Hot take
Posted by Individual_Wasabi669@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 32 comments
If American companies ( Schneider/ Swift/ Prime/ WE / PAM ........etc) paid livable wages out of the millions they make.
Russian / Serbian companies would not have stood a chance. Nor existed
Making 600$-900$ after a 70hr schedule is pure slavery.
nasdawg77@reddit
If workers in any industry got paid what they are worth everyone would be doing better, but the upper class and 1% will never want that. It is there way to be in control while feeding you scraps and making you like it
Redsoxdragon@reddit
This is a like warm diarrhea take.
3 problems with what you said.
You're assuming that these companies arent as bad as chameleon carriers. The only difference is that instead of changing dot numbers everytime, they have the pockets and friends in govt to make problems go away.
New drivers are insanely expensive too hire. They're damn near uninsurable. So whatever losses they have to eat on one noob flipping their truck, they make up with thousands of underpaid drivers. Most damage claims on a mega are handled and paid inhouse to keep insurance companies from dropping them. No insurance means no certification to operate
The point of a mega is to get your xp and dip. It's like working McDonald's. Cool if you're a young saving up while you're going through college or looking for a career, not ideal to be there in your 40s unless you're goal is internal advancement
homucifer666@reddit
No corporation got to where it did by paying its workers what they were worth.
Timmy98789@reddit
Dodge v. Ford Motor Co. 1919.
jabber1990@reddit
something is only worth what somebody is willing to pay for it
jabber1990@reddit
no, paying $0 is pure slavery
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
If you net 0$ after housing and food then indeed it’s
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Goy, if you net 0$ after pay housing and food it’s basically slavery
Slaves back in the day were getting two things only food so they don’t die and a place to sleep at.
Notice how i didn’t mention any other expenses ( clothing, gas, insurance….. etc)
Complex_Condition226@reddit
Genuine question here, I have made 250 per day * 6 days, I own no equipment completely a company driver. Granted after taxes 401K contributions insurance and all of that I'm a fair bit closer to 1100 a week. I know that I am in a unique situation I live on the truck. In the past year, I have saved 25k. Is it really that bad out there for normal people?
fusillijhericurl@reddit
Some folks live beyond their means
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Getting life necessities is above means now ? Housing/ food/ gas
I run with a way better company now just advocating for the fellas in megas from what i lived thru with Schneider
.38 CPM is the highest offer i got from megas btw
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
Don’t compare that to OTR.
you are just like a office worker that has the same dedicated route everyday. Good luck starting a family with that
New_Situation1764@reddit
Big companies have too many mouths to feed. Thats why the drivers get paid shit
Individual_Wasabi669@reddit (OP)
They don’t have to feed him unless he’s operating a truck for them that generates revenue.
It’s greed
Fluxus4@reddit
The real issue is allowing a 70 hour work week, but paying by the mile. Those 2 metrics aren't related. Wanna see maximum chaos? Pay truck drivers by the hour.
Introverted-headcase@reddit
This is capitalism, duh 🙄
firemarshalbill316@reddit
You forgot the government allows and fully supporta this.
InvstrJester@reddit
You aren’t doing any labor close to what a Construction Worker does. At the end of the day a lot of professions need a pay increase. People who drive and talk about how many hours they work don’t know about real labor.
sudrama@reddit
The system was created through deregulation to get the cheapest freight possible to benefit the end customer buying stuff at the retailer at the cost of drivers pay. Because anyone with a two year experience can sign up for a truck insurance and call themselves a business competing with tons of others and megas companies. You want better pay? Limit the number of CDLs and or companies that can haul loads.
jabber1990@reddit
i'm still waiting on deregulation
SOROKAMOKA@reddit
Tried to comment but it flagged as content violation. Don't know why I couldn't tell my story
Mystery_Chaser@reddit
This is the United States. Truth is not allowed. Facts are not allowed. If you tell the truth, people will get you banned. The bots will ban you. It's messed up.
Solid_Effect7983@reddit
It's become land of the $$$ fee $$$
Mystery_Chaser@reddit
Sponsored by a Russian bot?
Responsible_CDN_Duck@reddit
Making millions on billions of revenue isn't typically seen as a worthwhile investment.
Further complicating matters they made way less last year than the year before, so increasing wages is likely something they'll try to avoid.
Arguably the Russian and Serbian companies are driving shipping costs down forcing them to aggressively cost cut and consolidate to try and keep returns up.
Knight-Swift Transportation Holdings (KNX) reported a challenging Q1 2026, with Q1 revenue of $1.85 billion but sharp profitability declines. As of the end of 2024, annual revenue was $7.41B, with profitability squeezed by legal/tax issues and fuel costs.Net profit margins dropped to 0.9% for the year ending December 31, 2025, compared to 1.6% in 2024.
MissYouDesertRat@reddit
Youre making a mistake assuming the companies you named arent just as bad as the serbian companies. Theyre all in it to extort cheap labor for maximum profit.
AroundGoesThe18@reddit
Work for a privately owned comany and the owners return the money to the employees, not shareholders. I have been working for Crete for nearly 10 years now, just this year alone Ive gotten ~$35k in wages and $5k in profit sharing/401k match that was put into my retirement account - not to mention the 15 days of PTO ill get on my hire date anniversary.
DukeBradford2@reddit
I was about to say $40k for an entire year is nothing to write home about, forgot we are only in april
Virel_360@reddit
I think you need to look up the word slavery, you have a choice whether you work for one of those companies or not. Slaves did not have a choice.
homucifer666@reddit
They're getting there, merger by merger, buyout by buyout...
darklorddoone@reddit
One its not slavery because your chosing it. And apply else were. Im bring in over 900 a week. Would be close to 1100 if it wasnt for my 401k. And im right outside of Seattle. And thats amazon, "one of the worst companies to work for, they dont pay thier workers"
aacawe@reddit
You underestimate greed.