If trucking is pretty bad or has gone bad , why are there so many people doing this for decades or almost their entire life ?
Posted by East_Indication_7816@reddit | Truckers | View on Reddit | 79 comments
For one in my company , my trainer is 72 years old and been doing it for 25 years , I also meet a lot of drivers doing this for 20 years and in the same company .
Spankpocalypse_Now@reddit
I can only speak for myself. I have a bachelors degree and I have never come close to making as much money as I do in trucking. I spent two decades working in food service, healthcare, ride share, security, hospitality, and a short stint in office work.
Leaving trucking would mean taking a pay cut and I already can barely make ends meet as it is.
Heather_Val@reddit
I second this, after a decade in management, I make more trucking.
Crucifer2_0@reddit
Not as much time in the game but same. Luckily I got off OTR and onto local within 6 months, I’m training for it rn. Worth every second of bullshit to get to this point so far lol.
LastMongoose7448@reddit
Same. Worked in program management for a very large non-profit. I was probably 5 years out from being able to apply for an associate exec position that would have paid a whopping $72K (which I thought was great at the time!) I made that my first year at fucking Swift!
Ok-Combination7287@reddit
How was swift? Im really thinking I'm going with may trucking, but swift keeps calling
LastMongoose7448@reddit
It’s alright. I didn’t have any problems. Get that first year in without hitting anything, and then move on to something better.
UncleTrucker1123@reddit
That’s pretty much how you do it
East_Indication_7816@reddit (OP)
It’s just people look down on you like earlier the MF forklift driver was asking for 2 pickup codes when dispatch only gave me 1 , then he printed the BOL and said “it says there 2 pickup codes , can’t you read ??? “ . He thinks everyone who drives a truck have an education barely higher than 3rd grade .
Spinkick91@reddit
The guy probably couldn’t get his CDL so he’s stuck driving the forklift forever.
PutridContribution41@reddit
Tbh. Id rather get paid $30 hourly as a forklift operator for Costco versus $30 as a port truck driver stressed out for 14 hours.
Exact-Leadership-521@reddit
I'd rather leave any and every yard with no plans to return. I always ask forklift guys if their tires can handle outside
East_Indication_7816@reddit (OP)
Some of these forklift operator are also frontdesk like the one who maligned and berated me. He is in a tiny office for a really old and dilapidated warehouse with smelly items that smelled like varnish. I laughed when I realized the similarity of this guy to a urinal in a portalet. A driver comes in the door, faces the urinal, does his business, then leaves. Next driver comes in, and does the same thing. It's a miserable job.
This is not about the pay. You are locked in a prison working in a warehouse.
PutridContribution41@reddit
I don't think this has nothing to do with being being a forklift operator. Thats just their personality, just like your personality is not the same as every other trucker.
Lord_B33zus@reddit
Given your post history, I’d side with the front desk.
Spinkick91@reddit
That’s actually not a bad idea.
PutridContribution41@reddit
You want the easiest job for the most money. You won't at life.
Spinkick91@reddit
Alright I’m in.
Ill-Year-3141@reddit
For a lot of truckers, that's exactly the case. They start early, many without even having a diploma (GED is sufficient, it's not rocket science) ... I can't even begin to count the number of plain old fucking stupid and ignorant truckers I've met over the years.
People aren't just given a bad reputation without cause.
LyubviMashina93@reddit
Yes and forklift drivers are renowned scholars hahaha
AaronTuplin@reddit
I had a ton of tech credentials in the early 2000s and I was making like $9/hour. Trucking bumped my take home from a little over $300/Week in Tech to a little under $1000/Week overnight.
I kind of hate the job, but I kinda just hate every job
Revival-Waters@reddit
Reddit just just bitches and complains about everything.
Look at the front page and visit any sub.
Its full of delusional losers with insane world views.
CosbysLongCon24@reddit
It’s also most people with zero life experience lol
RaphealWannabe@reddit
That has got to be the most accurate and susinct description I have ever read.
MoashRedemptionArc@reddit
I realized this browsing used car buying threads after being in denial for years.
From the way the average "I'm buying this used car, what do you think?" thread goes, one would think it's a literal act of god himself if a car survives being driven 200k miles
FisherofLibs@reddit
I can’t post my comment but the tldr is it’s the only life we know. Afraid to start over or just to comfortable on the road. The sense of control over our own destiny we get. The low overhead.
I’m mad I wrote several paragraphs and then Reddit said “Nah, there’s a problem posting this.
Ill-Year-3141@reddit
For me personally, I've been trucking since I was 21, and am 50 now, so the greater portion of my life. In all that time, I've only done a few other jobs here and there when I've gotten too tired of being in the truck anymore. I'm back at that point now, for good I think, but I don't know anything else, and can't afford to be without a paycheck long enough to get an associates degree or spend 6 months learning a new trade. Trucking does that to you. Ensures you have a lot of OTR expenses with all your bills at home piling up, so you're living check to check and are pretty much stuck doing the only thing you know, even though it's not really getting you anywhere.
In 2007 I worked the oilfields in tx as a vac truck driver. I was making more then than what they're paying drivers today, 19 years later. Pretty fucked up, eh?
Requettie@reddit
I have a software engineering background and now since I own a trucking company I blow the senior/principal software salary’s out of the water. Also I don’t have to worry about “coming into an office” or get laid off because we were .0000000000000000000000000001% away from the profit margin goal.
testing_mic2@reddit
Similar here. You have a fleet?
Requettie@reddit
I’m building my fleet right now.
avm95@reddit
Stability, money ain't so bad if you can handle the grind
Genericsoda4@reddit
I accidentally became one when my job was eliminated years ago and my union paid for me to get a Cdl. I dropped out of college before that, and now it’s the only thing I’ve done for 16 years, I have a kid and a mortgage, so I’m stuck in this job I hate for atleast another few years.
decaboniized@reddit
I honestly just like the little to no micro managing. I get my truck every day. Go do my route. Come back to the yard. Turn in my paperwork and go home.
When working it's just me podcast/music/talking to coworkers.
Scurvy_Pete@reddit
I have a college degree, I started trucking 4 years out of college and doubled my salary overnight. It would take literal years to get back to where I am money-wise if I started over
Afro_smaka@reddit
can’t lie i been trucking for 6 years and just recently started working for the city garbage , a lot of hours but OT pays good , i’m always able to pay everything and have some left . Wife doesn’t work just stays home with the kids been working good for me can’t complain , Im happy with what flows in
slyguy929229@reddit
Because everywhere else sucks too. I’ve been doing this shit for a while. I started working in agriculture when I was a young kid on family farms. As a young adult I also worked commercial farms. At 20 I picked up the other family business, forestry (specifically logging) eventually having my own business.
During the Obama administration things got too restrictive and the market bottomed out, plus a run of bad luck led to me selling (read crashing) out.
I then tried construction, slightly better pay than farm work but not by much and I hated all the concrete.
So I went to the only place I could make 100k/year and not entirely hate my life choices. (I still do a fair bit however)
People only do this shit because 1.)They love it 2.)They have no other skills or abilities 3.)It’s the only thing they can do to make the kind of living they want. (I am here)
If I could go back to being in the woods all day and still pay my bills and fend for the wife and kids, I’d never even go into town.
Read-It_2525@reddit
Because it pays and isn't going away.
ElectronicGarden5536@reddit
Change is scary and hard, especially with no formal education. A lot of people also refuse to do anything more physical than drive. The otr to "hands on driver" transition had a lot of guys quitting their first week of cryogenics. The reality is, You pay anyone living wages and theyre happy to put in 20 years. I was capped at about 120 with cryo/oilfield so I decided to use my degree to be a construction field engineer.
Same story here, but the union operators/laborers are making like 40-60 hr...
flergityberg@reddit
Because it ISNT bad. It just has its sacrifices like any other industry, and some people aren’t suited for it because they have an idealized vision of what it is.
41 years old, two college degrees, and I’m less stressed, and I make more money, than I ever have in my life. I don’t plan to do anything else until I retire.
Intelligent-Site7686@reddit
To do a job that pays the same or better requires more education and training. Trucking as a job is pretty specialized, not a transferable skill set to lateral or upward movement income wise
Huzul34@reddit
Degrees mean nothing anymore jobs asking for masters are paying 24$ a hr economy is fucked right now
Critical_Opening_526@reddit
I make more than my brother. He's got 2 degrees.
I work more hours.
This isn't a 1:1 thing
flergityberg@reddit
Because it ISNT bad. It just has its sacrifices like any other industry, and some people aren’t suited for it,
41 years old, two college degrees, and I’m less stressed, and I make more money, than I ever have in my life. I don’t plan to do anything else until I retire.
Vaguechicanery@reddit
I love what I do. One of these days it will change so much that it isn't what I fell in love with, and then I'll quit.
There are still enough glimmers of it to keep me around. One day, the right song plays, and I spend the evening watching the sunset peacefully, with the wind coming through, the truck purring away, and knowing tomorrow I'm gonna be somewhere totally different. Those days keep me around.
MssMoodi@reddit
Trucking is not a jump job like McDonald's or Dollar General it's a career
ShoeStunning@reddit
i can make a hundo with no education and some common sense.
soldierdec08@reddit
I knew a truck driver that owned his own truck always complaining about trucking doesn’t pay enough. The next day he pulled up in a brand new dually Chevy 3500. I complemented his truck and he told me he’s only using it because his Range Rover is in the shop.
The more you make, the more you spend. Some people will never be happy no matter how much they make.
AutumnBrooks2021@reddit
I see it in this sub all the time. No amount of money is ever enough for the greedy and the lazy.
AutumnBrooks2021@reddit
I have over 25 years. It’s the new drivers with little or no experience that have such negative opinions about everything. For those of us that have been doing it forever, we know that it’s not a perfect job and there’s always going to be good days and bad days and it’s not an easy life. Yes you can make a good living, but you have to work hard and be willing to make the sacrifices necessary to survive in this industry.
TeacherGoneTruckin@reddit
After 3 college degrees and 15 years of teaching in public schools, I needed to regain my sanity.
So, I went truckin’! Still waiting for the sanity part, though….
Equivalent_Sound9414@reddit
the US does teachers dirty
LastMongoose7448@reddit
Teachers do the US dirty. My undergrad was all towards a credential. I was in classes with monumental dipshits. A lot of them would talk about teaching internships to avoid paying for student teaching and I was like “no way is your dumb ass getting an internship”. Almost all of them did…
Check the stats among college GPA’s. The “school of education” department at virtually any university is at or near the bottom.
Redsoxdragon@reddit
Bad is subjective. Truth be told, every industry has its ups and downs and financially, were in a down.
But if you're a company guy in a stable job, you won't really get affected by the downs. Your pay check comes in the same, illegals won't take your job and you're not in the hook for ever increasing fuel prices. Plus, if you've been doing something for 20 years, it's easier to adapt than to switch careers. Why dump a 6 figure job that's annoying to drive a forklift for 3/5ths of your current job?
Where i say it's getting bad is being in the road. There's so many cars and trucks in the road and so many of them are distracted. Also, ever since covid, everyone's much more pissed off and impatient. But everyone's freaking with that, not just trucks
Miserable_Quail_5780@reddit
I got 6yrs of military exp, an associates in accounting & ima tell you RN leasing on to a company i make more money.
In the end whoever says dont get in it, freight is bad ect ect they just A bunch of greedy ass pos full of horse shit & hide it behind “i used to be a o/o but the rates got so bad i became unprofitable” like shut your bitter old ass up. You’re bad at money management & all your bad descisions caught up to you.
My gpa since the 60’s & uncle since 90s have been o/o & they told me your first truck has to be debt free & once you get it you’ll never want to be a company driver & thats facts.
Beekatiebee@reddit
Long Haul driving institutionalizes you. Once you’ve been in it too long, readjusting to normal life is incredibly hard.
Local just traps you after a bit, especially if trucking was a last ditch thing for you.
firemarshalbill316@reddit
I think it's probably more people are just tired of the office polite bullshit and being on the road eliminates it completely.
Trucking itself isn't bad IMO I believe its how you approach it. It's a shock to rookies but after you get some miles and that first winter under your belt it isn't bad.
TruckerBiscuit@reddit
Once it gets in your blood you can't imagine doing anything else. I'd rather truck than pretty much anything else, even for better pay.
RaphealWannabe@reddit
Money Doesn't grow on trees, and sometimes its better to trust the devil you know than the devil you don't.
FYI, I stayed in the Army till retirement even though it aggravated the hell out of me, so who am I to talk.
Aimless_Nobody@reddit
Hello fellow lifer...
Unfair_Analysis_3734@reddit
For me, I use to work and tech and of course we all know the shitshow that happened to that industry. I have always wanted to drive big trucks, and now I do and am having fun with it. Not making as much money as I use to, but definitely am enjoying my job a lot more.
Redsoxdragon@reddit
Bad is subjective. Truth be told, every industry has its ups and downs and financially, were in a down.
But if you're a company guy in a stable job, you won't really get affected by the downs. Your pay check comes in the same, illegals won't take your job and you're not in the hook for ever increasing fuel prices. Plus, if you've been doing something for 20 years, it's easier to adapt than to switch careers. Why dump a 6 figure job that's annoying to drive a forklift for 3/5ths of your current job?
Where i say it's getting bad is being in the road. There's so many cars and trucks in the road and so many of them are distracted. Also, ever since covid, everyone's much more pissed off and impatient.
ExplorerImpossible79@reddit
Trucking is a life style choice and one that really isn’t for everyone. I might make a tiny but more driving but it comes at the cost of never seeing my family and a health tole that’s both physical and mental. For me, the extra bit of money isn’t worth the sacrifice. Also at school they told a lot of people to save up their money so they won’t starve the first year they are out.. starting pay is really really bad
___GRUMPY___@reddit
I been doing it for almost 25 years. I can honestly say that if I had to work an office job or stuck in a factory. It would be two scenarios; homicide or suicide. I don’t like being around most people for long periods of time.
binderdriver@reddit
Been doing this for 41 years...( I'm 65)..... honestly am dreading retirement and don't have a clue what ill do to occupy my time when I do.....
mariamad89@reddit
Once in, it’s very difficult to go to something else. A bit of truckers are literally homeless/car-less as well. I am one and currently slowly switching to healthcare tech field where I’ll be making $3-$6k/wk only working 36-40hrs if I stick to it. Only been trucking for a year and now make $1800/wk on average and the money is good, but it’s not worth my health, lack of time,etc…
dearestnomad@reddit
I have a bachelor and masters and I’ve been driving for 22 years. I make more money driving than I can with even a masters, but I also drive for a good company, team driver. The only thing I make more money doing is selling options, which I only had the money to get into by driving. Saying that, I am ready to retire, I hate what this industry has become. But my wife/co-driver is 52 and can’t find a job, ANY job. She has an excellent work record and has been driving for 26 years, which is the problem. No one even considers her, maybe her age, maybe because she has been driving so long. I make enough money selling options that I can retire and, because of good investments, we can live a decent life, but she doesn’t want to NOT work. It is a constant battle because I am getting some health problems that make driving for me, let’s say, very painful. If you get the right company and know what you are doing this can be a decent career. We are in some ways taken advantage of, but still make decent money. Some people can’t take the time away from home, not a problem for us, I’m more tired of the constant shaking down the road.
jecastro_2000@reddit
If you worked a career for 20+ years and thats basically all you know. Would you wanna start over doing something else and get a massive pay cut?
rolisrntx@reddit
Doing it right now by going into trucking.
ExtentAggravating733@reddit
Some people are well-suited to trucking or have found a good niche.
I drive local, sit around parked most of the day, get paid hourly, don't deal with traffic (rural area) and am home every night.
Vorenious1@reddit
I make a pretty good living locally driving and my older brother offered me a desk job with him but its half the pay and I just can't see myself taking such a large cut
KingofthePi11@reddit
Someones gotta do it. How else would the posh, prissy white collars get all their shit from stores and markets?
DukeBradford2@reddit
In last 2 months i have averaged 250 miles per day. My company is picking loads that pay a couple more cents per mile but you have to sit and wait a day or 2 to drop. If I was making a percentage it would be bad but not as bad as no layover and 60cpm
TouchMyBoomstick@reddit
Could be the lifestyle or simply what they alway wanted to do. I always wanted to drive trucks as a kid and now I own my own rig, I feel pride in it, maybe some of the people you mention feel the same way.
ericthedisrespectful@reddit
too fat and too low iq to do anything else
up3r@reddit
Preach!!!!
up3r@reddit
Education.
It's easy to do something until you're in your 40s and suddenly you're now in a protected age group for employment discrimination.
You have bills so you keep on trucking. You have responsibilities so you keep on trucking.
25 year old back and 25 year old bills suddenly becomes a 45-60 year old back and insurance premiums, braces, new roof, a funeral, transmission ( aka, fucqking transmission)
And you're stuck. Plus... Who in their right mind gives up this kind of freedom on the open road. Am I right 👍?
Ok_Measurement_107@reddit
I'm 49 and fucked around with drugs and alcohol and generally acting like an asshole throughout school. I put myself in a position where I didn't have many routes to a successful life until I discovered trucking. Been at it 27 years now.
CapitanPino@reddit
Lazy never looking forward. Dealing with problems as they come instead of preparing to deal with them. Cant ever look for something better/get out of trucking if you are never prepared to make a move.
My trainer has been at it for 26 years. Same company for the past 21. He's 56 no retirement and about $50k in debt. Life style creep and he refuses to switch companies to make more money. At one point he was making about 156k/yr during the first trump presidency. Idk how he blew it all but he did. I met him in 2024 and he was blaming Biden for his lack of money not his egregious spending habits.
Now he makes less than I do cuz they stopped training new students and his route pays him 1200 a week. Rip.
Silver_Material_7249@reddit
Easier to complain then to tell your boss to suck it and get a better job
Shallow-Thought@reddit
Very little education needed to start, very little debt (or none) required to get that education. Yet a career than can have a person making the household average income alone.
It’s a good alternative to working in a factory or at a desk with $60k in debt. Just look beyond the mega carriers to find the jobs that pay well.