It is Reason why I left Now after 10 years. Because after all calculations I was making 8 $ an hour. Cheaper than McDonald's and sure no overtime to be paid. Switched to construction / 8 hours Monday to Friday 3500$ a month 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Until we park the trucks nothing will change.

We underpaid and I make 700 800 clean week driving straight truck local working 45 hours a week idk why guys go over the road simply make more local it's not worth it unless you make 1500 week clean minimum

@ad356

7 жыл бұрын

agree 100%. i do dump truck. seems to be the highest paid "straight truck"

The downside is that the majority of drivers coming into the industry are stuck being in a mega carrier their first couple years and get taken advantage of because they don't know any better

@ad356

7 жыл бұрын

i did it for a couple of months with werner and went local fast. nothing good about OTR with a major carrier. the megas are their own worst enemy when it comes to driver retention

Dave, you're a damn good man. Amen!

It still can't believe the disparity in driver's pay, especially hourly. I was sitting in traffic yesterday next to a guy who is driving for a company I applied for a few years ago and I know for a fact he makes $10 an hour LESS than I do. I know everyone needs to work but working for a company that won't pay what a driver is worth hurts the whole industry.

Yeah no bonuses and no extras

that's why i left full time trucking in 2000 to work for the Montreal City Transit Commission. Full Unionized job with all the bells and whistles. I hope that the ELD's will force a change in the way the carriers negotiate contracts to take into account that wasting the drivers time NOW MUST be compensated. Or better still, paying the drivers by the hour for their full 14 hours on duty, and 34 hour reset if they are not home. There is no reason they can't do this, with the ELD's they now know exactly how many hours the driver was on duty, just like punching a time card...Lets see what happens now..thnkx Dave

What always got me was why we fuel the truck, waiting for shippers receivers and dropping and hooking for free I just found a regional position that pays pretty well with a guaranteed salary. When I figured out the numbers it's a fair wage for the amount of work I do. Next year I'm going to go local part-time since my Trucking career is starting to come to an end. 26 + years out here is enough. EDLs heard us especially when we're sitting in traffic or waiting to get a load or unloading. That 14-hour clock burns up pretty fast

Thats why I got out in 1997.

With dashcams gps etc, companies that pay by the mile should pay by odometer! No more having to solely trust the drivers whereabouts, anymore.

Well, I can see your point on the ELD mandate. And I agree with your idea that drivers should be paid overtime. If these company had to pay overtime, it wouldn't be long and the company would then be jumping on the shippers and receivers to get these trucks out and away from the docks faster and much more efficiently. They right now think the drivers time is not important. Maybe the ELD will aid in that, I don't know....

This is a great video. Real truth right from the source.

Well Done Upset Mr Trucker. Everything change's nothing stays the same good and bad. I've never been a trucker however i know everything i eat wear and touch in daily life is transported by Driver's operating Big Rigs. I respect your labor's and the time away from wives and the kid's. RTT = Respect the Trucker !!!

@johnspano2487

7 жыл бұрын

Mark Stengel Thank You.

@gailmorra

7 жыл бұрын

Mark Stengel ☺

3months into trucking and I only get paid on average 500 before taxes and I'm gone for a month at a time

@SmartTrucking

5 жыл бұрын

Get out of there Brandon, you're getting screwed! Dave

What does a carrier actually do? Bidding on loads, making phone-calls, billing, sub-sub leasing and cooking the books?! So they are doing an office job only... With today computer tech do we need carriers at all?

@SmartTrucking

5 жыл бұрын

I didn't. Ran my own authority last twenty years and made the best money by eliminating carriers and load brokers. Dave

Bravo man

I'm an o/o leased to a company hauling milk to Wisconsin from Michigan and sat at the plant 14.5 hrs past my appt time and the plant will not pay detention after I billed them $80/hr so after I billed them they won't let me go back there which is fine but I'm still billing you I told them. My company I'm leased to said they'd pay me something to make me happy $100 is all they gave me..ot was a slap in the face to me disrespectful!!

Yes indeed good video dave

Paid by the hour as well. No more meals, showers, expensive cell phone plans, buying wifi to talk to family. Make more then otr driving staying close to home. Love driving truck. Won't own a truck again until this industry is fixed.

Da man is right!

Dave I don't understand why truck drivers are considered unskilled labor when we have to take special tests to get our license, we have to have training, we are regulated by three different agencies and we are only one of a few industries that working 5 minutes over your hours could get you put in prison. It makes no sense.

@SmartTrucking

7 жыл бұрын

You're right, it doesn't. We should be paid far more and recognized as skilled trades people. Dave

@chrisolsen7624

6 жыл бұрын

Good point. We have to take a skills test, but yet we are classified by government as unskilled.

Cavendish Agri in the Maritimes pays their drivers by the hour + overtime. Guys seem to like it, but they are pushed I know to keep moving and making deliveries especially in spring during cropping time.

More ways to lose than ways to Win, the companies keep finding tricks to nickel & dime what you THINK you'll get paid. First one I ran for (and the only Mega Carrier) used the 'Movers Guide' mileage scam. Min. 10% off from realistic mileage.

Hi Dave , here in the states drivers (according to the labor dept.) are classified as UNSKILLED LABOR. Contrary to popular propaganda referring to the driver as professional driver, you are neither a trade, a craft or a professional. Anything! You ARE looked at in the same way as an illegal immigrant ditch digger despite going and paying money for training to operate a somewhat complicated vehicle with overly complicated rules and laws. You are seen as EXPENDABLE, DEPLORABLE, EXPLOITABLE, AND FORGETTABLE. think about it. Stay safe out there drivers.

@nfamousonline

7 жыл бұрын

Wow, that's sad man really it is. We let the guys at the top set the rules when it should be the other way around.

And by the way Dave you have some great informative videos!

@SmartTrucking

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks Eddie! Dave

The problem is no unity among drivers.

@1:31 There's NO way I would work those hours for that pay.

I hear he's you, I was lied to by a mega carrier. They initially said no touch freight and that changed to 100% driver unload and not getting paid for unloading the truck. Then I saw the P.O.S. they expected me to drive, that pile wouldn't have made it through a D.O.T. inspection let alone a pre trip.

I know it's been s year since you made this video. I was watching out your side window, and it looks like you are running the highway between Lexington, KY and Louisville, KY.

Who do you know that works 70-90 hours a week and only makes 800 dollars. That's what a starting employee at target would make. Actually that's less than minimum wage

@SmartTrucking

5 жыл бұрын

Exactly right! Dave

Yes, it's unfair and that's standard... Listen up, it's real simple, the HOS regs would be irrelevant and unnecessary if driver's were paid hourly with OT, just like any other job. Why...? Because right now, the last mile to the carrier costs as much as the first, your mileage rate... So though they keep up appearances playing the game with lip service about safety, the more your ass is ground into the pavement the more money they make (or at the least, it doesn't cost them any more). At time and a half OT and approaching 60-65 hours, watch how fast they're ready for you to get off that dock, maintenance bay, etc...

They're going to move the team drivers any hot load and good rate are going to go to the team

the brokers and dispatchers are making money, owner operators have all the bills, and responsibility

i have been on and off about driving for a living i did get my learners permit but the jobs around here pay me the same that i get now as a health care "assistant" at $20 CAD yeah it pays the bills.. i guess but i dont understand why such crucial members of society are paid so low they should make as much if not more than journeyman

thx sr. good advice

Thumbs up.

Time and again thank you, thanks for showing the truth.

When i started driving in the mid 80's Most everything paid $2 per, everything was cheap and i remember Fuel for $.70 a gallon as late as the late 90's once fuel started to get over the $3 mark i was telling folks once they get us use to paying $3-4 per gallon we would never see it below $2 again .People praise $2 per gallon fuel , have the rates gone up? Nope if anything they have gone down , now all you hear is "All in" no fuel surcharge. Everything always falls on the driver..Always. Will anything change to benefit the driver? We wont see it in our lifetime.

This make sense. Carriers won't be able to make as much $. You running locally (obviously) in Canada.

you sound like a reasonable trucker, i wish you could train me sir

I need more info

Despite this, it still doesn't sound worth it for me to get into trucking. I was going to leave a full time job at 42k a year for this, but I feel like I'll be really working more for less even in Ontario where Dave is from. I don't think it's worth the change. Trouble is, so much feedback, 90% of which is US data.

😎🚛🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

@SmartTrucking

7 жыл бұрын

I've seen your stuff Andrew! Dave

become a owner-operator they could make up to 250k a year

@MegaGeorge1948

7 жыл бұрын

CAMARO_KYLE - Did you ever figure out what money that you have left over from that $250K after your expenses like: truck payments, fuel costs, insurance, repairs, maintenance, taxes, ect.)? 250K will go out of your pocket real fast.

@redsox2187

7 жыл бұрын

Matt.. That's awesome that you were able to put together your own business. I've been racking my brains, trying to start something else of my own. Once you get used to being self employed, it's hard to work for somebody else. I was running through the NC hills the other day. I loaded a load of rocks in Newport TN., and brought them down to Florida. Good luck to you, my friend!!

Hey there! Nice informative video! You are totally correct about in the US, the drivers also have to deal with the state laws the reside in, or where the company is headquartered! With that said not many know that when you cross a state line while on your daily local run, you are not covered by the overtime law! No mater how many hours you work! In a huge state like California and all the others out west that does not mean the same as say a driver in New England and especially in a smaller state! Like R. I. Or Delaware! Where it's a daily thing you will have to cross state lines. Hell I was stationed at a company in R. I. Where I would drive into three states in one day! But never was paid overtime! But that was back in the early 80's where jobs were hard to get and I was glad to have one! Only Union drivers get paid a decent wage! But how many Union managed companies are left? Only the biggest!

What burns me up more than anything is these news programs that talk about trucking and how the driver shortage is affecting the availability of products but they claim it’s because of drivers not wanting to be away from home and just a very smidgen about pay. Not really talking about the real problems of why people don’t want to be truckers or remain in the industry.

@SmartTrucking

5 жыл бұрын

I think it's' all about "spin" these days. Nobody wants to come out and admit it's because the pay is crap. They'll look for any excuse they can find other than just tell the truth. Drives me nuts too and that's why I do what I do here. I've seen too many guys lose their shirts because they worked for the wrong trucking company and stayed too long! Dave

The Canada cartage lawsuit will have a interesting outcome I'm sure

Hello again. Good video. I've just started at trucking school here in Denmark and I'm pumped. But what's sad is that I wanna get into long haul. But my teacher is saying that that would be hard because of the lover paid countries close to us like Poland. There are more foreign numberplates on the road than the Danish one's. But I'm not gonna accept that. I WILL get my my long haul job sooner or later. Drive safe guys.

Well, then the individual has to take a stand. "Refuse to drive unless you are paid by the hour with OT after 8/40. Otherwize you are setting yourself up to get screwed. I have 29 years in this "rackett" I call it a racket as thats what it is. Percentage = scam . Mileage = scam. I am currentley unemployed due to a labor dispute over the "short miles scam". It's hourly for me or nothing .

What ever Happened To our Strong Unions We Once Had ?

@rayme4raw

7 жыл бұрын

The Unions were started to limit opportunities for blacks, but Unions also eat their own, they made it so difficult for companies to operate profitably that either the Union went or the company went under.

@rogervoss4877

7 жыл бұрын

Drivers I've talked to want 'freedom' - I tend to call it freedom to be screwed.

@SmartTrucking

7 жыл бұрын

Hoffa destroyed their credibility. Dave

I'm a Union Driver, not Teamsters, I once was, OT after 8 hours, LTL, which is a ball busting job, but, at least I'm home every night and off the weekends,

Right on the spot.I was with the biggest megacarier, the first my check was around 950 b4 taxes. I put 68 hours for it and 2500 miles. I decided I am risking my life for less than 11 dollars per hour. I left the next day. You are much better drive local and beeng pay per hour.

Now thats some colorful money!

I engaged in my protest and left my last otr outfit in the fall of 2016 against this stuff by getting on a local hourly outfit. It looks like I'm going to have to suffer being at home every night and off weekends on hourly pay for years to come. Oh the pain,oh the suffering.

Big Dave..

C.R.England Chump Changed Me Out Of My Pay The Whole Time I Drove Over The Road For Them!!! My Girlfriend Jumped All Over My Ass!!! She Thought That I Was Wasting Money On Other Women While I Was Gone Driving Over The Road For C.R.England !!!! Because I Never Had Any Money To Shole For My Effort Driving Over The Road For C.R.England !!!! L.O.L.

How do you like that IMMI Seat Belt with Komfort Latch Dave?? Looks comfy. Love your videos. We are all about safety in the trucking industry here at IMMI.

well dave i gota say you struck a gold mine i have in 10 yrs otr heard of one company that pays by the hour and in those 10 years i have filled out several apps and even volunteered to relocate to work for them if they had a vacancy in another terminal but they have not lost a single driver in that time yet i did how ever finally find a good employer who no i dont get paid restarts but i get compensated with meals showers n nice hotel rooms amd bonuses if i stay out with my line of work being some what seasonal i have sometimes im home every weekend other times im out for a month or two but yes it would be nice to at least hear of that happening and yes these big carriers are about the worst way to go but industry regs kind of force people who are just getting started to go their route strength in numbers is how they operate and to be honest these eld mandates are going to be a flop but they are also the gov't's pets to put it nicely so let them learn the hardway they cannot control the industry!

Want to make 200+ a year for driving? Everyone would do it if that was the case

I gonna start my own trucking company and actually care about my driver's

40 years was enough...... I quit.

@SmartTrucking

6 жыл бұрын

Me too, but I missed the driving. Now working part time in the bush and I like it. Dave

Advise look for small company jobs. They treat you like family and some pay good per Hour plus overtime I'm in Wisconsin if any questions

It is not just truck drivers. All workers are affected. Governments just want to spend spend spend and that means taxes and higher taxes. This passes on to the employer and than the employee.

@wealthyintime1

7 жыл бұрын

I find is bizarre is that transit drivers get like $34 an hour, while a hourly paid truck driver is lucky to get $25 an hour.

@wealthyintime1

7 жыл бұрын

In 2012, a guy in Nova Scotia got his class 1 and did a month long internship. SDS (a brokerage that pulls M-O and Fast fraternity trailers offered him $12 per hour to start. Obviously he did not take it

@rayme4raw

7 жыл бұрын

I agree, they lie about the corporate ladder. Only one out of ten workers will get a promotion in their lifetime. Most careerists work a job for 2 or 3 years, improve their skills and education outside of their job, then move on while moving up. Never stay in one job hoping to get ahead. The only people getting multiple promotions were the minorities thanks to affirmative action.

Dave, a great deal of the freight being moved by your fellow road warriors is made with Chinese slave labor. They work for the proverbial bowl of rice a day, and the importers, distributors, consignees, and trucking companies want you to do the same.

That's why they need immigration to give them people that want to work for less, Somalia India etc everyday there is more and more of them. Even on h2b visas people come just for couple months to work for 3 times less than American so think about it

I started driving over the road in 1993 I had a great time never really made much money had some good weeks bad weeks I stuck with it for 12 years finally wised up and got me a local job and was lucky enough that it's a union job and I'm going to retire 2027 with a pension and a good retirement it's sad how bad it's gotten out there😟😟 if I lost my job with my company I think I would be a Walmart greeter or work in a fast food restaurant before I went back to OTR Trucking

What carrier you work for

Dave I'm not a CDL driver at this time. I'm finishing up my union carpenter career......I'll hit my 30yrs in a few months. But I'm looking for a mega carrier to go get my CDL sponsored training. Looking at flat bed work, which company would you steer me to in your honest opinion?? Any help?

@Brsrafal

7 жыл бұрын

Eddie Felix don't do it get your cdl. On your own and stay local. Dump truck roll off etc

@ad356

7 жыл бұрын

i have a class A and i do dump truck myself. $16 per hour with less then 1 year in and plenty of overtime. not uncommon to hit a $1,000 paycheck, and im home everynight. no job in trucking is 9-5 so get that notion out.

@waynesworld2086

7 жыл бұрын

Eddie Felix get tanker & hazmat as u get ur cdl & find a local tanker comp

@k.r.v.4219

7 жыл бұрын

Eddie Felix if you have a comfortable retirement, why would you want to enter an industry where you will take a job opening away from a younger guy trying to feed his family with a whole life and career ahead of them? My advice after 40 years as a driver, get a job at a local Home Depot and be home every night!

@SmartTrucking

7 жыл бұрын

I'd talk to TMC. Dave

Dear Dave, my company , which operates a fleet of concrete mixers, have decided to install driver facing / road facing dashcams. Camera is only supposed to be triggered by sudden actions from the truck, can not be remotely activated- I see this as an opportunity for my company to micro-manage,I was wondering what your thoughts would be about that- btw love your videos and all your input, I have been watching for about a year now.

@part380

7 жыл бұрын

Event recorders (cameras) are sometimes "encouraged" by their risk partner (insurance company). Don't run into anything and nobody will micro-mange you, IMHO . . .

@SmartTrucking

7 жыл бұрын

If the camera is only triggered by sudden action of the truck it misses what caused this action, like the car that cut the truck off, causing it to brake. So, I find it difficult to believe that it's not running all the time. I wouldn't drive for a company that had driver facing cameras. Personal choice. Dave

@randomsomeone1617

7 жыл бұрын

Smart-Trucking.com Dave they record constantly but only store events when triggered. When triggered it saves the event and keeps a certain amount of time BEFORE the event. Usually 30 seconds leading up to the event. If there is no event it overwrites the recorded data eventually. Also while im here... Do you ever consider that fleet owners will pass at least a portion of the increased cost of operation to the customers? I love your videos but you really seem to be playing the victim here. You arent the only spoke in the wheel, its going to effect the whole system.

When are E logs taking in effect anyone?

@SmartTrucking

7 жыл бұрын

December of this year, I believe. Dave

@BlockBallerRecords

6 жыл бұрын

Jordan See Next week 18th

Great video as usual Dave! But i had a question that pertained to another video that you mentioned that you had to set up your own pension fund. My pops always tells me to make sure your paying into your Social Security and try to save. Was there a particular organization you used to set your pension up back in the day? Not calling you old but you've been in the game longer than i have....lol. Dont want you to put your business in the street but any info would greatly be appreciated!

@SmartTrucking

6 жыл бұрын

No, I just meant putting money away. My wife ran our pension fund. Dave

Dont be a company driver and eld wont cause money lose for the company. Wherever you are getting your info is wrong.

@SmartTrucking

7 жыл бұрын

That makes no sense, agtorge. Dave

And guess what?? They don't do shit about it like park. So why bother talking about it. Talk talk talk. No fucking action.

Mr Dave do you know any good LTL companies in Buffalo Ny area? Thanks ...

@SmartTrucking

7 жыл бұрын

Geez, I don't. Sorry I couldn't help. Dave

@dontswin

7 жыл бұрын

Have you checked out R & L Carriers? The boss in Canton MA named Brian was a complete idiot, probably still is. But the work wasn't too bad if you want to work extra hours from time to time for straight pay. They basically want to force local guys to work extra time as needed. They don't pay time and a half, few do. After 3 years, you'll make decent dough not until then, even if you have 20 yrs. experience. It's total bullshit, it's my experience they ALL want you to start over wage wise. Good luck!

I was offered 15cents a mile from CREngland. I will not be going into trucking.

@SmartTrucking

6 жыл бұрын

You've got to be kidding! Dave

@ebwholesaler

6 жыл бұрын

That's true. But only during the 3 month training period (acompanied). Am i right ?

Construction is for real men who value their time and labor. Truckers are just lazy and give up their time.

Do you drive for Bison?

@SmartTrucking

6 жыл бұрын

No, never have. I hear they're okay though. Dave

Hey Dave are you in the greater Sudbury area?

@SmartTrucking

6 жыл бұрын

No. Dave

why dont veteran drivers like these camp out outside trucking schools in order to pass this info onto young drivers who dont know better?...a youtube video aint gonna do much, but a mini educational type protest outside these 3 week trucking schools will send young drivers away from megas.

Dave... Are you going to lead the union?? Haha... I'm always pickin' up what you're puttin' down, but without organisation and leadership, drivers will continue to get slaughtered by this industry. I've always stuck to lucrative positions, but it's almost as ugly out there on the other side of the fence outside of this industry (low wages and increased competition)... signed, a struggling gen Y'er

I'm Sorry.. I Really am.. I heard as well in the UK truckers are treated like scum.. Aren't even offered a Cup of Water.. That is so rude and rediculous.. I get it... not completely but I can already see the responsibilities on their back.. and being overworked/underpaid and is actually (unsurprisingly) least popular jobs out there.. and for good reason.. Truckers are Treated with Disdain on the roads.. treated like scum.. not offered even a single drink/cup of water.. and on top of that I recall there being insurance policies and stuff or to do with control over truckers where its getting worse and worse by the year.. Honestly I wish I could make them best drink possible.. Full Mojito Cocktail.. I'd do it all.. In Fact.. I'd have a Full TRUCKING service JUST devoted to TRUCKERS.. its not pretty job but they get it done, hard work... they Deserve as EVERY BITTT of a reward... The best in fact.. I can see how much conflict there is within.. I hope this inform us in all of our battles/struggles.. and how we treat one another.. and really knowing the life/soul of another.. is what its about.. I would Redesign Truck so that Trucker Becomes CENTRAL part of the whole experience.. back to front.. TRUCKER is the epitome of everything trucker should be.. with coffee cups/small microwaves, dedicated services JUST for truckers.. Charging Cables.. They get it all.. but number 1 thing is how we treat others.. people see these big lorries/trucks/heaping loads and they think initial scum, but they don't know who's driving it.. I respect them so much.. for what they do.. I'm gonna give it to them.. Here's to all you truckers.. Thank you for what you do.. and for going out there in misery.. you DESERVE, MUCH BETTER.. I ACTUALLY agree with you.. that won't change..

My drivers make $1,500 every week clean. I pay them $0.50 all miles

@swaghauler8334

7 жыл бұрын

I'd have to see that to believe it... at least in the Northeastern US. If you average 50 mph (a good averaged speed between highway and city) for the 66 hours maximum that a driver can run (taking into account safety breaks, pre/post trips, and cargo checks), that driver can log at the maximum 3300 miles. Do your trucks not ever have to load/unload or drop/swap a trailer (to other readers... yes this is possible in certain operation but very unlikely)? I'm not buying $1500 clean on a max of 66 hours of drive time (3300 X .50 = $1650).

@bunker108

7 жыл бұрын

DainelTheFifaGameR96 is it safe to assume you are not running irregular route? Are you pulling direct freight with dropped trailers?

@lungelinecowboy

7 жыл бұрын

DainelTheFifaGameR96 I make that local. See my family every night. Plus don't have the expenses being over the road.

@bunker108

7 жыл бұрын

Chris McGaughey are you with a union outfit?

@dtm7909

7 жыл бұрын

And i bet your just another scam lying carrier that pays drivers on a 1099 illegally with no insurance no workers comp Nothing!!