Day Cab vs OTR....thoughts?
- Thread starter SueAnn
- Start date
Humble pie
What we have is a failure to communicate.
I read an article where he gave an interview not long before he died. He said he lost his ass on highway express. He was one sharp business man though
i had read an article or 2 as well. but i cannot fully recall what they were. i think he started Highway Express as a way to "get back" at the railroad for the leverage buyout. or he did it for tax reasons?
we hauled freight cheaply out of New England, just to get us out, and down south, to take back cigarette loads and liquor loads. he pretty much as i recall, called all his former customers and said he was back in business.
i liked the man, he had a true open door policy, and he'd talk your ears off, when you went to visit with him.
he may have "lost his ass" on Highway Express, but he made over (i think 1.5 billon dollars) selling Overnite, plus all the money he earned form day one, when he started it with his brother, back in 1936?
Humble pie
What we have is a failure to communicate.
He had lots of investments, he was a brilliant man. Even though he felt like he lost with Highway express he still cleared 1 or 200,000 off of it when he sold it. I think he sold it to celadon didn’t he?
Humble pie
What we have is a failure to communicate.
I think there was bad blood between him and the railroad management that was put in place of overnight.
Canadian Eh
Well-Known Member
This ^^^^^
And don't limit your thinking to just vans or reefers.
Look at hauling gravel, fuel, etc.
There are some great jobs out there, with good hourly pay.
$350-450 a day is pretty nice when you go home to your own bed daily.
389 Hood
Well-Known Member
WOW!! Who's paying that kind of scratch? I thought that I was doing okay with what I make. Whoever is paying that must expect 14 hours every day.
I work to live, not live to work.
Electric Chicken
Well-Known Member
I was making that at Pumpkin pulling cans, believe it or not. Sometimes even close to 600, albeit rarely. Usually closer to the 350 though.
I wasn't hourly though and it was 100% dependent upon who was load planning.
I could pull down 1700-1800 gross on a normal 5 day week.
The money was never an issue or cause for departure.
BlackBart
Well-Known Member
Canadian dollars?
Canadian Eh
Well-Known Member
True, Canadian dollars, but I think my username makes it abundantly clear that I am Canadian 
Well lets say you start out at $33/hr that is year one, add in 75 cents a year raise, so a driver after 6 years is making 37.50/hr. Over 10 hours is 1.5 times, over 12 is double time pay.
10 hours is a pretty normal day, $375 a day.
Run clean all year, no violations, tickets, accidents, fights, and make annual bonus of $2,500 as well.
4% vacation pay on top.
But maybe there is extra work, and when there is I often have drivers happy to work an extra day here and there, so if they work a Saturday or Sunday occasionally that is a nice little extra on their pay each month.
They seem happy, and when they have to do an 11, 12, 13 hour day sometimes they don't complain.
But some people don't like it, it isn't for everyone.
Well lets say you start out at $33/hr that is year one, add in 75 cents a year raise, so a driver after 6 years is making 37.50/hr. Over 10 hours is 1.5 times, over 12 is double time pay.
10 hours is a pretty normal day, $375 a day.
Run clean all year, no violations, tickets, accidents, fights, and make annual bonus of $2,500 as well.
4% vacation pay on top.
But maybe there is extra work, and when there is I often have drivers happy to work an extra day here and there, so if they work a Saturday or Sunday occasionally that is a nice little extra on their pay each month.
They seem happy, and when they have to do an 11, 12, 13 hour day sometimes they don't complain.
But some people don't like it, it isn't for everyone.
Phantom Trucker
Well-Known Member
Do you mind sharing what province and segment of the industry you are speaking of?True, Canadian dollars, but I think my username makes it abundantly clear that I am Canadian
Well lets say you start out at $33/hr that is year one, add in 75 cents a year raise, so a driver after 6 years is making 37.50/hr. Over 10 hours is 1.5 times, over 12 is double time pay.
10 hours is a pretty normal day, $375 a day.
Run clean all year, no violations, tickets, accidents, fights, and make annual bonus of $2,500 as well.
4% vacation pay on top.
But maybe there is extra work, and when there is I often have drivers happy to work an extra day here and there, so if they work a Saturday or Sunday occasionally that is a nice little extra on their pay each month.
They seem happy, and when they have to do an 11, 12, 13 hour day sometimes they don't complain.
But some people don't like it, it isn't for everyone.
mndriver
curmudgeon extraordinare
When I have to work a 14-16 hour day, barely enough time off to drive home and fall into bed, no time to see the kids ball game to earn that kind of scratch, inclimate weather shuts us down due to workers not being on the job due to rain etc being unable to enjoy my “time off”…
BTDTGTFT…
if you want the grass greener, maybe spend a bit more time fertilizing the patch you’re at.
sounds like just another recruiter spreading fertilizer.
Canadian Eh
Well-Known Member
British Columbia.
Hauling a bit of everything if need be, but mostly fuel, gravel, salt, and such. The longest run is 2260 kms round trip, and I have a lady who loves doing it, so usually give it to her. Sometimes trucks never go far at all, they often do short deliveries, and it isn't terrible loads like a deck where they are constantly asked to chain/strap, tarp, etc. Be it 5 or 15 loads in a day, a gravel truck can be a very pleasant job. Maybe its a 1 stop, or 5 stops in a fuel truck, pumping off a bit, and onto the next customer.
Canadian Eh
Well-Known Member
Sorry life has been so hard on you, that everything you read is now seen as negative.
Not a recruiter, don't need more drivers at this time, possibly in a year or two if I expand, but good for now.
For new drivers entering the job market, or changing jobs like the OP, it's just good to be aware of all the job choices available. Not all jobs are a living hell, but it may require the job seeker to get out there and look around, instead of just applying to a massive company who is desperate for drivers, and thus tossing their "hiring now" ads all over the place. Driving around industrial areas, asking local drivers about possible jobs, knocking on some doors, could pay off with a great job.
If someone goes out searching for a job, with a doom and gloom attitude, they aren't as likely to land as good a job either. Getting a TDG is easy, and a good start. Then she can go to bulk fuel plants and inquire about work as well. Hauling to construction sites, loggers, mines, gas stations, airports, railways, generators, and such can be a great foot in the door job, and get experience there, then decide if they want to remain there for 35 or more years till retirement, or go do something else instead once they have a little experience under their belt. I looked around when young, took me going to about 50 or more businesses, when I got driving job #1 hauling fuel for a bulk plant. Started on a small body job truck, which turned into moving up to a larger truck in time, and then to being offered jobs over the years, meaning I had to decide if I wanted to stay, or move onto a possibly better job, or it could turn out to be worse. Worked for 6 companies before quitting and going out on my own. Of those 6, 3 were great, 2 okay, 1 terrible, I appreciated the terrible place, I learned a lot there, about just how much it sucks to have a crazy Ahole for a boss.
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mndriver
curmudgeon extraordinare
People don’t quit jobs.
They quit bosses.
If you seriously think that “negative “. Wow.
It’s reality. Worked concrete and aggregate 5 years when I was first married and my daughter was born so “I could be home”.
I wasn’t.
I was working 14-16 hour days and getting off for my daughter was next to impossible. “We’ve got a 1000 yard pour tomorrow; all hands on deck.”
OTR has to be gone to make money.
so do construction workers, oil field workers, welders etc.
just because one is gone doesn’t make them a bad worker or parent. Being “home” every night for 6 hours of sleep doesn’t make you any better.
I don’t agree with your assessment, doesn’t make me negative.
telling people to fertilize the grass they haven’t isn’t wrong either.
So what is your issue with it.
Because it’s not your life?
They quit bosses.
If you seriously think that “negative “. Wow.
It’s reality. Worked concrete and aggregate 5 years when I was first married and my daughter was born so “I could be home”.
I wasn’t.
I was working 14-16 hour days and getting off for my daughter was next to impossible. “We’ve got a 1000 yard pour tomorrow; all hands on deck.”
OTR has to be gone to make money.
so do construction workers, oil field workers, welders etc.
just because one is gone doesn’t make them a bad worker or parent. Being “home” every night for 6 hours of sleep doesn’t make you any better.
I don’t agree with your assessment, doesn’t make me negative.
telling people to fertilize the grass they haven’t isn’t wrong either.
So what is your issue with it.
Because it’s not your life?
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