General Discussion

A HERETIC I AM

(24,908 posts)

53. Yeah, still at it!

Tue May 29, 2018, 02:33 PM

May 2018

I'll have to drive till I drop dead. After I left F.J. Boutell I hauled cars till 2004 when I got back into motor racing. That lasted 2 years when the company was on the verge of going belly up. Became a Stock Broker in 2006 and back to car haul in 2010. Been hauling mail for 3 years now.

I'm a Teamster here but this local does not participate in the pension plan. The company offers a 401(k) but the Mutual Fund choices suck, so I don't participate. I use an IRA instead.

As far as typing anything up;

So perhaps I’ll write up an OP when I get home in about 6 hours in an attempt to clarify where the author of the article as well as many of the commentators on this thread seem to be laboring under a misapprehension.

The operative word being "perhaps"! I've got a 12 hour trip tonight I have to leave for in an hour followed by the same thing the day after.

Sort these wankers out, willya?!?

BTW, I looked into becoming an instructor down here in Jax, FL. They offered $12/hour! That would have been a 50% cut in pay! Not bloody interested.

Good to see you, old man!

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Highlight:

America has a massive truck driver shortage. Here's why few want an $80,000 job. [View all] RandySF May 2018 OP

Working link: Make7 May 2018 #1

I recall reading a similar article a couple of years ago, particularly about how hard the life is politicaljunkie41910 May 2018 #2

I know the job is hard and probably not worth it TlalocW May 2018 #3

It's the E-Log rules that many drivers loath. Kotya May 2018 #30

Do the math. rgbecker May 2018 #4

Isn't the federal mileage reimbursement greater than 50 cents a mile crazycatlady May 2018 #14

Well, the Fed mileage thing is to pay the expenses of operating the car.... rgbecker May 2018 #46

Partly 'cause it isn't an $80,000 job? nt shanny May 2018 #5

Thank you. nt Nay May 2018 #17

+1 uponit7771 May 2018 #42

I was part of the brotherhood... DAMANgoldberg May 2018 #6

What do you mean "run outlaw?" n/t W_HAMILTON May 2018 #18

Don't want to speak for the original commenter waddirum May 2018 #21

Exactly... DAMANgoldberg May 2018 #25

I dont get it Kilgore May 2018 #7

No they don't gross 70 grand a year, the new log book rules wouldn't allow that unless you're paying sarcasmo May 2018 #9

Your thinking owner operator, not the case here Kilgore May 2018 #35

$70k a year with OT. Mariana May 2018 #12

Depends Kilgore May 2018 #36

Still have my CDL, the easiest money quote is far from the truth. sarcasmo May 2018 #8

It doesn't look easy to me. ooky May 2018 #31

I have also Rebl2 May 2018 #10

Funny how these articles lie and say truck drivers make 80,000 a year. sarcasmo May 2018 #11

"Many of her drivers now earn $80,000 a year." Mariana May 2018 #13

Trucking company recruiters have always had a lying issue. sarcasmo May 2018 #16

Seems like something these "economically disadvantaged" white righters could do from any rural Thomas Hurt May 2018 #15

You need to pass drug/alcohol tests RandySF May 2018 #29

Dad was a trucker, because it *was* the best money he could get w/o a degree. moriah May 2018 #19

Dim rather than bright KentuckyWoman May 2018 #22

Yep -- they'll notice the change if you can see their mirror... moriah May 2018 #23

Speaking as a trucker...... A HERETIC I AM May 2018 #45

80K???? DiverDave May 2018 #20

+1 RandySF May 2018 #27

You an owner operator or direct? Kilgore May 2018 #38

But isn't trucking going the way of all industries catrose May 2018 #24

Most drivers don't own their own rigs jmowreader May 2018 #37

The article I saw (which naturally I can't find now) catrose May 2018 #39

Do Truckers have to pay expenses out of the $80K? IronLionZion May 2018 #26

It happened when Jimmy Carter was trying to out republican the republicans nolabels May 2018 #34

+1 shanny May 2018 #52

Yes. All the trucks are pounding the hell out of the roads. roamer65 May 2018 #41

The railroads are most efficient at getting a large amount of the same thing from one single point.. A HERETIC I AM May 2018 #44

Unless you're building all the malls and stores at the railroad depot you're going to need trucks TeamPooka May 2018 #59

NO! Company drivers, which is what the article is referring to..... A HERETIC I AM May 2018 #43

Please tell me about trucks in the 1860's IronLionZion May 2018 #50

Based on your "rolling eyes" smiley..... A HERETIC I AM May 2018 #54

You posted a link and a video showing stuff going from trains onto trucks IronLionZion May 2018 #57

51000 short out of 3.5 million drivers isn't that horrible Cicada May 2018 #28

I couldn't do it. It's very dangerous, and it's unhealthy. Honeycombe8 May 2018 #32

My dad knew a ton of retired drivers and they had back issues. RandySF May 2018 #33

I'm typing this on my 30 min break sitting in the cab of a Navistar LT A HERETIC I AM May 2018 #40

Are you still at it? Snotcicles May 2018 #49

Yeah, still at it! A HERETIC I AM May 2018 #53

I would love to be a truck driver. rownesheck May 2018 #47

And that is why long distance self driving trucks will arrive before self driving cars. Le Gaucher May 2018 #48

"get little respect from car drivers..." ecstatic May 2018 #51

Short answer? Yes A HERETIC I AM May 2018 #55

That's why they have warnings printed on the backs of trailers . . . hatrack May 2018 #56

Behind a truck is dangerous too IronLionZion May 2018 #58

Give them space and when you pass them do it quickly and efficiently. Don't drive next to them TeamPooka May 2018 #60