
tdfitz89@reddit
Here in the Midwest I pull intermodal containers and get paid by the load. Depending on what goes on I average around 1100 a week with 1500 on a really good week. I average between 22-25 an hour.
It used to be really good before inflation got out of control. Everything has gone up except for what they pay me.
In the spring I am going to be looking to get on with my states Department of Transportation as a highway worker. They make 80k a year where I am at which is around 1700 a week not counting overtime.
Thebumonurcouch@reddit
Did you just join this Reddit? “Anyone else notice how little drivers get paid?” Nope, we’re all millionaires living the dream and have never posted about it on this Reddit at all.. lmao. C’mon man..
Auquaholic@reddit
Shit, it amazes me that companies still don't have to pay overtime.
Sheriff-D@reddit
Go to live stock and tell me you dont get compensation.
ThePeacekeeper777@reddit
All the guys I've seen doing it are 80 year olds that will die before passing it on to anyone under 30 years old lol.
Sheriff-D@reddit
I work with guys anywhere from age 19-late 60’s early 70’s. I’m 32 myself and so glad i made the change myself.
Icystunts420@reddit
$32 an hour running intermodal home daily easiest job I’ve ever done
ThePeacekeeper777@reddit
The local intermodal jobs in my city are $18-$19 an hour... I like to report those jobs as fake on indeed.
Icystunts420@reddit
Yeah that’s wayyy too low for having a cdl
rugerscout308@reddit
I took a local job at 35$ hr first gig
PlantsNCaterpillars@reddit
Damn, nice work.
Everywhere around me wants 1-2 years of experience and is trying to get away with offering Taco Bell wages.
rugerscout308@reddit
Redi mix driver. It seems like a really undesirable job but it pays well
pianodude01@reddit
There's too many drivers.
Learn a specialized skill that most others can't do and you'll get paid more.
Driving all day is incredibly easy, and there's a lot of people who can do it for cheap.
Learn to haul a tanker, pump truck, oversize etc and you'll make more money.
TwoToadsKick@reddit
Doing local. First year with a CDL Class B and I'm at over 30$ hour average.
ikillsheep4u@reddit
Same, I do water delivery, did a month with a trainer at swift and realized I got paid more in retail.
Odin4456@reddit
Cement truck?
QPShroomyDude@reddit
I do that with trash.
busman25@reddit
I'm making fucking 25 doing trash
MasterpieceAmazing87@reddit
I used to make $25 in trash now I’m at $35 with cement
MiIarky22@reddit
Our fellow truckers are brainwashed thinking doing long hours for little pay = being a man
I've had a coworker talk to me one day about grouping up together, telling our boss how it is, how we won't be pushed around and deserve better wages. And I told him he described what a union is. The look on his face and denial that what he wants isn't a union is hilarious.
Gellyguy@reddit
Go and find work for higher pay then, you'll have to move and really look around.
There's tanker drivers that haul plastic pellets to factories in the mn/ND area for good cash, i hear. There's salary driving now where you're guaranteed like 60k a year if you drove your 70 and were making otd. There's Walmart, and the ltl companies who are tedious to get started with for different reasons, but their top pay is 6 figures! And you get home more often.
If you're looking for otr company driving, you'll have to look at companies that offer good cpm with zero gimmicks and great benefits that pad that cpm to make it worth it. Profit sharing, 401k match, and good insurance are a must, not a want. I think i added all mine up, and I went from base $0.69 cpm to $0.84 cpm with all my companies' extra benefits.
There's money out here, but you'll have to look around and see what that kind of cash is worth to you and your life right now.
Green_Lawyer_1049@reddit
There's too many drivers is basic supply and demand. So many people got their cdls during or after covid thst even western express is turning people down. Nit only fo wr have a lot of drivers here but we have people immigrating here to drive trucks. If there was actually a driver shortage companies would be forced to up the pay to attract drivers
40TonBomb@reddit
This pisses me off.
I haul fuel, load pay and average $50/hour, in a LCOL state. Lucked out and it’s been the only driving job I’ve had 7 years later.
aacawe@reddit
The only thing I can’t really come to terms w after 20 years OTR, is not being compensated for nights. There should at least be a $50/night, maybe cap at $250 a week. But at least something. I don’t know any drivers whose company even pretends to compensate them for nights.
BobdeBouwer__@reddit
In Europe you get 50,- a night compensation. Tax free. And +- 75ct per hour for coffee and a sandwich.
You'll also get a pension, social benefits, healthcare, insurance etc. But the base pay maxes out at 20,- per hour after 6 years experience..
Odin4456@reddit
Get into specialized. EVERYONE can drive a van because they’re so easy to do. Pay attention rolling the highway, what do you see? I see a flood of big ol vans and referees. Find the trailer you see the least of and go for that. That’s where the money is.
If I recall correctly liquids and low boys pay the most in the industry
BobdeBouwer__@reddit
Yes, because the rigs are expensive to buy and the tanks need cleaning which is expensive and takes a lot of time.
But I agree, things that need just a few more skills then just driving are best. Maybe animal transport?
I'm in Europpe and I know the drivers that can ceep chickens alive for a few days make good money.
Flibiddy-Floo@reddit
I've said it before, even before the pandemic, for the last \~15 years or so: all jobs are minimum wage now. Which, realistically, is about $25 depending on where you live. Legit I make $20-$30/hr just doing doordash in a large metropolitan area.
BobdeBouwer__@reddit
Truck drivers should just all resign and do other (driving) jobs. But don't accept fast food pay for driving a big rig.
soggyfries8687678@reddit
I am currently a line cook and have been planning to get my CDL for a few months now. I keep thinking that getting my CDL will be my ticket to a brighter future. To go from just a job to a career but man these kind of posts are so disheartening. I currently make 25/hr and I can’t believe that’s what some of you guys are making. Is it even worth it to get into the trucking industry at this point?
BobdeBouwer__@reddit
Getting a CDL is best reserved for people that really want to drive a truck.
Being a cook is just as good for a job. In economic value I think they're on par. And being a cook is less risky.
AGuyWithTwoThighs@reddit
I'm only 4 months in, and what i can say from starting off:
Working at a mega company to start the career sucks. They will pay you garbage rates and you have to stay out for over a week minimum, most require 2 weeks minimum. And it's not like you earn more money because you are out for 2 weeks, it's just a week's worth of pay x 2.
I just switched to a new company, driving in a team. It's untaxed dollars, so I have to handle taxes next year accordingly, but it's 1300 - 1600 a week with home time every 6-8 days. At least it's 60,000 a year in my first year, which isn't too bad.
Local jobs seem to start being an option at 6 months here in California. You get more options as you get to a year of experience, ideally with a good driving record of course. 2 years, then 3 years open up more options. 3 years you should basically be able to apply anywhere, at least you'll qualify.
Around 3 years people can be making 80,000 - 100,000 if they are lucky. I know Walmart has that pay range, at least.
Being an owner operator right now is a crap shoot. Industry is in the pits for that right now, but maybe there's a good company that could make it with your while. I doubt it's worth the risk and extra cost, but I've mostly taken other people's word for it.
At 3 years you can be an instructor for driving schools. Live relatively cushy, be home every night working probably 10 hours a day, 4 days a week (at least that's what 160 Driving Academy teachers worked).
Work with a union job, and you're better off. Unions are good for workers, never forget.
That's everything I've learned. Hope it helps inform your decision
That's everything I've learned.
Kaidenshiba@reddit
I wouldn't pay for school unless you want to go over the road. Get a union job with all the benefits and it'll feel like a good deal
WillBilly_Thehic@reddit
Not that these companies aren't shit but rates are terrible and there isn't much money profit margin.
Useful_Badger6021@reddit
I've made about 140k last 9 years,
overcrispy@reddit
Found one at $32. They have a hard time keeping drivers because it is more work than just bumping docks.
skinnyfatt85@reddit
To be fair you can make that while only bumping docks
Scary-Airline8603@reddit
Once the economy completely tanks in the next couple years, we will GRATEFUL if we can make $25/hour. Things are going to get very bad. Enjoy life now while we still have it.
DW_TheTruckDriver843@reddit
You got down voted for being negative but you might be right!
DW_TheTruckDriver843@reddit
Same here. Between 23-25 and hour the past 4 years that I've had a CDL here in South Carolina. Start my new job on Tuesday tho and they gave me 27 😮💨 super happy 😂😂
Due_Change6730@reddit
Pay is $35 per hour in Seattle.
Kaidenshiba@reddit
Theres routes for 45 in oregon. It's crazy this range of pay
TheBuddha777@reddit
Same in the Bay Area
Bald-Eagle39@reddit
I made 84000 last year. On track to do that or more this year.
AnxiousSomebody22@reddit
Can we talk about why we haul all this freight for ridiculous pay and you go to drop off and pay someone for 15 minutes of work? Lumpers getting 400$-500$ for driving a machine that does the job and it literally takes no time at all.
DeleteriousEffects@reddit
I started my first trucking job in 2016 at 61cpm teaming with my ex as a company driver for System Transport. After one year with them, we bought our truck and went owner for a while, but I left him and did not truck for five years but I'm about to go back with NovaLines... We'll see how much I can make.
dustin_257@reddit
just starting to finally lock in 1k a week at 8 months of me driving otr. switched companies and they got me and my partner set pretty good on a dedicated run. only thing is gotta have your hazmat, doubles, and tanker.
Nelo92@reddit
I got my Class A last year and highest job offer I got was $25hr. I saw Class B gigs, like garbage trucks/sanitation and Sparkletts water offering $30hr starting pay. I’ve been driving Class B ever since
Fit_Brilliant_5783@reddit
Do you have a bad driving record or something ?
derekno2go@reddit
Modern America hates truckers unfortunately.
Vino1980@reddit
McDonald's paying $20/hr
bigmac22077@reddit
I drive school busses, I work 45-55 hour weeks with field trips. I’m at $30 an hour and get a pension.
supergoosetaco@reddit
Damn, I always thought bus drivers didn’t make crap. But 30 an hour and a pension? That’s awesome.
Living_Hall_822@reddit
I drove a school bus before too, $17.50 an hour and they had just added a “savings fund” where they put $25 a week into an account for when you retire. The pay wasn’t worth the getting up at 3:20am and working 45-50 hours a week on a full time route.
bigmac22077@reddit
My shift starts 6:30 home by 9. Go back at 2 done by 4. I get 1-2 field trips a week that can range for 4-6 hours up to 12. I get paid for sitting and doing nothing on them. I work out in a farm town so the kids are really good. 4 years here now and just this week I had a kid stomp another kids head into a window and that’s the worst I’ve had. Had to clean up 3 pukes on the bus once but got 3 extra hours a pay for a 45 min clean up. I wouldn’t wanna drive inner city, but I love it.
supergoosetaco@reddit
Yeah, that sounds like the more typical bus driver gig
Nyx_Blackheart@reddit
Yeah, but you have to deal with kids/people and can't smoke on the job :/
special_friend@reddit
I'll touch 125k this year. Local three letter pharmacy store delivery. I bust my ass, but I'm home daily with awesome bennys. Dont ever have to worry about the truck, the business end, or a lot of bs that oos have.
jabber1990@reddit
um, its unskilled labor,
you're literally doing a task any 16 year old can do
we're just glorified uber drivers....we just get to live in our company car
Notcomlpete_06@reddit
I'm a yard dog making 26.25 an hr. You'll never see me pulling freight on the interstate again.
stephenforbes@reddit
Truckers should be making no less than $35 an hour. It's a hard and dangerous job with a shit ton of responsibility.
Weak-Priority5034@reddit
Yeah its bullshit. I make 210 a day, full days of course 9 to 14 hours. Avg 21hr, over it
MrPotato4217@reddit
When i see the local jobs for $18-$25 an hour i laugh. Costco pays better.
DieselAndPucks@reddit
Salary isn't related in any way to how hard the job is. It's only based on supply and demand. Way too many drivers for too little jobs. As long as mega carriers are allowed to train new drivers with contracts there will be an oversupply of drivers and poor wages. Mandate a 500+ hour degree to get your CDL and suddenly the inflow of driver crashes hard. Now the only problem left are socially incapable owner ops who drive for peanuts just for the sake of not having a boss and owning their own truck while making less than minimum wage.
Little_NaCl-y@reddit
Not sure where you’re at but look at your local LTLs, the big ones that are everywhere (Estes, central transport, old dominion etc) start around $30/hr for p&d, if you’re down to run nights for a few years you can clear 100+ pretty easily doing linehaul
CobraWasTaken@reddit
I don't think my pay is too bad. I'm OTR and my mileage works out to $39 per hour if I'm averaging 60mph. In a perfect world I could make $45.50 per hour driving at my governed speed all day. A lot of people will say "but you're OTR, you're not at home!". For a lot of people, that does mean something. To me, the truck is my home. Wherever the loads happen to take me are home to me. I like living out on the road so that's what I'm gonna continue doing.
hydrobunny@reddit
Thats criminal, I get paid 23 to unload y’all on my sit down
Toomuchhorntalk69@reddit
People need to unionize. I’m making $1.60 a mile with the best benefits you’ve ever seen that are 100% paid for by the company.
FinzClortho@reddit
I do heavy haul and I am paid salary. Even on days I'm at home, or sitting waiting on permits, I'm getting paid.
lostthepasswordagain@reddit
It’s not really anything new. I started with my class b driving a school bus in a very blue high cost of living state about 12 years ago. I started at $15 an hour. They are now paying up to 30 in some places nearby, and they can’t hire enough.
About 2 years later I drove for a year with a mega to get my class A and made okish money, but I only came home every 4-6 weeks. That works out to $11.90 an hour for every hour I was away from home (and I’m being generous with the size of the typical paycheck)
I then went to a regional job that I eventually worked out to that I was maybe working $15 an hour. I always had a flat on a trailer or it took them 2 hours past my report time to get me a load. Often it would be too long a load for me to do within hours in a daycab, and I’d deny it (my dispatcher was a mostly ok guy younger than me (I was mid 20’s)) because I use a cpap and I’m not going to bring it with me every day in case I need to stay in a hotel. Getting a hotel room that wasn’t pre-approved took forever and I was paid my the mile.
I then went looking for an hourly job and took a local sanitation job that only technically only required a class b, but they don’t like to hire class b because they don’t expect you to be able to handle the weight (I was often overloaded by the time I got to the scale, we only got in-truck scales that weren’t very accurate towards the end of my employment, and even then by the time I realized I would be overweight by the time I “should” go to the dump, it would take me an hour round trip to go back and forth to pick up 1-5 more stops that would take me 10 minutes otherwise. That started at $19 an hour and I left at $23.50
I finally quit for medical reasons. I couldn’t do it anymore, had my second alcoholic relapse after finally admitting I had a problem, and I needed better insurance. I took a local office job closely related to transportation for 19 an hour, but it did cut my insurance in half for better insurance compared to what I had.
I did get a nice raise after my first year. My first review I got a 2% raise, and I told my supervisor “I’m not leaving right now or likely anytime soon, but I need to make more to support my family.” I’m now back up to the $23.50 an hour I was 2 years ago. They also seem to expect me to replace my supervisor who is massively overqualified for the job (mostly self taught on the job for most of the skills they expect me to learn).
I might seriously consider going back to driving a bus if I can get my medical card and get my class A back.
longbongsmokehouse@reddit
It’s all about the company and how much you research. I’ve only been OTR for a year and make daily pay, $290/day and don’t chase miles
dormidormit@reddit
My company starts A drivers at $45/hr but you load it yourself and you will load other trailers too. I started at $30/local and all they do is give me more fucking work.
GroundbreakingSir386@reddit
Lot of overtime and even then it's not enough. Most larger cities like Denver pay better. LTL pays close to $35-40 If you live in a major city however I think that's really should be higher like close to 50 or 60 with the amount of work we do as drivers but I am looking forward to our overtime paychecks once Daddy Trump relieves us of our repression of overtime taxes.
peffer32@reddit
If you want to sit on your ass ten hours a day and hold a steering wheel and swing doors, yeah your pay probably sucks. Get your hands dirty or get into something specialized and you will make money. You're not owed a living just because you got a CDL.
Outlaw11091@reddit
Economy would collapse without basic dock bumpers.
We owe them a living on that basis alone.
peffer32@reddit
Sounds like that filthy socialism I hear so much about in this sub.
Outlaw11091@reddit
Not at all.
Farmers and truckers deserve more than they get.
Fancy suits in DC get to determine their own paychecks.
Shits upside down.
peffer32@reddit
The farmers that had 40% of their income last year come from the government?
Still waiting for that answer how foodservice pay is shit.
hesslake@reddit
Dairy farmers don't get government handouts. Mostly crop farmers
peffer32@reddit
You should Google the Dairy Price Support Program. In 2023 42% of dairy farmers income came from the federal government
hesslake@reddit
Lol I own a 3500 head dairy farm producing 3000 pounds a day Also own a trucking company that hauls 3 million pounds a day I've never gotten any government money
peffer32@reddit
Never heard of price supports?
hesslake@reddit
Depends on the co-op you belong to and who you supply milk to. We supply to one of the biggest specialty bottlers in the USA. We are getting 34cwt. Most other Co-op are around 19cwt. We don't need price supports
peffer32@reddit
So you've went from dairy farmers don't get money from the government to you don't get money from the government. If you got a problem with the 42% number, take it up with the USDA. It's their number.
hesslake@reddit
Not all dairy farmers get money or price supports. 47 farms in our Co-op none of them have collected any money from the government. Maybe others do but I don't care what they are doing. It's in our contract that we don't
njfish93@reddit
The government filled caves full of cheese to support the dairy industry. While not a direct subsidy they were buying all that milk to keep demand and prices high.
Outlaw11091@reddit
Ah, an axe to grind.
I'm out.
peffer32@reddit
Ah, someone's not buying my horseshit.
I'm out.
hesslake@reddit
I own a company that hauls raw milk. My lowest paid driver will make 120000 highest close to 180000. 5 days on 2 days off Between 8 and 11 hours a day depending on how long it takes to get unloaded. Farmers and drivers can make good money
Outlaw11091@reddit
can being the operative term.
Should is all I'm saying.
Milk hauling in my area pays average of $70k, but they're home every day.
hesslake@reddit
We're home everyday we just haul bigger loads
Budget_Inevitable@reddit
For what it's worth, this is what I did. Get specialized, have a good resume with allot of job stability, and most importantly be willing to touch/secure freight or drag hoses.
I have a completely different life experience in this industry than most people on this Reddit. I can just fall on a job that pays six figures because of my resume and references.
peffer32@reddit
I did foodservice for thirty years. Not real "specialized" or complicated. You just have to get up and bust your ass every day. Made a lot of money and retired at 60. Sometimes the best thing you can bring to the table is work ethic.
OneMulatto@reddit
I know exall about that life. 574 piece Texas Roadhouses back to back mixed in with some pandas or paneras just to name some.
Been out foodservice 3 years now.
peffer32@reddit
Sounds like Sygma
OneMulatto@reddit
i did 13 years at Sygma. Got knee surgery out of it once. Other than that I am good. Driving garbage trucks now. Home every night. Weekends off. Took a pay cut but, I'm much happier. I miss that covid extra route pay.
peffer32@reddit
Happy beats money every time.
Academic-Ad7504@reddit
I get my hands dirty and work long hours still low
peffer32@reddit
Find a foodservice place near you. Sysco, US Foods, PFG etc. They're always hiring because the job sucks. If you've got experience and a clean record, you'll get in.
Outlaw11091@reddit
Still pays like shit.
peffer32@reddit
120K per year, fully paid family healthcare and pension and six weeks vacation. Your right, it's awful.
Outlaw11091@reddit
It is when you're working 14 hours/day, 6 days per week.
You only get 1 spine. And when it doesn't work anymore, you're out of a job, and will be lucky to get a job at Walmart as a greeter.
Fuck, I make $90k/year bumping docks and being home every weekend. My kids have grown up great and my back will still be able to lift my grandkids.
You're getting fucked for $30k more per year.
peffer32@reddit
Worked about 50 to 55 hrs a week. Five or four days. Home every day.
I'm retired and on a cushy union pension and as far as my spine goes, I play golf five days a week, walk 3 to five miles a day and play for hours with my granddaughter. It's almost like working for a living is good for you. You may be on your first bypass by the time your grandkids come along from sitting on your ass all day and eating garbage. Good luck
Fit_Hospital2423@reddit
They don’t wanna hear the truth.
IEatCouch@reddit
Ive met warehouse workers smarter than most truck drivers. It's a no skill job with nothing valuable for any other career.
Then again I'm making the most money I've ever made, but working the most hours too...
Archasil@reddit
Ignore this guy everyone
peffer32@reddit
Must have struck a nerve
ChalupaPickle@reddit
Laughs in 22 hr.
KitteyGirl2836@reddit
Beats $50 a load hauling 150 bbl of production water and flying to the disposal and hoping it's empty
roanokephotog@reddit
$45 an hour driving cardboard a few states away and back. Home every night, paid to wait and loads, overtime after 8. Union guys, it's not all green grass but it solves a number of problems.
Fit_Hospital2423@reddit
The cardboard and packing company has to be going crazy these days with all the shipping that’s being done to homes.
roanokephotog@reddit
I was being slightly vague, the cardboard is full of other stuff, I just didn't want to outright say who I work for 😁
WhyWouldYouBother@reddit
Can't be sharing profits with the drivers, that's communism./s
I-xan-not-remeber2@reddit
Driving for Old Dominion making 34.50
Tall_Category_304@reddit
Damn. I’m a broker, your dispatchers, companies must be crushing tf out of it. That’s bull shit
xDoomKitty@reddit
Welcome to getting what you are worth. Some drivers aren't even worth $25/hr. If you get paid less than you think you are worth, then you aren't worth what you think you are.
Requettie@reddit
It’s sad :/
I have a fantastic route currently, hourly pay, per load, and per mile, and I’m able to work on my IT stuff with it too. Working towards being an O/O.
The good gigs are out there, but you have to find them.
xDoomKitty@reddit
Lol
Isn't there supposed to be a driver shortage? What are yall complaining about. You are in demand! Go demand a higher paycheck!
Niko120@reddit
I talk to warehouse guys all the time that say they are getting 25 an hour. I’d way rather do that than deal with all the bs driving if the pay is the same
Sufficient_Tooth_949@reddit
Local class b hazmat is paying $17 near me
Beverage service is $20, with insane physical labor
Louisiana....meanwhile some pimple faced stoner teen is making that, putting fries in a bag in California
Mechanik_J@reddit
A lot of old owner operators from the late 70's , and Megas got rich from deregulation, but ended up fucking over future truckers.
tidyshark12@reddit
Some companies pay low. Some pay more. Personally, im at about 40-45/hr right now. Paid mileage, ofc, so sometimes less, sometimes more.
J-Rag-@reddit
I live just outside of Little Rock and there are local jobs listed for $20/hr. Really makes me wanna go do some regional work. And if I'm gonna do regional, I'm gonna wanna do it as an o/o
StalinPaidtheClouds@reddit
I know guys stocking shelves for $27
It's sad what trucking has been reduced to
Fit_Hospital2423@reddit
Corporate America loves it.
SomeoneRandom007@reddit
Rates will improve when demand for drivers picks up. From what I see, companies are planning for economic difficulties, so don't expect them to improve for a while. Sorry.
Jasonunlimited@reddit
Rates are horrible right now so employers are using that as justification to keep from adjusting our wages for all the inflation the last few years.
Trucking is a business expense for companies, and they want to keep expenses as low as possible. We’re always last on the totem pole to get more.
CoolTemperature1602@reddit
I think what you're misunderstanding is those are entry-level driving jobs. If you think you're worth more than that quit and move on.
curryshotzz@reddit
I agree lol I haven’t been driving that long but even I know this job doesn’t pay well for the amount of time you miss at home. This hermit life is crazy
LLCoolDave82@reddit
I'm with a good starter company and when I factor in loading/unloading I make around $18/hr. 60-70hours a week. So $25 sounds pretty good!