General Discussion

MADem

(135,425 posts)

40. My income was cut in half when I retired.

Tue Jul 24, 2012, 04:06 PM

Jul 2012

It's amazing how much one can economize when one doesn't have to deal with the "outside world" on a daily basis. Clothing, food bought at restaurants, gasoline, etc., it all adds up. With very little effort I was able to re-prioritize my needs and downsize my life and scarcely notice the income loss.

I think living in the back of a damn truck for huge amounts of time would be a hardship, and the trucker would be nickle-and-dimed. Hot meal? Gotta buy it. Hot shower? Same deal. Can't stand sleeping in the back of a truck for one more night? Even that flophouse will cost ya. And who pays for the fuel? And the truck maintenance? I suppose it depends on if the rig belongs to the company or the driver.

It doesn't seem like a cushy job to me. I'm guessing those guys earn every dime.

Edit history

Please sign in to view edit histories.

Recommendations

0 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

147 replies

= new reply since forum marked as read

Highlight:

Tons of trucking jobs ... that nobody wants [View all] sinkingfeeling Jul 2012 OP

if there is such a shortage, why is the pay so low? Enrique Jul 2012 #1

there you go again, injecting reality into corporate management issues lol nt msongs Jul 2012 #2

Ask these guys (Lawyers show corps how NOT to hire US citizens) uponit7771 Jul 2012 #10

I know i am going to get blasted for this.. Missycim Jul 2012 #14

yep. HiPointDem Jul 2012 #94

Not by me JonLP24 Jul 2012 #108

I KNEW there was a reason I have hated Human Resource personnel my whole life Volaris Jul 2012 #54

I would say MOST care. We don't control our VPs, however. Lisa0825 Jul 2012 #103

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make your exp. here worse. Volaris Jul 2012 #115

Re your last sentence: That is because . . . Brigid Jul 2012 #135

Right you are ... it's called "supply and demand"... ljm2002 Jul 2012 #22

Yeah, what gives here? Canuckistanian Jul 2012 #38

When labor might benefit, the Hand also becomes intangible and mute... JHB Jul 2012 #89

Why? "Truckers earn a median annual wage of $37,930." muntrv Jul 2012 #51

well handmade34 Jul 2012 #58

But the truckers' pay is not enough to pay back student loans and feed a JDPriestly Jul 2012 #90

Nailed it!! Right to the wall! Zalatix Jul 2012 #74

Thread winner already! Brigid Jul 2012 #136

Because someone else will undercut you? FrodosPet Jul 2012 #138

WTF? $37,930? denverbill Jul 2012 #3

Shit, for $50K a year I'd be tempted to do it. hifiguy Jul 2012 #56

many do have pets! handmade34 Jul 2012 #60

I have seen many a driver with a cat... Missycim Jul 2012 #120

another thing we can thank clinton for -- further deregulation of trucking. HiPointDem Jul 2012 #95

here's a hint.... mike_c Jul 2012 #4

Bingo! I think you are absolutely right! Laurian Jul 2012 #7

I agree Missycim Jul 2012 #9

Excellent - I have the talking point for my next class discussion . Initech Jul 2012 #27

+1 Scuba Jul 2012 #34

I agree. Alduin Jul 2012 #53

Ding ding we have a winner malaise Jul 2012 #79

+1M magical thyme Jul 2012 #80

Now you're talk'n! lonestarnot Jul 2012 #125

Yep. The "[serfs] should be jumping at any chance to work" line made me want to vomit... drokhole Jul 2012 #132

If there is a shortage Rabid_Rabbit Jul 2012 #5

Foot the bill for training for a job you are advertizing for, that has no takers? RC Jul 2012 #8

well some companies do pay for training... Missycim Jul 2012 #11

Some companies DO pay for training FrodosPet Jul 2012 #140

I know why no one wants the jobs. Missycim Jul 2012 #6

Yeapers, I work in IT and this is how the started in on that industry....Vid Inside that will make.. uponit7771 Jul 2012 #12

IT has gotten just as bad Aerows Jul 2012 #31

That was my guess. Incitatus Jul 2012 #13

So you think $38,000-58,000 isn't decent pay? The medium income sinkingfeeling Jul 2012 #20

Ya try living on the road.. Missycim Jul 2012 #24

Tjhanks for your expert commentary...no matter how low the pay you will get that comment... rfranklin Jul 2012 #28

My income was cut in half when I retired. MADem Jul 2012 #40

its like most things.. Missycim Jul 2012 #45

most of the people at du who say "those are decent wages" seem to be the same people saying HiPointDem Jul 2012 #96

Really? I posted both the medium wage for truck drivers and the national. I think that sinkingfeeling Jul 2012 #119

"are ALL LOCAL" 4_TN_TITANS Jul 2012 #30

Sorry, you didn't answer the question and my son was an OTR driver. Still has sinkingfeeling Jul 2012 #35

You asked a question? Missycim Jul 2012 #41

He drove for a national OTR company and they provided the truck and trailers. He was sinkingfeeling Jul 2012 #49

Anecdotal matt819 Jul 2012 #61

What major trucking company hired a 22 year old? Ikonoklast Jul 2012 #110

It was in 1994 and he's now a senior in college after a decade or so of sinkingfeeling Jul 2012 #117

That was almost 20 years ago! salvorhardin Jul 2012 #139

How long ago was that and what's he doing now? Hassin Bin Sober Jul 2012 #71

before or after carter, then clinton deregulated trucking? HiPointDem Jul 2012 #100

omg Missycim Jul 2012 #124

You need certification, first of all Aerows Jul 2012 #32

It is not decent pay ... Teamster Jeff Jul 2012 #39

I've always said, "beware any job that's always hiring" Hassin Bin Sober Jul 2012 #69

It isn't decent for a job that takes a person away from his/her family JDPriestly Jul 2012 #92

Welcome to DU, and you are right - the media helps them find excuses closeupready Jul 2012 #18

Most people in the media are also underpaid and merely rewrite press releases from PR firms... rfranklin Jul 2012 #46

I recall that 37 thousand dollars is about what truckers made in the early 80's slampoet Jul 2012 #19

that was a lot of money back then. Missycim Jul 2012 #70

It isn't even enough to live inside a good large city today. slampoet Jul 2012 #84

Friends I knew during the 70's were making over $100,000 a year driving OTR NNN0LHI Jul 2012 #23

well the flip side of that coin Missycim Jul 2012 #121

Correct me if I'm wrong, but another reason is that companies shift the expenses muntrv Jul 2012 #59

OUCH... Seriously? No wonder no one wants that job. Zalatix Jul 2012 #75

Welcome to DU.... physioex Jul 2012 #82

On this website, you will find that people agree with you on this. JDPriestly Jul 2012 #91

thanks for posting that Enrique Jul 2012 #97

And that pay rate is total bullshit until you have done it for a few years. Egalitarian Thug Jul 2012 #15

You aint kidding Missycim Jul 2012 #122

Not only is the pay low... Scootaloo Jul 2012 #16

This is another reason FOR highly progressive taxes JHB Jul 2012 #17

I've been arguing this for years, not as eloquently as you. closeupready Jul 2012 #21

$6K for 2 months of training... that's a higher rate than private Universities charge. Liberal_in_LA Jul 2012 #25

well a lot Missycim Jul 2012 #123

1) It doesn't cost 6k in So. Cal - 2) Most companies will cherokeeprogressive Jul 2012 #26

Why aren't you doing it now? Aerows Jul 2012 #33

I got a local gig. cherokeeprogressive Jul 2012 #44

You got a local gig Aerows Jul 2012 #47

It's more complicated than that. cherokeeprogressive Jul 2012 #87

Not around here Marrah_G Jul 2012 #68

The company I drove for charged $2500, $3900 if they paid with the stipulation that cherokeeprogressive Jul 2012 #85

And the pay figures used are massaged to hell. Egalitarian Thug Jul 2012 #29

Food prices are high Aerows Jul 2012 #50

To be fair Missycim Jul 2012 #126

Definitely not all companies, maybe it's a state law thing. And there are a small minority, Egalitarian Thug Jul 2012 #137

Why not ship on the railroads? MatthewStLouis Jul 2012 #36

you'd shit in your pants if truck drivers stopped driving. datasuspect Jul 2012 #43

lol ...If you bought it a truck brought it Teamster Jeff Jul 2012 #52

10-4 datasuspect Jul 2012 #65

No one said anything about getting rid of truck drivers. MatthewStLouis Jul 2012 #72

i can't help you there bubba datasuspect Jul 2012 #73

I Agree Mathew wendylaroux Jul 2012 #104

The low cost and efficiency of rail freight should tell you just how badly truck drivers are paid. Egalitarian Thug Jul 2012 #64

Oil COMPANIES block every attempt to expand the railroad julian09 Jul 2012 #66

At least in the northeast, the railroads are seriously broken. Mopar151 Jul 2012 #78

Did you think that thought through? Missycim Jul 2012 #127

Yes, more railroads. But NOT in my backyard FrodosPet Jul 2012 #143

Wages must have gone down, then. 37,000 sucks for that line of work. I thought TwilightGardener Jul 2012 #37

i'd be the drivingest motherfucker on the road datasuspect Jul 2012 #42

If they aren't paying shit Aerows Jul 2012 #48

Correct me if I'm wrong, but another reason is that companies shift the expenses muntrv Jul 2012 #55

Yep.... Teamster Jeff Jul 2012 #62

fed ex drivers have to pay for fuel & repairs? do they actually own the vehicles? HiPointDem Jul 2012 #98

Oh god... jmowreader Jul 2012 #111

Know a relative pulling down in the 60's. NEVER turns down a job. ALOT of road time,, benld74 Jul 2012 #57

Do they have to pay for their own diesel? Because that would eat up a ton of income. nt NickB79 Jul 2012 #63

sounds like i'm blowing smoke datasuspect Jul 2012 #67

This message was self-deleted by its author bupkus Jul 2012 #76

I have had an idea about this for years Teamster Jeff Jul 2012 #77

Heck no.... physioex Jul 2012 #83

You hit the nail on the head Missycim Jul 2012 #128

Let's face it...working sucks period. It's all just degrees of how much it sucks. dkf Jul 2012 #81

I disagree Tsiyu Jul 2012 #86

I enjoy working, so I disagree. Most of the time I look forward to starting work each day... yawnmaster Jul 2012 #99

Yup. I'm an oddball, too. meaculpa2011 Jul 2012 #142

I know a couple people who do this Motown_Johnny Jul 2012 #88

Maybe people don't have the $6000 treestar Jul 2012 #93

interesting freeper thread on this Enrique Jul 2012 #101

Wow. n/t lumberjack_jeff Jul 2012 #106

A couple of other points: PDJane Jul 2012 #102

Trucking is a mixed bag and the longhaul lifestyle sucks. lumberjack_jeff Jul 2012 #105

They don't want me JonLP24 Jul 2012 #107

I am a long-haul truck driver; I am an Owner/Operator that has his own operating authority. Ikonoklast Jul 2012 #109

There is also the catch........... Smilo Jul 2012 #112

J.B. Hunt CBGLuthier Jul 2012 #118

you hear this one? Missycim Jul 2012 #129

Just Been Hired Unfortunately Not Trained. Ikonoklast Jul 2012 #130

Know why? Fucked up working condition if its not a union job. Believe me...they will own you! demosincebirth Jul 2012 #113

I know someone who can't even get into a trucking school. VenusRising Jul 2012 #114

The median wage obviously isn't what they start at, and they have a lot of job-related expenses gollygee Jul 2012 #116

A lot of new Missycim Jul 2012 #131

High price of fuel, crazy drivers, torn up and overcrowded highways tawadi Jul 2012 #133

One thing that needs to be pointed out (about OTR driving) BlueJazz Jul 2012 #134

drug tests, background checks, past DUI's, Facebook photos, pre-existing conditions....etc...etc.. Evasporque Jul 2012 #141

Post removed Post removed Oct 2013 #144

Message auto-removed Name removed Nov 2013 #145

There are a lot of truck driving job prospects with the highly potential for greater salary growth justinvincent Nov 2013 #146

welcome to DU gopiscrap Nov 2013 #147