Boys . I need to vent . I’m tired . Like really tired . Trucking is definitely burnout culture. ⚰️

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skeetdouble-07@reddit

5hrs sleep max on a good day then back to driving low exercise and poor food access

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Man some weeks yes 🙌! Months even unfortunately

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stephenforbes@reddit

The no overtime after 40 hours is the real crime.

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starlux33@reddit

You can thank the greedy OG truckers for this who asked for exception to the overtime laws.

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parkway-horizons96@reddit

What did they ask for and why? I’m curious, not trying to be sarcastic or a dick.

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I had heard that they saw that the overtime laws would restrict how much they could drive, limiting how much they could make. But looking into it now, the info I held onto was wrong. It seems they wrote it into the law back in 1938 that truckers were exempt.

"President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the landmark Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) of 1938, it established the modern minimum wage and the standard workweek. However, Section 13(b)(1) of the act included what is known as the Motor Carrier Exemption, which stripped interstate truck drivers of guaranteed time-and-a-half overtime pay"

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Geeze that’s so pseudo and monolithic . Gotta update with the times

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parkway-horizons96@reddit

Thanks for the insight, also fk FDR lol

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Usual-Guarantee6346@reddit

Wait you guys get overtime?!?

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parkway-horizons96@reddit

I run intermodal out of the couple ports around here, to warehouses or the terminal and back. Sometimes a live unload but mostly drop & hook. 60-70hrs a week, 16.50/hr 24.50/hr after 40, and 36.50 for any and everything I hook up to and move whether it’s an empty chassis or a loaded container. I’m netting like $1200-$1500 per week. I’m fuckin tired though man, this work lifestyle is not sustainable. If I could get paid this much, I’d go back to OTR.

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XanJamZ@reddit

You're getting robbed working 1200-1500 off of 60-70. That IS OTR pay without OT.

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parkway-horizons96@reddit

When I was OTR I was making .46cpm and they could not get me 2k miles or more per week. I was making $100-$400 net every Friday if I was lucky.

I’m now netting triple that. I’m sure there’s more money to be made but for now my bills are paid and I’m able to buy shit I want. OTR was prison for scraps just to get the experience I needed.

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WallaWallaby011@reddit

Yes? Home every day shuttling trailers between two warehouses. I get about $1300 every week after taxes. $28/hr. It keeps me in shape having to constantly hook & unhook these trailers lol. This girl already lost like 10lbs since working here an it’s only been 2 weeks 😂🤣

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Usual-Guarantee6346@reddit

I do exactly this for two dollars less and no OT 😭 it’s temporary though working on my trucking exit plan well I’ll still be driving here and there but won’t be my main duty

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WallaWallaby011@reddit

Oh I forgot to add that’s only working 45 hours. Overtime pay is $38/hr

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Damn ! Wait really? What company if you don’t mind me asking ? Thx

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Usual-Guarantee6346@reddit

I’m at Cowan

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Usual-Guarantee6346@reddit

That’s sweet makes the extra hours worth it

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Oh lol 😆 well that makes sense lol 😆 yard jockey ?

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WallaWallaby011@reddit

Not really. I drive a freightliner so I have to physically hook & unhook and also double drop some trailers so it’s definitely a workout lol. I WISH I could just lift the trailers in the air 😂. I drive on the road from the manufacturer to the shipper warehouse. It’s a fun job. I work second shift and get out whenever second shift at the warehouse gets out.

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Disastrous-East-1143@reddit

What's overtime?🤔🤣

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Weary-Writer758@reddit

I worked for a company that always paid overtime after 40 hours. It didn't take long to burn out, but after 15 years I had to hang up the keys. I think 2 other drivers after me had the same pay structure, but after that overtime was paid after 45 hours.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Bro it’s criminal ! 😭 I even got a raise today but damn 😢

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Sterling_____Archer@reddit

Truckers union.

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BsrKLions@reddit

I mean local isn’t really like that.. sure, you’re still in a truck, but it’s like any other job. Clock in during the morning, clock out in the afternoon, then go home.

Basically any LTL or fuel hauling company will give you OT after 40 and there’s usually plenty of it. I do fuel and average 9-10 hours a day

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DennisReynoldsGG@reddit

There’s no LTL’s in my area giving OT over 40. I don’t get any. The SAIA, OD, Estes, and Magnum don’t until 45 or 50.

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XanJamZ@reddit

Ex Magnum employee here. OT is after 40 not 45. Local with them on the O&M dedicated route was the easiest highest paying job I've had in my life.

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BsrKLions@reddit

I’m sure it’s terminal specific, but fuel across the board is OT after 40 as long as you don’t work for a load pay company

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Regular_Shelter_4293@reddit

Island transportation (fuel company) does not have OT after 40 but starting pay is $35 and tops out at $38. They also are unionized. I’m thinking about joining them this would be my first fuel gig. From the reviews I’ve seen this is just a place you go to get your fuel hauling experience and then you dip out to somewhere better.

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ParticularArrival111@reddit

Only xpo and dayton do ot after 40. Saia is 45 estes is 50 od is 55 rl doesnt get ot.

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BsrKLions@reddit

I’m just going based off what I’ve heard from other drivers in my area. I really only have personal experience with fuel.

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ParticularArrival111@reddit

I work for one of them. I see all the other drivers everyday we all know we what each other make. I dont know about fuel but ltl doesn't like to pay ot. Still some of the best money out there though.

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Dr_Adderall_2000@reddit

8 months in and I am already looking at different careers. I’m going to become another statistic and I’m fine with that.

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TaperingRanger9@reddit

I feel it. I'm home daily with weekends off. Sounds nice on paper but I pretty much am just living for the weekend. I have absolutely zero time for myself on weekdays. Been so burnt out lately that I don't even go out and do anything anymore, just stay home and rest until Monday. Rip

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Responsible_Slip8890@reddit

I would be 7 years this November semi truck driver. I decided to go with a local box truck company furniture delivery normal hours 8-4 m-f

I can take care of my Father more

Don't get me wrong I love trucking just need a break from OTR and I can take care my family and mental and physical health a lot better now.

Be safe out there drivers.

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Dangerous_Ad4451@reddit

OTR pay should be a crime.

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Cornfugga@reddit

The answer is unionization. The entire economy collapses in a week without trucks rolling. But keeping us disorganized and without any leverage, they can pay us less and work us more.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Yeah but no one will just get some guys together and make a simple union organizer call and face the supervisors and account managers

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Cornfugga@reddit

I wish I had the solution, but I am not an organizer. I do know I am looking for a union job though.

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dstrezzd@reddit

Everyone is looking for a union job, and if they aren't it's cause they don't know the lifestyle one would provide. I'm just getting into food service cause that otr pay is abysmal

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parkway-horizons96@reddit

I was netting $100-$400 per week if I was lucky. It was absolute dogshit I was about to turn the truck in until I got very lucky and found a local position paying what everyone should be making starting out.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

I know a lot of union reps personally tbh. Man go . Man join up quick ! It’s worth it !

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starjammer69@reddit

It’s all going to depend on how strong your union leadership is. Mine is weak AF and sides with the company more than they do the drivers. We get OT over 40 with a guarantee 40 even if you work less, but they pay is low and the healthcare plan is an HDHP for those of us hired after 2023(the rest have 85/15 PPO). Damned a$$hats voted for that too. Screwed the new people so they could get $.25 more per hour. The company does more nitpicking so they can have the paper trail that’s needed to fire people. So no just because it’s a union job, that doesn’t mean it’s any better. This is my first (and probably only) union job I’ve had and it’s actually been my least favorite job in the last 10 years.

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RichCypher@reddit

There is no way we get all truckers working together but one idea occurs to me. If we could just get all fuel haulers to work together to strike I bet that would shut down the country in a matter of days at most. Much smaller group of drivers to organize with huge impact.

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Gonnahauntcha@reddit

Do local work

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post_mah_bone@reddit

Burnt out? From sitting all day? 70 hrs but only 5 of that is actually work (sweeping out trailers etc). The rest is listening to music while ignoring your driver manager yelling at you. Change your perspective. Soft. Hands.

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Initial-Relation-696@reddit

i always said if your sitting on the front edge of your seat, diving lane to lane, you wont make it.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

lol 😆 you’re so arrogant lol 😆 get outta here that’s just “COPIUM .” Keep comments like that to yourself bro . 😎

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Initial-Relation-696@reddit

Dont worry trucks without cabs coming soon. I think that most driving will be local, long haul will be autonomous. Look at the truck lane Georgia is going to build, could quickly turn into driverless lane. UPS just took delivery of its first autonomous yard dogs. those jobs ending. I am sure driverless will not take over every situation, but have you seen those robots out of china?

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baltbum@reddit

You all think republicans are friends with truckers. B.S! Republicans are not for truckers. Name one industry that has a 130% turnover rate every year. Where is the investigation into that? Where are the regulations to prevent that? How many drivers retire with a full retirement pension? Very few. Why? Why hasn't the government set up a pension program for truckers, that it doesn't matter who you drive for or how many companies you drive for, after 10 years you will be entitled to a pension. The list goes on and on. Most truck drivers don't vote, why? Because they aren't home to vote. Politicians don't care about truck drivers. If we were all under one union, then we would have a voice.

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Admirable_Lab_7867@reddit

I made a post here a few says ago about how the hourly expectation is insane and people were genuinely upset. Not everyone, but people really defend this shit.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

I wouldn’t doubt that. People suck. Haha 🤣 that’s wild man . We live in clown 🤡 town society lol

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ignoreme010101@reddit

I think it might be the logic of "trucking hours are not regular hours", so if companies were forced to do overtime they would limit >40hr workweeks (and like how would time even be computed when you're gone 24hrs but only drove 10?)

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homucifer666@reddit

Grind and hustle culture is a poison we've been brainwashed into accepting. The good life isn't ours because we don't work hard enough; it's a dream that was stolen from us.

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Huminahuminahu@reddit

Union Strong, otherwise divide and conquer by the owners will be the rule of the land. And I'm not talking the everyday owners, I'm talking about the big big money owners that never need step foot in a shipping yard

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West_Masterpiece9423@reddit

Could try local.

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Historical_Koala_688@reddit

Go local, same money and normal schedule

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familyedit@reddit

I got 36 years in this crap and so looking forward to retirement in 6 more years

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Montreal4life@reddit

Greatful ive had hourly jobs, this current one overtime after 8 in the day in incredible… find a better job OP, I believe it you!

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FaceWithAName@reddit

I started feeling it at a year and a half. Idc what anyone says, you CAN keep going but it's just not worth it at times. Some people love spending their entire life in a truck though and for those people this job probably rocks.

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GabtsbyForaDay@reddit

Yeah my buddy is an o/o and he runs 14-17 sometimes 24 hr days and then sleeps a handful of hours and back at it. In cali is it impossible to run legal and support a family with diesel & rates what they are. Hell last week i worked a 10 hr, got off and had less than 8 hrs between getting into my car and stepping through my front door. Then worked a 15 hr the next day. I also work odd hours as i either 2-4am and get off 1-4 and have a normal 6-8am start the next day then early start again. Draining having inconsistent sleep hours.

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FaceWithAName@reddit

This just isn't healthy my man. I hope you can find something more sustainable long term, even if it comes at a tiny pay cut. Some things just are not worth the dollars you get in exchange. Do you work out at least? Got to whe you are driving that long

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GabtsbyForaDay@reddit

Oh yeah i’m burnt out and trying to get out of trucking. Hopefully can be out next month with a job i’m trying to get into. And this job i took a small pay cut and worked decent normal hours(5-7am start until 2-4pm up until maybe early/mid last year) and my boss is cool i only work 4 days a week and very rarely help out with a load on my day off.
And yes i workout, not as much as i used to before i got into trucking but i am still in good shape and healthy… besides my sleep schedule.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Bro that sounds draining

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Oh yeah that would be an adventure of a lifetime

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roytwo@reddit

been like this for many decades . I drove from 1982 to 2022.When I started ,back before GPS tracking and with paper logs, 60 hrs a week was part time.

Trucking has one advantage, it is one of the last few jobs that if you have no education and are willing to work hard and for long hours you make some good money, BUT it is not a good job, it often wrecks your health, it is demoralizing and it only takes a few years to reach burn out stage, which you deal with, for the remaining decades of your career.

And once you are in , you get used to the money and there are not many of those, once upon a time, good paying, union jobs, one could get right out of high school anymore to move to making the same money

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Damn man

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akwardelf@reddit

Trucking is not gonna change as long as there are people who are willing to drive with the compensation they are receiving. This applies to every job anywhere.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

No kidding . Well the economy as well.

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akwardelf@reddit

Could be but even on a good economy, wages for drivers never improved. I’m pretty sure there are some exceptions but for the vast majority, we only got that pizza party on driver’s appreciation week that we could never attend.

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parkway-horizons96@reddit

That shit killed me the most while being OTR man, company messages going out about Driver Appreciation, and I was never near or routed through a terminal. “Make sure to stop and pick up your gear bag and get some food!!” shit was depressing every time lol

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akwardelf@reddit

Lmao … I know. Instead of driver appreciation week, it should be called office and dispatch bonanza.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

lol definitely. Well yeah . It’s part of an infrastructure system. It’s very complex

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akwardelf@reddit

I was just reading all your other replies and I would suggest you to take a vacation. That will help out breaking the cycle.

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Pakman____@reddit

I refuse to work for companies that don't pay hourly or overtime. You guys take that shitty pennies per mile pay then cry about it later. If you guys had a pair you'd do something about it instead of getting bent over and railed from behind. And it's a lot of old-timers that want that mileage pay for whatever reason. Mahes zero sense to me. I value my time. Not how many miles I might get.

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nicerakk@reddit

Why are you still a company driver? Get into a LP. At least you can get away from forced dispatch and go home for as long as you want. Most megas have LP. Check CRST Specialized or Prime

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Thanks . Food for thought . But tbh have heard terrible things about those companies long term . No offense to you . Glad it works for you .

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nicerakk@reddit

You will find that there are people that talk shit about every company out there. It's really up to you to find out for yourself if a company is good for you.

But the one thing I can say from my own experience is that being a company driver for cents per mile is the bottom of the barrel.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

lol or you never learned to play the game and win 🥇. To each their own bro 😎

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LASTOBS@reddit

Lp is just a company driver with all the bills

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nicerakk@reddit

And more money and more write offs on taxes. Where are you an LP at?

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

It’s not about the pay bro when it comes down to it .

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nicerakk@reddit

Well, if it's not about the pay then maybe otr isn't for you. As for me, the experience the wife and I got while being at CRST Specialized set us up. We gross 8-12k a week on the regular. Our best true 1 week pay was 20K. That's without any load carry over from the previous week. We average about 4,000 miles a week. Sometimes we do 5,000 sometimes we do 3,000. We go home when we want, for as long as we want

The money is what we work for. The job is easy because we have the knowledge and skills to do our job well. Anybody can take the path we did.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

lol 😆 I’m not doing otr . Lmao 🤣 I make 3k a week I’m home for a week every two weeks . I’m a supervisor .

Dude . No Offense . Your advice is SALT 🧂 Y !!!!

Lmao 🤣 when pigs 🐷 fly 🪽 buddy keep dreaming .

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nicerakk@reddit

Work 2 and off 1 and it's hard? 🤣 Ya, maybe you do need a break.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Oh lol 😆 my bad 😣 I meant to type 4

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nicerakk@reddit

3k a week is pretty good regardless. As a company driver, that's hard to come by. Not impossible obviously, but not the norm. Keep charging it!

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Ugh man I would love to keep charging but boy am I exhausted lol 😆 but thanks man . I appreciate the support. Yeah you’re right . I should be grateful. Keep my friends close but my enemies closer .

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nicerakk@reddit

Maybe a leave of absence to get your body right. Not sure if that's an option tho.

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LASTOBS@reddit

95% of LP drivers make the same as company drivers and never own the truck. I wouldn’t recommend anyone LP from the same company that controls your day to day responsibilities. Just save money pay off your credit and go get you a truck that nobody else controls but you

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nicerakk@reddit

What company were you in a LP?

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nicerakk@reddit

You can buy the truck at the end of the lease then sell it. I know there are companies out there that are shady and control your day to day. But in my experience CRST Specialized was a great place to start off. It broke me in and taught me the industry. It also taught me special commodities. I was there for 9 years. I was totally happy there. I was able to buy a house while I was there. Granted, I'm a team with my wife, but the money was good. LP is the next step from being a company driver.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

lol 😆 you’re half right lol 😆

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Iloveproduce@reddit

This is some of the worst advice ever given by anyone in human history. Bad bot bad.

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nicerakk@reddit

Lol. Sounds like you chose the wrong company if you've ever made the jump

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trucksarekewl@reddit

Yea homeboy is burnt out on trucking. Lets suggest he cranks his stress up even more lol. Cmon bro

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Hahaha 😂 bro exactly !!!! YIKES !!!! 😬

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nicerakk@reddit

He's burnt out of working 60 hours a week and being written up for declining loads. It ain't like that if you're O/I or LP. Forced dispatch ruins most people. PTO sucks. Once you advance from a company driver to at least an LP, it gets a lot easier. Loads always have enough time to make on time delivery. You can choose to keep running or wait for better money loads. It's the difference between night and day. I rarely run into drivers that have gone from LP back to being a company driver. The ones that do just ain't smart enough to figure it out.

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Admirable_Lab_7867@reddit

Truckers really are genuinely tone deaf.

Op: "I need a break"

Nicerakk: "bro just hop into a program where the payments never stop and comes with a 5 year commitment"

Thats a real mouth breather IQ suggestion

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Hahaha 😂 love the sarcasm thanks ma good laugh

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

🤦‍♂️ I know but man let’s play nice lol 😆

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Feeling-Cap-7210@reddit

I salute all yall OTR drivers. I couldn’t do it

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Awkward-Fig-1428@reddit

Stop making the hookers go missing. Its all that digging thats the burn out

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starlux33@reddit

Boundaries, one of the most important life skills anyone can learn, but especially for truckers.

My attitude is...

Yes I will work long hours and hustle, but I will take care of myself. If a company pushes that boundary where they expect that I give beyond what I can give and still maintain a healthy balance of mind and body, then they can fuck right off. If I need to take a nap instead of pushing through, I take a nap. If I find a good spot to take a good walk, I'll shut down a little early.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

lol 😆 well glad to hear that has worked for you so far. But trust me , it won’t last long term lol

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Disastrous-East-1143@reddit

At least you don't work for the Serbians

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Oh man no kidding

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Disastrous-East-1143@reddit

One thing nice about trucking, especially with 5yrs in, you can get a job you want, you don't have to settle.. just have to look... or buy a truck and do it for your self... that's my goal.

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No_Edge_7964@reddit

10 years of fuel transport, I fucking hate this job and my life

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Man . I’m sorry 😢

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No_Edge_7964@reddit

It is what is. 80 hours a week of this shit, 12 days on, 2 days off. At least I can retire by 45 if I survive this

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Man . Wow . I hope you have a great retirement my friend . Take it easy and take care of yourself please

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adventureandlife137@reddit

Many LTL P&D jobs pay hourly with overtime pay after 8 hours or 40!

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Akshually69@reddit

Just go local, otr is a scam

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

lol 😆 not doing OTR lol 😆 I make close to 3k a week but boss …. I’m TIRED 🥱!

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LordBandimer@reddit

it’s not for everyone. It’s perfect for me because i’m divorced and my 3 kids are grown. I want as many loads and as much of my time filled up as possible. I’m grinding hard for retirement in 10 years. Time on the road is grind time, grind grind grind and then take a couple weeks off on vacation. Ya gotta play hard and always keep the goal at top of mind. Buy a truck, get out of the company driver mindset.

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Lopsided-Bath-8404@reddit (OP)

Bro haha good for you . Happy for you but this sounds like serious 🧐 “ COPIUM “

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Admirable-Cookie2888@reddit

After working both LOCAL AND OTR you're absolutely right the hours are ridiculous. Truckers for some reason don't believe in unions most of them when it'll absolutely benefit them. But deregulation is what caused this and from there it'll always be a race to the bottom. Some people like in the comments harp on their local jobs and yes they may get those benefits and pay but mathematically everyone can't get a local job due to a full staff or location local jobs are few and far between. They also leave out the fact you'll be working hard for that 100k it's driving and physical labor. But imo it's not worth the burnout and the catch is that most places aren't hiring at home either because how do you transfer trucking skills over to a new job that doesn't have a truck. I digress yes I totally agree just take time off and give it a break for awhile.

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