I Used To Make $100K As A Trucker. Now I Make Minimum Wage.

Truckers used to make $110K per year on average. Now many are homeless. So what happened? We dug into it as part of our new Class Room series, which looks at how jobs that used to provide a solid, middle class life now barely provide a living.
With trucking, that story starts with deregulation. Big Box stores like Walmart were allowed to crush worker power and wages across an entire industry.
Now there's a perpetual trucker shortage as drivers get sick of low wages, long hours, and constant surveillance.
#trucking #labor #job
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[@CanadaNickciN]

Watching a 71 year old man who worked his whole life and cannot afford a house is the saddest thing I've ever seen.

[@johnfrank6112]

You should ask that 71 year old relic what the hell did he do during his first 62 years.

[@MrMunoz-xp2ry]

@@rulingmoss5599lmao relax

[@Aleks_Ovski416]

@@johnfrank6112 He worked. Did you not watch the video? Its about money no longer going to working people.

[@brittanym58]

Cigarettes are an expensive habit.

[@ramoncolonx12]

​@johnfrank6112 yeah how u make 100k for 30 years and still broke

[@trentkenzler8478]

There's never a worker shortage, only a pay shortage.

[@BrandonLeech]

There is shortage of drivers willing to work for peanuts is what they really mean.

[@erkinalp]

Commercial vehicle driving is a skilled job, albeit the skill set is somewhat common.

[@Nestor__Makhno]

@@erkinalp who cares about the required skill for the job? Just pay people enough to survive lmao

[@voncho1127]

Two words: Illegal immigration

[@Coolmanbob7]

​@@whitmanmalemananything is possible when you lie

[@EheTeNandayo867]

Pays minimum wage “We have a worker shortage” Yeah I wonder why…

[@KRYMauL]

The federal minimum wage is enough to live in the same conditions as the developing world. One would think the most prosperous country in the world would guarantee that everyone has a Cost of living on par with the top 1% of people in the developing world. By the way, the 1% of income earners earn $34,000/yr or $16/hr.

[@user-sm3th7ow5w]

No one owes you anything. Go figure it out like every other successful rich A-hole did 🙄

[@aroix2667]

Why do you think their are allowing all of these migrants to come since most of them are illegal you can get away with paying less than the minimum wage + solving the worker shortage

[@nealorr5086]

Owner operators set their own rates. The average over the road trucker driver ears $114K per year as of April 2024. This communist and this truck driver are lying to you. Quit reading Manga. You don't have the brain cells to spare.

[@nealorr5086]

@@KRYMauL States, Cities and Countines may all set their own minimum wage as many have done. There's no point in a federal minimum wage as costs of living varies wildly depending on where you live. Minimum wage jobs are for high schoolers and people with severe mental limitations. The average Wal-Mart hourly worker makes $17.50/ hour.

[@carrollbridges6427]

I've been trucking for 34 years, and I still get paid good, but I found a company that works for me and treats me like I'm someone and not a number

[@Spartanoffaith]

your number depreciates with every indian that comes in

[@rogueroger0]

I'm trying to find that

[@Ed-uz6em]

It’s high time workers start getting their lives and incomes back. It used to be that Americans were proud of the middle class, now it’s greed or nothing…workers be damned.

[@mattrussell8309]

The only way see that happening is if a massive labor movement forms and starts pushing for some sort market socialism and i really don't see that happening in America given the general population being illiterate in class politics and economics.

[@TheManinBlack9054]

Why not use trains to move things? I think its far better to create a good train infrastructure to move things better and faster.

[@drusillawinters212]

@@TheManinBlack9054 That is true. However, it would not address the issue of pay. It would address some of the safety issues. My husband was a trucker. He retired last year. He says that trains should move the freight long distance and then truckers move it locally. Better for people, cost, and the environment.

[@Zapata1994]

Woah there buddy you starting to sound like a communist.😅

[@hhiippiittyy]

I hate to be that guy, but when truckers were doing well I suspect 90%+ voted and leaned politically right, listened to Rush Limbaugh all day, thinking their taxes were too high, that unions sucked and that minimum wage earners just needed to work harder.

[@obadiyahisrael6917]

She failed to mention DOT harassment and fines. Also failed to mention expense of living on the road and lack of parking.

[@davidhutchinson5233]

A part of it to be sure. But corrupt corporate greed and their lobbyists share a much greater share of the blame.

[@theflowpowa42oshow]

I think thats more of a personal problem.

[@geezerguy6410]

The one guy is in a straight truck driving without a cdl.

[@russellwhite4086]

That's right, and they are All a big deai to a driver. Non trucking people are clueless about how it works ( or doesn't).

[@robertmoss6773]

Yea i quit to because of punks and idiot cops with constant harassment when all i wanted was to do my job and be left alone . But they couldnt do that!!!

[@KissyKaede]

This is actually pathetic. Not the man, but society. Our society is absolutely pathetic.

[@marknavarro953]

We let women vote now. What did people expect.

[@KissyKaede]

@@marknavarro953 True

[@colingraham1585]

We also let Caleb vote.

[@managerialelitetoaster3456]

If you work your entire life and have no savings it's not because of society or the economy. There are shitloads of people who worked the same job as this guy did and are comfortably retired. He's probably just mismanaged his money.

[@gustavgnoettgen]

​@@managerialelitetoaster3456 Probably not.

[@shadowstrike901]

My father has been a trucker for 30+ years now. He's been telling stories of how amazing being a trucker was in the 90's-2010's. Now regulations have been changed to ruin the drivers' ability to make and control how much income they wanna make annually. Because of electronic monitoring bs, he went from $120,000/year to $70,000. He calls me often to chat while he's pulled over on the road telling me that he's reached his max drive time and now FORCED to stop just 5 miles away from his delivery. He was speeding to make up lost time and still couldn't make it. His company, as well as, the receiver would call and complain about not making the delivery. His response " I did my best. I legally need to wait 10 hours to get moving again.". Them: But you are 5 miles away". Dad: "Well... Legally I have to stay, so you're gonna have to wait.".

[@KRYMauL]

The regulations are better for last-mile drivers because no one wants to be on the road past midnight delivering Amazon crap and wine.

[@mj-mr5yu]

I thought this crap was just in Europe, sorry to hear it's in the US also, I'm in Ireland, and truck drivers are getting scarcer by the week over here. Some older drivers here simply ignore it and carry on, get the job done so to speak, I'm one of them.

[@KRYMauL]

@@mj-mr5yu It’s to reduce exhaustion on road, but it doesn’t take into account that most get paid per mile not per hour. I could imagine them doing it like the airline industry.

[@mj-mr5yu]

@@KRYMauL I agree with reducing exhaustion giving drivers breaks and that, but in Ireland here, unless you drive from malin head to mizen head and back again your simply not going to be tired enough to fall asleep unless you got a poor night's sleep prior to starting work. It's different in the US where you could have someone drive across several states for something like 20 hours and doze off behind the wheel, or elsewhere like continental Europe. But we just don't have the miles here. I typically work 9 to 5 or 6 and bring the truck home., occasionally I'll work some overtime, but I'm expected to take a 45 minute stop after 6, which I don't do. I've been 5 mins from home and had the thing overhead flashing at me, out of hours, but I'm not going to stop wherether it's 5 mins or 50 mins, I'm going home. This is where we are getting caught. We know ourselves if we are fit to drive or not, but the authorities think they know better. A recent case here was where two individuals who had been drinking for several hours in a bar, decided to jump in the car and go tearing down the road, where they crashed spectacularly rolling the car multiple times in front of an incoming articulated lorry. The lorry left the road to avoid the car and didn't hit it. The two drunk drivers were killed instantly. Anyhow, the truck driver was due to take a break, but as he was nearly at his destination he kept going and had planned to take his break there. The authorities once they found this out from his digital tachograph card decided somehow it was his fault, and filled his head full of shit, whereby sometime after he killed himself. I could go on for ages but it out of control here.

[@KRYMauL]

@@mj-mr5yu Oh that’s dumb in the US it doesn’t go into affect until 10 hours, and even then you can just a 1 hour lunch.

[@GeoTrioMusic]

At this point anyone who comments 'get a better job' or 'some people don't want to work' is either cruel, a bot, a CEO, or just completely unaware.

[@Praisethesunson]

If we have the people who bring us all our consumer good not live in poverty, how will our corporate overlords afford their 5th yacht?!?!!?

[@josealfonsocontretas5724]

You forgot the "skill gap" that CEOs keep mentioning whenever they talk about bringing back skilled labor.

[@cephalonbob15]

dont forget brainwashed, the billionaires dont spend billions on media company for noting. They always expect larger returns on investment.

[@blasphimus]

There's a lot of bootlickers that would prefer Bezos and Musk get richer if someone rather than someone else live well. Hollywood writers for some of the biggest shows are currently getting paid near or below minimum wage. The writer for Succession couldn't afford to get his used prius fixed. Meanwhile the execs are worth billions. It's either side with the billionaires or the working class. If you aren't poor, the billionaires just haven't figured out how to steal your money yet.

[@eragon78]

@@Praisethesunson Clearly CEOs are just working 300x harder to justify their wages. Maybe if this guy was pulling 3000 hr/day shifts he wouldnt be poor lol. All that sleep he does is just being lazy.

[@ninehundreddollarluxuryyac5958]

Most homeless people I have met in Florida actually have jobs. Their job does not pay enough to rent the crappiest apartment in the city where they work. Their employers paid off their congressman to do this to them. Apparently forming a union and striking is the only way to earn enough money to survive in capitalist America.

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

And I'm pretty sure homeless people in Florida can't vote, functionally. Go fuckin' figure. Florida is so obviously a bought out fascist state, it's horrifying.

[@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr]

they should stop trying to live in a city then. there's still plenty of places to live outside of cities that aren't absurdly expensive. and whaddya know theres some jobs there too.

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

@@ohiasdxfcghbljokasdjhnfvaw4ehr Hey buddy... What happens when you're too poor to afford a car? Did you ever think of that? They have to walk to their job, then. And Florida isn't exactly known for its public transit into or within their cities. Entitled people ffs 🙄

[@sky_rokit]

@@monsieurdorgat6864 not to mention that people mass moving outside of cities will increase the cost of those areas as well. It’s just moving the goalpost. Some people need to use their brain.

[@nil981]

And you think the capitalist class will sit idly by and not violently retaliate? They will. Send in the militarized police, the national guard, and paid off right wing extremist militias to ruthlessly put down labor strikes when push comes to shove.

[@the_bencredible]

I drove from 2005-2014. Even at the end of that timeframe it was junk. I quit driving and now run a semi trailer repair shop. I make just shy of 6 figures, I’m home every night, weekends and holidays off, no idiots cutting me off, and I’m not responsible for a multi million dollar load for peanuts. Been here for 10 years now and it’s great.

[@jamesstewart3535]

Sir if you made $100K per year for 30yrs, and did not buy a house, sir you mismanaged your money.

[@jonathanandrew5249]

Yeah but it doesn't look like he did.

[@kchannel5317]

This is what I’m trying to figure out. How much is his overhead? If his overhead was to high, how was he still in business? And if he still made money to put aside all these years how is he broke? If he was living out of his trucks all these years how does he only have $1200?

[@TwistedFoo]

We need bank statements. These days millionaires are also broke in the bank because they have so much flow and costs.

[@burstingturtle]

“Mismanaged” is a bit of an understatement here. I can only dream of making that much in a lifetime.

[@TheObeyMayhem]

@@TwistedFoo they are "broke" because all their assets are in trusts and money is in stocks. They have a lot of value but they do not have much money.

[@jpdst29]

I was a truck driver years ago. I hauled steel coils up and down the East Coast. I would work 11-14 hour days and make about $400 a week. I finally came to my senses and got out and went back to school to become an engineer. All those years driving, I feel like I lost them. I was never home. I didn’t have any friends. I never saw my family. I couldn’t pursue any relationships. It was hell.

[@aig5429]

Years ago? 400 a week could be good or bad

[@paulkersey2179]

Good for you, best thing is to move on when you are not happy.

[@jpdst29]

@@aig5429 Early 2000’s. I think I averaged right around $6 an hour.

[@dameon26]

I’m also thinking about going back to school, what engineering program did you take?

[@jpdst29]

@@dameon26 I went with civil engineering.

[@dirtyjunkycars9182]

As a diesel mechanic for 10+ yrs. I feel sorry for owner operators because a truck can cost more than a house yet they help feed the world. Everything came off a truck! God bless you truckers!❤ 🤜🤛

[@blackdan0259]

yea, everything come off a truck because gov policies always lobby the development of high speed trains to the point this country is falling behind even to China. Look up what China accomplished without lobbying and just building both street and high speed train!

[@davidlafleche1142]

@@blackdan0259 China is a Communist dictatorship and that's what Biden wants.

[@nowadd0]

Did they product or make the products?…So before and after they receive a load someone just as important or even more important handles and make the products…..restrictions come because of abuse and companies attempting to save money to be able to pay drivers..

[@davidlafleche1142]

@@nowadd0 The solution is simple: lower the cost of living.

[@angelgjr1999]

@@blackdan0259Trains are unreliable. Trucks are much more flexible. America at this point is built around highways, not rail. We would literally have to redesign all of America for trucks to become unnecessary.

[@Gaming_Antics]

Jobs are paying less every year for new hires and everything is going up in prices. The lower middle class workers are decreasing in numbers, they are being covert to lower class pay workers living in poverty.

[@III-zy5jf]

I make $50K and I do everything from dumb tasks to programming, engineering, elective work, automating; including working three-four hours free everyday. It's hard to find work without connections. Then there are employees at my plant who do nothing.

[@dbased1915]

Then the rich that own enough assets literally get richer passively just by owning homes, stocks, crypto. I know people on both sides of this and it's pretty bizarre and has amplified since 2020. I think the fancy term is Gini coefficient

[@dbased1915]

@@III-zy5jf the adage of "not what you know by who you know" is very real especially in certian fields

[@ABEL-cd2sp]

​@@dbased1915 yep in every wealthy household that's the basis for education at times, connections tend to be what makes you money and many times in places you wouldn't expect it to happen.

[@weepingangel6805]

When Covid first came around all of the analysts said there would be a K shaped recovery. And now we act surprised that that’s exactly what’s played out. Soon slums will be the norm in America. Hooverville 2.0

[@timnewsom6422]

A 71 year old man that never bought a house that was making 100k a year is now homeless? Isn’t this a self inflicted condition? I struggled for years as musician but managed to buy a house and educated myself about being financially independent, not rich but independent.

[@gw1652]

Yes, I think it is. Even here in podunk Kentucky there are plenty of job opportunities I have that are well above minimum wage, especially more with a CDL.

[@pulse4503]

When It comes to openings, americans are really lucky, thats my opinion

[@taglagable]

I was thinking this exact thought. Then I thought about how some companies are advertising 100k starting for new hires.

[@aleksik4028]

Where did the money go?

[@j.a.1785]

Spoken like a true corporatist bootlicker.

[@barkeater9606]

It gets worse every year. My uncle was a truck driver from 1953 to 1992. He had a nice house, a hunting camp, a nice gun collection, two old Indian motorcycles, bought a new car every 6 years, had 4 kids and my aunt was a housewife. There is no way that you could do that today. It’s really sad and I feel for the young people. 🙏

[@mitchhedberg4415]

My cousin has rental properties now (with a ton of equity) and was a security guard his whole life. Long hours and saving is one way to get it done.

[@cto_plushtubing]

But is it not true for so many other professions, not just trucking? It is not the good old days anymore. They say it is the market that determines your pay, because that is what great capitalism is. Anything otherwise, you are a communist!

[@mrnobody5381]

@@mitchhedberg4415 How about we pay people better, take care of our people better. Our society, decades of relentless capitalism, has lead to everyone competing at a cut throat level. It divides us, as a people. Things are getting worse, much worse. The middle class has been destroyed in this country. People used to be able to have small business, profitable small business. Then the mega corps came, and they killed most of them just with there hyper competitive practices. (like copying your invention, and making it in china for cents on the dollar, flooding the markett with cheap look a likes. Cheap breaks, then people think your product is garbage) Something must be done about our corps. They have way to much power, they run our government. Whats good for them, is not good for the small families. Whats to be done? Better men then any of us have tried. The experiment failed. Now we spiral down into tyranny, whether its government or corporate. I don't see a future for my children. Its over. Whats coming, well, the french elites did not see it coming ether. I do not see a future for this country anymore.

[@jikty891]

yes you can and immigrants are a great example of this. They come to USA and in 10 years make all of what you have listed.

[@yogut28]

Maybe 60 years ago being a truck driver was good enough, today the relative level of skill needed to do that compared with many other jobs is much lower - hence the lower pay level.

[@Riggsnic_co]

Interest rate is currently at 4.75%(8th rate hike since March last year) Inflation at 7% and mortgage rates is at over 7.5% but yet minimum wage remains the same and my retirement portfolio has suffered tremendously these past years, so my question is how do senior citizens retire and live off such unstable economy. The long term game is obviously not for me at this point.

[@kevinmarten]

I can’t focus on the long run when I should be retiring in 3years, you see I’ve got good companies in my portfolio and a good amount invested, but my profit has been stalling, does it mean this recession/unstable market doesn’t provide any calculated risk opportunities to make profit?

[@maga_zineng7810]

There are a lot of strategies to make tongue wetting profit especially in a down market, but such sophisticated trades can only be carried out by proper market experts

[@usieey]

I agree, my profit has been consistent no matter the market situation, I got into the market early 2019 and the constant downtrends and losses discouraged me so I sold off, got back in Dec 2020 this time with guidance from an investment adviser that was recommended by a popular economist on a subreddit, long story short, its been 2years now and I’ve gained over $850k following guidance from my investment adviser.

[@kevinmarten]

I’ve been down a ton, I’m only holding on so I can recoup, I really need help, who is this investment-adviser that guides you?

[@usieey]

All of this happened in less than a year after ‘Catherine Morrison Evans’ told me what to do. I started with less than $100,000, and now I'm about 17,000 short of having a quarter million dollars.

[@jhaeros]

This is absolutely true. I knew an owner/operator of 15 years exactly like the old guy and even though on paper he was making $150k a year, in reality he was barely scraping by. Had to sell his truck and go into painting to make ends meet. The cost of fuel, insurance, maintenance, have all skyrocketed while their pay has barely risen. Sad sad world we live in

[@fastjoecorrigan7426]

That's probably the first time I've seen a good video on truckin! Keep up the good work

[@bdwinter72]

One of the worst lies in this country was that being an independent contractor trucker was a better option than being a union trucker

[@blasphimus]

The worst lie was that capitalism works for everyone.

[@somethingsomething404]

Says 1 reply but I don’t see any. I wonder what Google doesn’t want me to see.

[@Pensnmusic]

​@@somethingsomething404probably antisemitism Who do you think is deleting comments?

[@butwhytharum]

@@Pensnmusic or non union. corporations HATE unions they FORCE their profits to be shared

[@Tonyx.yt.]

it was a better option... ... for the companies

[@patrickcollins1855]

In 1998 an old trucker warned me not to become a trucker, because he said the trucking industry wasn't what it use to be. Thank you, sir. Update: People it was 30yrs ago. I'm talking about my personal experience. That old Trucker did me a solid. I went on to a greater career. Geez

[@ChaotiX1]

​@@ScottSeufertyou grossed? I wonser what your net was after all expenses and taxes 🫥

[@1nvisible1]

*What about all those robot trucks I see. They've got to be so expensive they'll raise wages for all truckers, right?*

[@michaelarmstrong3501]

Sir tell me you don’t make life decisions that easily

[@ChaotiX1]

@@ScottSeufert okay cool so after driving for decades and building up your owner op business you only managed to bring home 100k a year during your highest grossing years? If that doesnt tell you that 100k is a pipe dream for most drivers idk what will

[@patrickcollins1855]

@@michaelarmstrong3501 He did me a great favor. My other option was best for me anyway.

[@brandonjohnson6366]

Folks definitely smoked 60k worth of cigarettes in his life

[@JoeyP322]

I drove vehicles/trucks in the military. I was young and enjoyed it, except for the long hours at times. In 1990 I worked as a dispatcher for a pretty big national trucking company (they don’t eXist anymore). The company owned the trucks. The company treated the drivers like animals, worked long hours. Treated them horribly. I ended up leaving after about 6 months. I wanted nothing to do with the trucking industry after that. I always try to give these truckers respect on the road. You couldn’t pay me enough to drive with all these bozos on the streets and highways. My prayers go out to you all, and I hope it changes for the better. Be safe out there.

[@dowgy177]

Both of my roommates are truckers. People love to tell me stuff like "wow, it must be so great having the house to yourself all the time," but the truth is that i miss my friends, and when they come home after weeks or months of living in a box on wheels I can see the toll it takes on them. On top of that the drivers are constantly getting screwed on pay, time off, load scheduling, etc and yet the companies constantly complain about the lack of truckers. It's not a mystery. Trucking has to change.

[@jer280]

Those mother fuckers are rolling in money tho. If they're out of their starter company splitting bills 3 ways... Phew that's good money right there.

[@bentonja668]

Trucking is changing. Its about to get rid of ALL the drivers.

[@cormaro1376]

The best advice u can give to them Is invest , so they aren't this guy working minimum wage jobs cause social security isn't there to help u lol

[@angelgjr1999]

@@bentonja668Lol good luck with that bud, the moment companies can no longer blame the driver for accidents, the moment they’ll quickly go bankrupt. All it will take is a few casualties for autonomous driving to go away.

[@johnfrank6112]

@@cormaro1376 The best advice you can give them is stop being stupid and look around for a corporate driving job.

[@Sizzlingtrucker]

I’m one of those homeless truckers. It just don’t make sense to pay over $1000 for a home and only be there 4 days a month.

[@pradeepkumarkoot5622]

But after the retirement, you have to stay in a home, So let it be a village, let it be a small house, but have one house for you,

[@dpactootle2522]

There is not a law in life that says "YOU HAVE TO OWN A GODDAMN HOUSE". If you don't need it or cannot afford it you don't have it. When you die you cannot take it with you anyway, so cool off.

[@Donkeyearsa]

I was one of them homeless truckers my self for well over a decade. I got tired of living to work and wanted to work to live. From my early 30s to my mid 40s I had no life I lived to drive a truck OTR. One day I just said F this and quit in DFW as that was where I was at the time and crashed on someones couch and started to look for local work. It took me a few years but I got a local job that pays an OK wage but with outright awesome benefits for a trucker. I have a 401K, company pays 95+% of my health insurance premium, I have worked up to having 26 paid days off, and work 7 days out of every two weeks working 12 hour shifts. I can burn two days off and be away from work for an entire 7 day week, and best of all no union telling me that I have to hand over half of my pay check just for the union just to screw me over.

[@dylansmith6078]

Get a home and rent it out to cover your mortgage till you retire into a debt free home.

[@chickboi3]

Why would you want to be gone all the time anyways.

[@jarvisburton77]

I've been a driver for just about 25 years and owned a truck for 17 of those years. We sold our truck in early 19 not knowing what was coming in 20. Wow!! What a blessing in disguise. Now I'm a company guy and there are a couple outfits where you can do really well. I left the best outfit I've ever worked for to go back to open deck trailers and I sure do miss where I was at. But at the same time, I'm on my way out of the industry. The regs and political stuff aren't the only thing affecting the industry nowadays. The selfish society that we live in happened to get in and the drivers don't even talk to each other much. And I won't start on how some of the drivers actually drive the truck itself. 😮😮 And then the self driving ones are coming!! I used to love it, which some parts of it I will always hold in my heart. I've met some really good people and seen a lot. It's time for something different.

[@lyudmilatarusova]

Amazing presentation. As someone who drive trucks for more then three years, this video is accurate. Trucking is one of the hardest jobs you can do,. One of the most underpaid jobs. You will work long long long hours, you will never sleep 8 hours, ans you will never be "safe". Trucking is hell because youre working for a minimum wage. Something needs to change.

[@xmapa4677]

"If we give people raises, we have to charge more for goods/services." Reality: everyone makes way less money and every thing costs way more, also.

[@germanmosca]

Managements and Investors had a massive increase on the money they make though.

[@Mistro07]

Don’t pay dividends to investors and they stop investing, if they stop investing many public companies go broke

[@TomATrucking]

That’s what they want you to think and explain why minimum wage has been the same for decades but the price of living goes up regardless please stop making this statement

[@keithbellair9508]

Except those on welfare.. they still get it all free… and people wonder why there is inflation

[@marksmith1784]

As long as the C suite can give themselves raises everything is ok.

[@patriciabandeko3842]

I've been a trucker for 25yrs. I knew I couldn't afford a house, etc. so while living in my truck I squirreled away enough to pay cash for an older 23ft motorhome. My car is 22yrs old. I'm now saving up to put solar in my rv. I'm almost 67 and hope to retire soon. I won't be able to afford rv parks or fuel to travel much but I do have a few friends that will let me park on their rural property. Not what I had in mind for my golden years but much better than nothing. 😊

[@dirkdiggler1877]

You'll be much happier the way you're going about retirement. Learn everything you can about your motorhome, maintenance, repairs, proper storage (while parked long term) etc. Waaay better than being stuck somewhere with just enough to get by on. You'll have freedom.. 👍

[@CRS-fe2zj]

Wish u the best. Glad to see you are appreciating what you have

[@Arizona9001]

You’re pretty much the CEO of truckers now

[@Zenmartian]

I do the same. with help from RV facebook groups and youtube videos you can handle anything that comes at you!!

[@taaj4403]

Hey, that sounds pretty good. My friends uncle is a truckers and wants to retire but he has a huge mortgage so can't due to that and on top of that, about to file for a divorce and ultimately lose it all. He says although the divorce will likely leave him back at $0 and no home, he still has his trucking job and plans on sleeping in the truck and simply working to live. He finds that to be better than dealing with his physico wife. I found it admirable, but your story sounds much better. Also the ability to not have to worry about working until death is a beautiful thought. 😊

[@ThomasNappo]

Feel bad for them...they work hard...Long Drives😊

[@wout123100]

low education.

[@kryptokrypto702]

About the same time this came out, I saw tons of ads, about hiring truckers and needing them. Trucking seems to be put in the same group as fast food workers, retail workers, where businesses are taking advantage of them.

[@dragoonzen]

This is America, we work to give the billionaires and ultra-millionaires the life they deserve 😅😂

[@larry_ellison]

You still work lol? Stop economic support for your own oppression

[@Romogi]

It really is. I lived overseas and returned because of improving my education. And I hate it here. So many people have a rise and grind attitude, but they don't get anything meaningful from it except a boring life.

[@TechBearSeattle]

As it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever until we get organized and work to change it.

[@michael029138]

Sad but true.

[@melissak7798]

And then people spend their free time following them on social media….

[@octothorpian_nightmare]

If you ever want a fun time, go into Google Maps and click around on businesses that have truck docks. A lot of truckers actually review the receiving office and it's amazing how long they have to wait around to unload. There's a grocery warehouse near me that backs up so badly, the trucks are literally parked in the middle lane of the road leading in, which causes some pretty wild traffic issues with people trying to get around the snarl. (that particular warehouse is an OSHA horror, a man died last year when a badly maintained rollup dock door crushed him) You also find out about how the truckers actually have to pay "lumpers" to unload their trucks because the warehouse doesn't employ anyone directly. It's wild.

[@MI-me3pt]

That’s what happens when you have people getting paid by the hour and not production. I had an employee of a warehouse tell me to go to my truck and go to sleep because he was only going to do one truck that day and he had eight hours to do it in. Lazy bastard.

[@sarcasticguy4311]

Wild? It's been going on for a hundred years. That's the business.

[@biodiversityfanatic2454]

​@@MI-me3ptwell maybe so but what financial incentive is in it for the warehouse worker? As much as a decent warehouse worker wants you to be taken care of they don't want to kill themselves for Pennies either. It's on the company to pay truckers on the wait and the warehouse worker to push them along as well

[@bobbybushwhacker]

Those lumpers are insane

[@patrickharrington9772]

Sysco foods is the worst! They treat delivery drivers terrible. Wait half a day to unload. Pay a lumper 350 400 dollars to get unloaded. At best you might have access to dirty port a pot outside if you need to use the restroom.

[@domzig138]

Do one on USPS next. They start mailmen at 19$ an hour.

[@aspensulphate]

Maybe you could get a side-gig doing Larry David impersonations?

[@ironhell813]

More like Joe Biden ones.

[@Dmo_Wick]

Bruh 😂

[@shabadoob]

Postal Worker Strike + Rail Road + Trucker all at once would bring US to the knees. Power to the people and workers. Bring Unions back!

[@michael029138]

Scary thought.

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

@@michael029138 based thought. People can wait on their motherfucking Amazon knick-knacks until the workers get fair pay.

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

Honestly, that would be so amazing. Problem is that the government would shut it all down and force the workers to submit at the cop's gunpoint.

[@wesleybrehm9386]

@@monsieurdorgat6864 Biden already did this when the railroad workers tried to strike in 2022. Rail workers; too important to let strike, not important enough to pay fairly.

[@dabsandsticks]

​@@monsieurdorgat6864amen.

[@itsme123669]

We're all getting that trickle down economics. Thanks Reagan!

[@Squirel77]

To traverse back through the corridors of time, passing the tenures of six commanders in chief to find a culprit-is this not a quixotic venture? Each, in their turn, has wielded power with a touch not devoid of malevolence, a testament to the inherent vice that clings to the very fabric of governance itself.

[@itsme123669]

@@Squirel77 "Hey ChatGPT, write me a snarky comment that absolves presidents of the impact that they've had." Tell that to the people that died of HIV under Reagan's watch. Clinton deregulated the heck out of the financial industry and we all felt that in the 2007-2008 Financial Crisis. GW Bush got us into decades-long wars which Biden finally ended recently. People's choices always have consequences, and to slough it onto the next guy(s) or the sands of time is naive.

[@JesusChrist_IsTruth-LoveForALL]

Truckers LITERALLY make the world go round. What a shame. 🙏

[@SanDmaNTheFreakTrucker]

Truck driving is easily one of the most under appreciated and under paid professions out there. Half of these companies still think drivers can get by on $800 a week…son it’s hardly a surprise the industry has a near 99% turnover rate. It’s difficult to find people willing to forfeit their family, friends, and hobbies to go out on the road for weeks at a time and get treated like a second class citizens.

[@harthart7529]

Anything less than $2,000 per week is a joke.

[@davidgleeson2749]

Joe is bringing in millions of new workers that will be happy to take these jobs for pennies on the dollar with no benefits. He promised them all good jobs.

[@stephengolden6080]

​@@harthart7529Must feel good to be a bigshot!

[@dillianwillamor5906]

So true

[@FirstPeterr]

If the drivers know this and still drive it is there fault.

[@himonightbreeze]

My mom's been a trucker for nearly 25 years. She's sacrificed a lot, mostly time with her kids. It's an injustice she barely gets by.

[@johnfrank6112]

With all due respect because she has worked to make a life for you and the others but she is working for the wrong company.

[@07Flash11MRC]

@@johnfrank6112 "but she is working for the wrong company": Then where is she supposed to work?

[@johnfrank6112]

@@07Flash11MRC The LTLK companies like Saia, Old Dominion, Kroger, HEB, etc all local companies that pay well and get you home. She's earned it.

[@gunsforevery1]

@@07Flash11MRC a different company.

[@himonightbreeze]

She's tried that, but they either didn't pay enough to provide for us because they either offer the same rates as long-haul companies with fewer miles or offer fixed rates, or they pay too much for her to still qualify for WIC or EBT, but not enough to NOT need them, or they don't have the right benefits. Their trucks are also unreliable because they tend to be older models compared to what long-haul companies provide or what she's had as an owner/operator. They also don't give her options for what she hauls, so she can't utilize her hazmat certification, because hauling hazardous stuff pays more. They have stricter deadlines so she can't drive as safe as she wants. PLUS, the bigger companies typically pay a bonus for training new drivers (she's trained probably a dozen drivers over the years), something a company like Kroger would not offer.

[@johncronin5311]

This was very eye opening

[@Bigislatndbigfoot]

Thank you WEF!!!

[@mirzatajic89]

My father was an owner operator for nearly 10 years. He could be on the road for 3 weeks and back home for 1, sometimes he was gone longer and sometimes he'd stay home longer. It was a sacrifice but he didn't know another way to earn the kind of money he made trucking. I've got respect for anyone doing this kind of work because of him. RIP dad.

[@theemirofjaffa2266]

❤❤❤

[@cmcdnc9561]

❤❤❤

[@prashanthb6521]

Fathers sacrifice a lot. Irresponsible and feminized sons squander the progress made by father.

[@tillburr6799]

@@prashanthb6521 sons now are the same as sons then for all intents and purposes

[@AB-fq4mr]

El fatiha za tvog oca.

[@vojtechmajzlik4714]

This is happening to all normal jobs, even in EU. 30y ago a man could work in a factory and have a family with house. Now normal people doing normal jobs cant afford 1 room flat. And all rich people will tell you,get a better job, but who will clean the streets,paint your house,cut the grass etc? I asked politicians many times who decides what minimum wage is and how people should live on that and nobody can answer that. All data show that middle class is getting lower and lower so now we have majority of people in lower class and small group of rich people and you can see it every day everywhere, look at restaurants where we have to tip the servise because boss pays the minimum wage to everyone so HE can have a new bugatti version. Or when a boss gets a contract on reconstruction and he pays the minimum wage,buys cheapest materials and gets maximum profit. And rich people will tell you to work harder and invest there and there and buy houses etc but from what if you get paid minimum wage since school? They will also tell you that everybody can be rich which is ultimate biggest lie and scam because if everybody is rich who will do the work? Look at Detroit etc. where big companies moved factories to China to make maximum profit and still act like an American firm,what a joke we live in right now,its sick.

[@lonewolftrucker3955]

Yr absolutely right

[@BleedForTheWorld]

First thing I'll tell you is that there's no such thing as middle class. It's all working class, "lower" and "middle" class. Very basically, if you work for what you have, if you produce with your hands or skills, you are working class. Second biggest lie ever told is that the mega rich work for what they have and that's simply a myth.

[@thelostcosmonaut5555]

I work in an emergency department as an EMT and can barely afford my 325 Sq ft studio apartment in the US.

[@adoxartist1258]

My youngest was offered - but didn't take - a job as a server at a national chain restaurant here in the US paying $2.75 an hour. That's not even enough to cover the cost of getting to work, much less pay your car note. The customer is expected to pay the worker's entire salary by way of tips. Massive, massive scam.

[@Dimbliss.]

@@BleedForTheWorld People who usually say things along the lines of "there is no middle class" generally don't have any understanding of the term. Today the term is for people who don't need to work paycheck to paycheck but still need that job to pay for their living expenses. E.g. they can take time off for a vacation and not have to worry about making ends meet, but with the loss of a job they would.

[@thelastvigil111]

The worst part is, everyone was fine with the prices we paid for goods before deregulation. We just didn't buy excessive amounts of stuff, stuff that now is often trash anyway.

[@jasonabc]

Hats off to those guys. Tough tough line of work.

[@dennisrichardville4988]

I was in the trucking industry for 30 years and got out I've seen nothing but a steady decline in industry in this country in the last 30 years

[@defeatSpace]

Be responsible with your money, union idiots.

[@dangda-ww7de]

I drove for a year and knew it was a scam, so i quit, im not going to work for mim wages.

[@onewizzard]

thank you for quitting now let the slaves drive for the rich....muahahaha

[@SpruceMoose-iv8un]

The problem is company's issue work visas or hire migrant workers willing to work for cheap to keep wages low.

[@johnfrank6112]

@@dangda-ww7de You drove for the wrong people.

[@ossieblackman1812]

Another sad reminder that everyone needs to wake up and realize that change needs to be fought for. My heart goes out to those truckers and I hope that they can unionize or something. Please try to find local politicians to support that are pro union, and in this case, pro trucker.

[@Detrumpificator4377]

To give a perspective on how important truck drivers are... All that would need to make that change happen is for fuel trucks to shut down for 1 to 3 days. We use a just in time system, take away the fuel that makes it all go and the fallout will be epic. Think all medical supplies including life saving medications.

[@Freakazoid12345]

Why didn't he buy a house when he made $100k a year? Why doesn't he look at doing other work? I've been actively discriminated against for being white in America when I went to college and nobody gave me hand outs. They just murdered my family. When I was in the military or recently looking at jobs I got discriminated against for being a German immigrant. Nobody cares. Move on.

[@TheManinBlack9054]

Why not use trains to move things? I think its far better to create a good train infrastructure to move things better and faster.

[@stldweller]

You mean they should not vote for Democrats?

[@jan_phd]

That's absurd, anyone can afford to have a home... but they have to be making about $2K a month, to pay for EVERYTHING. So that's $500. a week. People, lie.

[@TheMoonlitArcade]

I am a trucker but I got my first home after the crash. I drive locally but we have trouble staying fully staffed because the younger drivers cant afford living expenses. The job pays very well, but inflation keeps us with a skeleton crew of aging drivers

[@blank_3958]

I don’t get why they complain. I’m a trucker and it’s tough but you do make 5-8k / month as a company driver

[@channeling764]

I watched my boyfriend getting a speeding ticket because after rushing to get to another location because his previous client took forever to load. The system sets the truckers to fail under stuff that’s not under their control.

[@sarcasticguy4311]

Tell your boyfriend to use the phone more to talk to the company and/or clients and slow down. He doesn't need to speed because shippers or receivers can't do their jobs properly.

[@amandahuginkiss4098]

Tell your soy boy he needs to take responsibility for his OWN actions. And what he doesn't need is you fighting his battles for him.

[@cainarnold1]

I got my truck driver's license I drove for 2 months I went back to being mechanic it was so ridiculous I don't know how anyone can do it. They are being robbed blind I have so much respect for truckers everybody needs to have respect for them for how hard they work being away from their families

[@johnsutherland7561]

Being a mechanic has a higher skill level thus better $'s

[@ProdNapoleon]

Trucking is an entry level skill it’s for people that want the extra money to get to the next step. I currently am a security gaurd making 16 an hour trucking will work wonders for me especially since I’m single and young. my job doesn’t really offer any overtime so trucking works for some but not for everyone I’m trying to get into mechanical trade after I save money trucking.

[@gilsonrogeriolimaoliveira2807]

Mechanic also isn't a good job anymore. Cars need little maintenance, and warranty jobs is almost like working for free.

[@_LVC]

Really 2 whole months 😃you need years of experience to get a specialized trucking job like heavy haul or tankers or haz mat or many others, do you expect to be at the top of the pay scale at any job after 2 months, trucker shortage because this generation is soft and quit after 2 months ,when you can prove your skills you can write your own ticket in trucking, ask me how I know

[@benj3911]

@@gilsonrogeriolimaoliveira2807 is actually the opposite. Most people would repair a used car rather than buy a new car with the current interest rates.

[@firstescape3523]

I work in trucking, every single one of my coworkers owns a home, has families, makes 100k. This guy is doing something very wrong. Especially if he has been doing it this long, he made many very bad mistakes to get here.

[@VaiderGaming]

Thats what im thinking. I know alot of truckers who make str8 bank... Billy here looks like he hit that crack/meth pipe a bit lol i think thats why

[@SofaKingTouge]

I'm watching this and yeah makes no sense. I'm completely new and do non-CDL hotshot and still making over $2500 a week. I'm also a crypto bro so I'm making almost another $1k a week with my hivemapper cameras from driving. I still have my business but run it thru Amazon FBA. I wasn't sure I would like hotshot so I wanted to make sure I was secure before I started. My only real complaint is the insurance. It's stupid expensive. I would probably drive a bit less but I feel I have to be on the road more to justify the $2k a month in insurance.

[@MrInfinitig35s]

Yeah this is not a good case study.

[@admhad]

The guy is driving a daycab straight truck, probably non CDL last mile BS. He's probably also counting the $50 in cigarettes he smokes every day against his income

[@keepontruckin5862]

💯

[@timothypeterson1903]

I only make $30k i own my home and vehicle with zero debt at 45. I wish i made $110 k a year. I could semi retire in seven years. Managing finances is hard for most people. They buy things on impulse and go on expensive vacations that they can't afford. This is usually done with credit so you become trapped in a debt cycle.

[@matthewcaldwell8100]

So, none of the detailed economic issues raised here matter at all. Are you a bot?

[@604cuinkillah]

I am a homeless owner operator. I've made less than $100,000 in eleven years. I've spent close to a million dollars in repairs, fuel, insurance. Don't EVER buy your own truck

[@ByrdmanTrucker]

Why not go company & live in the truck for a few years stack your money??? Dupre logistics the company I drive for made 109k last year take home

[@604cuinkillah]

@byrdman10112 I've never heard a good story from anyone about being a company driver. Unless it was loyal hazmat tanker. OTR company is usually 40k max

[@handleyobusiness]

Lol… if you can’t succeed in trucking then that’s your own fault. I was born in one of the poorest counties in the USA and sitting on more than 6 figs in the bank, thanks to my cdl.

[@604cuinkillah]

@handleyobusiness lmfao, only a freight broker makes money in trucking. You should have 7 figures in the bank if you have a cdl😆😆You'll never beat the broker, and you'll never compete with the big companies. I've been on my own 13 axles, I've pulled my own reefers, and I've owned multiple trucks. And hot shots. If you did make it, you're 1 in 100,000. 60,000 trucking companies go out of business every year, so odds are your full of shit

[@unknowndriver6652]

​@@handleyobusinessthe last 2 years if ypu owned a truck and you didn't bank 150k net you were lazy or spent it in hookers

[@kittylove2975]

My husband and I realized in the 80's that being an owner operator was profitless. My husband sub hauled for construction company. With 20% fee for renting the trailer, 5% for finders fee, truck insurance, fuel expenses, tires, miscellaneous repairs, PUC dues, quarterly Federal and state taxes...etc,etc...as well as trying to maintain healthcare insurance for our family of four, which during the Reagan administration we could no longer write the health insurance off on the business end of the taxes. That was an additional major hardship. Recognizing that trying to run a business as an owner operator was relentlessly fruitless and leaving the industry what's the best decision we had made. That was approximately 30 years ago. Good luck to you. 🍀🍀🍀🍀

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

Crazy thing is that truckers often have REALLY conservative views. I'm gonna guess it's because they're brainwashed by conservative radio broadcasts all day - long treks through places where that's all there is. The fact that lots of truckers exalt Reagan's legacy is dumbfounding to me.

[@middleagebrotips3454]

Big haul Uber basically

[@middleagebrotips3454]

​@@monsieurdorgat6864anti abortion pro military conservative maybe?

[@middleagebrotips3454]

​@@monsieurdorgat6864it helps the image when Reagan was a union leader.

[@kittylove2975]

@@monsieurdorgat6864 : Absolutely‼️

[@elenas4878]

That's why I left the industry in 2019, after 20 years of trucking! Now I'm making the same money with less stress and being home every evening!

[@randymarsh3582]

I feel like forcing a company into a 6 cent profit when their costs are $1.00 makes no sense and won’t help anyone

[@edithbannerman4]

@Hello there, how are you doing this blessed day?

[@picklepoppers8223]

71 years old and that man still got what it takes. The "scars" on his face represent all the years of his hard work and dedication to service. These great men today are suffering and this is so shameful. My respect to you Billy.

[@johnfrank6112]

If he's worked so hard for decades, why is he not kicking back and living off his social security?

[@tv450578415]

I have been a truck driver and owner operator since 2010. It breaks my heart to see Bill working very hard at his 71 years birthday and showing the real life that we have as truck drivers. I am thinking seriously about leaving the industry. We have to deal with many things to make our job correctly. We have to follow rules that don't go according to reality of our job. ELD doesn't care if you're tired. You need to go. As time goes by, our bodies don't behave the same way they did 15 years ago. ELD doesn't care about our age. I am 52 years old and I have been driving since 2010. My eyes are tired. ELDs are very strict, and we have to drive when ELD allows us. Even though we are a very regulated industry, shippers and receivers imposed fines $$ if we arrive late to our appointments. I agree with Billy. The only way to be heard by the people who rule the American government is by getting organized in the best way possible. Everyone who wants to be a truck driver or owner operator needs to be organized. The government doesn't understand our necessities as an important industry. ELDs had created an urgency in the drivers mind. (trying to beat the clock) That is the reason you will see truck drivers driving at the highest speed limit even though the weather conditions and the road conditions are not recommended. It is not only ELDs. We have many issues in our industry, but ELDs came to add another headache. Billy, I am with you 100%

[@tv450578415]

So people don't like to be asking for easy money. They want to work and make a living on their own.

[@leighfoulkes7297]

I like how if you get paid slightly above minimum wage, no college degree, they work you to death and act like they are paying you 1 million dollars a year. Pretty annoying to see the offices workers leaving at 5 and you staying till 8 (especially when your body is at its limit).

[@defeatSpace]

Be responsible with your money, union idiots.

[@justicedemocrat9357]

This is how unions got taken apart by the corporations instead of sticking up for your fellow office workers you look at them with jealousy it wasn't too long ago that truckers were working the same hours as office workers and earning more money.

[@Epyon1201]

Direct your hate and annoyance at the people stealing your wage and livelihood, the office workers arent doing any better

[@Dysiode]

As someone a white collar worker working from home I fully recognize the privilege I hold and how lucky I am to have ended up where I'm at. I hope we see a full blown resurgence of unions

[@robertrichardsonjr.6705]

I agree, I just got out of the industry after 24yrs. Had my clutch knee replaced and went home in pain.

[@aliasalbatross700]

I see a lot of people are berating the old fellow for making bad choices in life, while that may be true, that doesn't mean his complaint about things getting worse is unfounded, he at least is acting to make things better for himself and others with the same occupation and by extension, everyone. That alone makes him better than most men, so I take my hat off for him.

[@kevinmic6740]

I spoke to a trucker 40 years ago, his day started at 5an doing 3 runs with a milk tanker, changed over to a trailer and did several deliveries up the west of ireland, he finised at 11 pm 5 days a week and still did the milk runs saturday and sunday, his income was 700 irish punts a week, today he does not earn any more and inflation has eat up the value of his pay, would not recommend anyone to take up such a job, you are not paid for the responsibilities of looking after a large vehicle and the long hour. My previous boss when he recieved a delivery would always offer a trucker lunch while his truck was unloading, he was one of a kind. If you get a delivery, at least please thank the driver.

[@jr.jorgesandoval9427]

My old man used to make $270,000 a year… I’m not open to say how easy it was. But if you made connections with private companies you can reel in with the tough hauls that others are afraid of doing & make a good business. It all died when inflation hit everyone, basically 9/11.

[@daMillenialTrucker]

im a millenial and a local truck driver, I made $93,000 last year and I'm also a country boy, I live rurally, my total monthly expenses for the way I live is $1900/month, I am far from struggling but I work my mf ass off. FJB-DT 2024! MAGA

[@Lobos222]

@@daMillenialTrucker If you think MAGA will aid you? You are in for a surprise.

[@daMillenialTrucker]

@@Lobos222 trump will help me economically speaking a hell of a lot more then Biden, it's clear as a day what the democrats are about which is funding wars and fking the country, I'll put my trust in maga then current day Dems, bud.

[@RK-cj4oc]

​@@Lobos222 Lad. Neither side will help.Biden is no better than Trump.

[@chaddrusso8850]

@@Lobos222yeah as a union rail worker Biden shafted us, RFK Jr is by far my choice for president

[@ashleymelloh4017]

A massive trucker strike just has to be done. It will suck so much and that’s because these folks are so important.

[@PaleRider54]

That may have worked in the 1960s or 70s, but organizing a nationwide strike is like getting cats to march in a parade these days. Put 100 truckers in a room and ask them for a solution to 1 problem and you'll get 100 different answers with no compromise forthcoming. And most truckers couldn't financially survive even as little as a 2-day strike. That's how ridiculously poorly they're paid.

[@TheManinBlack9054]

Why not use trains to move things? I think its far better to create a good train infrastructure to move things better and faster.

[@josealfonsocontretas5724]

​@@TheManinBlack9054East Palestine? The problem is deregulation, whatever method is used will cause problems as long as it's not properly regulated by an independent entity, instead of the businesses themselves deciding whether they're doing things properly or not.

[@hopefulpellinore5490]

@@TheManinBlack9054 Yes, bring back the trains! Then we can have plenty of trucker jobs from the hubs to the local businesses, perhaps just more of them with shorter routes. The commenter above me mentioned East Palestine, however, I would argue that in a well regulated and maintained industry these sorts of accidents would be largely avoided. There's tons of stories about accidents like this that are the result of how we've handled our rail system in the last century or so, for example the Lac-Megantic rail disaster. It can be fixed, and it should be fixed. It is clear that most industries are just being used as cash flow for billionaires and we have to stop that, it's killing us and the planet.

[@el_chavez]

@@TheManinBlack9054stop…how is a train going to your local businesses? I agree we need more trains for long distances but once they get to the depot you still need trucks.

[@REVYMERCENARY]

I'm a trucker. I worked 17months straight. And only made $75000 I trained students for a company. After bills and taxes and food for a family of five. I had 6000$ in savings. But the damage to my health and never seeing my family for 17 months. Could you do my job for that less? I'm 0.63 cent per mile and I been running since 2015. Yeah I don't don't he messed up. But his right we're slave labor. Most solo drivers make 45000$ to 50000$ also it's corruption and he's right it's just going to get worse. Not only that but we can't take action at all because all they're going to do is end up replacing us with a foreign driver who doesn't care for the minimum wage or safety.

[@GFCOLCQuote]

Worst part is, I'm pretty sure the moment we would ever actually get 'Genuine automatic driving' would be the moment these guys are just removed and forgotten without a hint of remorse.

[@mac1mike]

Long haul Hardly home Divorce Single income Lose home Disorganized finances Must keep working That about sum it up?

[@erikh9991]

Thanks.

[@theflowpowa42oshow]

that list should have been a lot longer lol

[@mac1mike]

Well I’m trying not to let it happen to me. Staying on a dedicated route , I’ll Put in my 3 years behind the wheel collect my company match and move on.

[@victorrand8811]

Dont forget vices like those cancer sticks.

[@rootin222]

What’s excuses for paying them poorly with hyperbolic insults?

[@lhead7226]

My husband is a driver and it's really hard to compete with foreign drivers that will work for next to nothing. It drives down the wages for all of the other drivers.

[@mathewsbusiness1263]

My dad actually mentioned something about that recently

[@UhYeahWhateverDude]

There is a whole lot of truth to that. Additionally, their horrible driving habits and disregard for the law makes the job more dangerous for everyone. Eventually I assume the insurance market will catch-up and make it unprofitable for carriers to hire these guys but until then, it's only going to get worse.

[@miguelrobb5719]

@@UhYeahWhateverDudethat is part of the reason why I closed down my authority and about to sell my equipment. I constantly get treated like dog crap and I have to always compete against a foreign driver that is willing to drive for peanuts so they can send money back home in their country. I realized that this thing isn’t worth it. Anyways I’m getting into aviation. This is going to be a 3 year journey but It will beat this crap

[@TheSimba86]

yep, my dad is a trucker also and he says he sees a lot of foreigner truck drivers that can't even speak english, or drive without hitting something

[@radicaledward9486]

@@UhYeahWhateverDude Something I've learned is that companies will pay extra to keep you poor and begging

[@joshgullicksrud3444]

Let’s follow the money trail. Success leaves clues, so does failure.

[@AdamasOldblade]

It's not just truckers, the vast majority of Americans don't make a liveable wage... I'm 37, work at one of the biggest companies on the planet in their literal largest Data Center as a specialist and I barely crack $53,000... My 468 sq studio apartment costs just over $1,400 a month... This doesn't include food, fuel, electricity and internet... Just one of my cheques is used almost entirely for rent, the other for survival. It's billionaires, it's always billionaires... It's the human thing of, "well, as long as I have plenty of money, and that money keeps coming to me, then I really don't care about other people." This is what capitalism does. It is solely obsessed with itself, personal wealth, land, power and overall greed... It trains us since we first go to school that, "greed IS good" and I can only imagine what the rich teach their kids, wouldn't shock me if it's very close to the phrase, "You have to understand, you exist to exploit people and deny them a right to have security and safety in life. They are your pawns on the chess board, they are meant to die for YOU." and if you grow up with millions of dollars thinking this, why would you ever change your mind?

[@tv450578415]

I have been a truck driver and owner operator since 2010. It breaks my heart to see Bill working very hard at his 71 years birthday and showing the real life that we have as truck drivers. I am thinking seriously about leaving the industry. We have to deal with many things to make our job correctly. We have to follow rules that don't go according to reality of our job. ELD doesn't care if you're tired. You need to go. As time goes by, our bodies don't behave the same way they did 15 years ago. ELD doesn't care about our age. I am 52 years old and I have been driving since 2010. My eyes are tired. ELDs are very strict, and we have to drive when ELD allows us. Even though we are a very regulated industry, shippers and receivers imposed fines $$ if we arrive late to our appointments. I agree with Billy. The only way to be heard by the people who rule the American government is by getting organized in the best way possible. Everyone who wants to be a truck driver or owner operator needs to be organized. The government doesn't understand our necessities as an important industry. ELDs had created an urgency in the drivers mind. (trying to beat the clock) That is the reason you will see truck drivers driving at the highest speed limit even though the weather conditions and the road conditions are not recommended. It is not only ELDs. We have many issues in our industry, but ELDs came to add another headache. Billy, I am with you 100%

[@Blazeww]

They are ruining the warehouses to. So many at mine are so close to putting in thier 2 week notices as one floor leads work goes undone while he wastes time and the company wants cross training on several different things he fails to do as he does the least and complains about everyone else who gets their job done. Management so worried about safety yet leaves Damaged flammables exposed with packing tape holding the hole closed as the Lead doesn't even use his haz whopper common sense to not follow the companies unsafe new policy of calling a recovery crew that hasn't shown in over two weeks now. Such a toxic work environment and by design as they do all that's in the news and media that harms mental health and creates more stress as they preach about caring and making my sure we are fit the work.

[@Jay-vr8it]

I did trucking for 6 months and quit cause the company kept making me do sketchy shit and I even got a few tickets at the scale house that I had to pay from my own money

[@SB-zy7wy]

@@Blazeww sounds like you are describing a FEDEX Freight Dock…I used to be a Freight Handler / (forklift operator).

[@lowm3]

@@Jay-vr8itwhat company

[@NewYoutuber1111]

I’m was just thinking about going to truck driver training for coke cola after watching this hell with them we drive and touch freight 12/13 hours a day fck that I’m tired of hard labor jobs and I have nothing to show but stress

[@Sternodox]

My Dad was a trucker in the 50s and 60s. Four kids, two cars, 5 bedroom house, ski boat, camper, vacation every year, and my Mom was a housewife. Impossible scenario now for most. Why?

[@gaijinbroken6571]

Hello, It is obvious that you do not understand economics Do not reply to this comment until you can make a cohesive argument on why they "make less" Sincerely, shitnugget

[@jay-lm4we]

Maybe he was smuggling drugs in his truck 🤷‍♂️

[@Ivan-jt2te]

Because of USSR example. Rich people in US were afraid of revolution, so they shared profit with workers. Now they dont afraid anything.

[@michlo3393]

Better regulations and strong unions. But, we all want to be a bunch of free-range libertarians in this country so we gut unions and de-regulate. And somehow everyone is mad at the end result? We had a system that worked pretty well back in those days and we've spent the last 60 years tearing it all down.

[@Falcon2609]

​@@michlo3393Wrong

[@Videollusions]

This clash of regulations versus reality/practicality on the ground isn't just in the trucking industry, it's in the medical industry and plenty of others as well.

[@ThatGuy-xg5hj]

Blame corporations and their corrupt politicians.

[@Jasiel.95]

@@Devdevbruhshhhhh. Nah nvm don’t shut up. Speak up tbh 😊

[@frankvonfrauner]

And socialists think the answer is more government power

[@danyo6317]

@@Devdevbruheasy there bud. They are watching Shabbat shalom 😅

[@shellz831]

Blame HIM. he wasted his money. 100k for years, he was well paid

[@JB-yb4wn]

@@shellz831 Well maybe he spent it all on cigarettes.

[@mangokraken]

The hotshot and owner operator spike we saw in post 2020 is part of the problem. How are individuals going to unionize? They can't. Not effectively at least, and if they managed to, there would still be a non union hotshot or o/o willing to take a shipment for cheaper. They are driving the pay down.

[@ShawnC.W-King]

If a trucker cant even affird a home, where tf is the hope for me? 😞

[@monsieurdorgat6864]

NGL the hope is looking pretty dim right now. I don't think I'll be ever able to afford a house, and I'll probably be lucky for whatever amount of time my partner and I will be able to rent a half-decent place. But if we continue to have to respect these billionaire's property rights at gunpoint, IDK where we'll be able to live.

[@BleedForTheWorld]

@shadowban1777 it's not a conspiracy. Capitalism is not sustainable because infinite growth is simply not possible in a world with finite resources. This is why capitalism must be met with the transition to socialism.

[@hopefulpellinore5490]

The only hope for many of us is that we can inherit some kind of dwelling. Good luck to you out there, seriously. I wish it weren't like this.

[@redrustyhill2]

​@@BleedForTheWorldfound the idiot troll

[@SgtJoeSmith]

landscaping

[@Reymasterxxx]

She forgot to mention that brokers are the reason why many Owners Op Leave the industry! They want to keep all the money for themselves!

[@ab.6031]

Facts

[@defeatSpace]

Be responsible with your money, union idiots.

[@FitTrucker73]

That is so true.

[@thefinalroman]

Brokers are bottom feeder middle men

[@darrennew8211]

@@thefinalroman This country has way too many middle-men at this point.

[@pilotmic3760]

She missed one of the biggest issues killing costs in trucking and transport. People, both companies and individuals, go to the online third party shipping platforms and marketplaces where they let any unlicensed Chuck with a truck bid on any type of load and the vast majority of them are inexperienced with no DOT number or insurance and people let them take the loads because it's cheap. Basically thousands of people taking loads for little more than gas money. Need to get rid of the platforms or at least have only regulated ones where these gypsie haulers can't work. It's killed the business for the legal transporters.

[@wadestclair249]

Sounds like millions of us. 31 years doing roofing siding and rough framing and am physically broke and literally broke.

[@telcobilly]

I was in trucking for a dozen years after 25 years of tech and 3 years in the oilfield. I liked it and made it work for me. I made a plan to retire oversees 10 years prior to getting out. I saved and spent nothing while trucking. Fortunately for me I broke my collarbone at work so I got a 1 year sabbatical on workman's comp with my family. I'm now in the Philippines debt free with no housing cost beyond normal living expenses. That being said, trucking has become very exploitative and restrictive as this video illustrated. Truckers must unite to force change like the farmers did in the Netherlands or it's going to keep getting worse. Nobody else cares about truckers beyond other truckers.

[@spharion7988]

So you wasted 20+ years before hitting the jackpot at the oil fields. I haul water to and from oil fields. I do a lot of money and in another 4 years I'll move to a cheap paradise like you did.

[@telcobilly]

@@spharion7988 I don't think I "wasted" 20 years before going to the oilfield. I was in tech for 25 years which provided a good life for my family. I didn't truck in the oilfield either. I was in directional services. Trucking was my last career before retirement. I'm glad I didn't do it for more that I did. It's a hard, isolating life. Money isn't everything. Living the one life we are given to the fullest is priceless.

[@bobdebouwer7835]

Truckers in the Netherlands get 18,60 an hour lol.

[@granitecolorado]

I have been an owner operator for almost 3 decades and most people don't know how brutal being a trucker really is. I used to be a Canadian and Alaska hauler and we were required to drive 5000 miles a week solo. My entire career has been like that and like 25% of the work I've done, I've never been paid for. During covid I went hungry every day and washed myself in rivers because the restrooms were closed. I have been robbed and beaten, I've almost froze to death from hypothermia. I have been shot at from road rage and I can't even remember all of the times I've been hurt by horrible people. And most trucker's get treated this way, so people can eat. America is built on taking advantage of innocent people

[@benjaminlear1619]

My friend... That's not America. That's Humanity. Any time an advantage is presented it will be taken regardless of cost to others.

[@granitecolorado]

@@benjaminlear1619 Not for much longer.

[@deanmohamed7575]

this is sad

[@truthseeker7183]

Bro that's brutal😢

[@johnanon658]

Always was op

[@Lizard11ify]

This is why we need different business models oriented to workers satisfaction and decent wages. Since worjers are customers too NOT the 1% of the rich.

[@barryklinedinst6233]

You can still make well over 100k driving for a company

[@miapdx503]

I'm in my 60s and I've lived below the poverty line all my life. Even when working two jobs I was still poor. Now they're trying to criminalize poverty. Damn shame.

[@cadespencer6320]

I hope your situation gets better

[@iyos7709]

Mind to ask what is your jobs? Even working 2 jobs still below poverty line is horrible. Might we learn something from it.

[@MrRoyalbeers]

I'm curious as I live in a country where no job will leave you poor. What jobs did you work?

[@miapdx503]

@@MrRoyalbeers I waited tables, I did office work...as I got older I took training and was able to work as a mediation specialist in my city. I also worked in electronic production. Basically whatever opportunities I could find...while raising two fine sons. I've worked with people who have alzheimers and dementia. I worked with people coming out of incarceration. Whenever I could give back, to a city and community that's been good to me and my family. I got married, and gained three stepchildren, and went on to foster and adopt children. I've been busy. Now in my 60s, I look to the next generation...and I wish they had it better. So many people struggling, especially young people.

[@Owellywell]

@@miapdx503i feel your pain .

[@paulipock6981]

I had a trainer who taught me flatbed in 2004. He said he made 50k the year before. He also told me he made 50k in 1978. That's equivalent to 200k in today's money. Flatbed drivers today make just a bit more than the same 50k. Pay has barely gone up at all in more than 40 years.

[@nicknamenick9448]

Exactly

[@tacticaldorito3942]

My old man made about 50k in 05. Nearly 70k in 15. He’s gone now, but I picked up the reins as a flat bedder, on route to 100k+ this year. If you’re not making at least 75k, it’s time to find a different company. There’s no shortage of jobs. This documentary is full of bad information.

[@stuart6478]

poor people don't want to pay taxes so the rich believe the world is theirs and by all means it is

[@mikepalmer2219]

This is with every industry. Especially construction. This is not unique to trucking.

[@SliverOfSilver1000oz]

Well I'm a flatbedder and I've never made less then 90k/yr as a company driver and not have to do H/H or OD

[@axelfoley1812]

My uncle is 74 been a trucker for 45 years he bought a 2 story home near Los Angeles (not cheap) and he is living comfortably this man unfortunately mismanaged his money it may sound mean or rude but we are all responsible for our own destiny

[@TheAwsomeSawse]

Almost every facet of American life got worse with deregulation and Reganomics

[@Praisethesunson]

Not if you are part of the ownership class. Then American life has been awesome

[@mattportnoyTLV]

Seems like it’s especially gotten worse over the last two years under this administration.

[@senorgato9386]

​@mattportnoy2775 no, the economy got worse, the gig economy has been getting worse for a long time now and that's the latest big blow to american workers

[@mattportnoyTLV]

@@senorgato9386 It's gotten worse over the last two years.

[@senorgato9386]

@mattportnoy2775 I mean maybe but I genuinely think we're just feeling the impacts more because of the inflation we've had, it wasn't easier to find a good job back in 2018 infact it got easier near me over the last 2 years

[@davewme]

All absolutely true!! I am Canadian.. used to live in a truck doing long haul. Now, I haul aggregate local. Paid $34/hr for all hours worked. No log book, and in 14 years of that.. own a house and two nice vehicles. Also take time away from work for hobbies. Because I can afford to. I will never go back to freight hauling, there is no money in it.

[@FrankLadd]

That sounds like a great rate. After hauling refrigerated my son just got offered $24/hr US to deliver building supplies. He'll be home every night and have paid holidays. Hope it works out as good as it sounds.

[@ballpuncher45]

In the US most places won't go above $25 an hour for local from what I've seen but most don't get that

[@davewme]

@@FrankLadd the dollar is irrelevant, as you spend usd. And earn usd. I make cad and spend cad. Only difference is things are more expensive in cad. Your son will do well, running local. It is more difficult for companies to screw drivers over when you see them face to face every day. Lol. If things don’t fly for him with building supplies, might I suggest he check out aggregates. All the best to him :)

[@mriphone1000]

I started at a mega carrier. Made absolutely nothing, below poverty level. My point being is thiers better options, I left.

[@davewme]

@@ballpuncher45 yes, that is true…. Try out aggregate, or other specialized. Freight does not pay, at any point.

[@timeisshorttruly8409]

It sounds terrible, i agree. But when my dad died he left my mother with a debt of about 10k, she worked as a bookeeper making nor a lot more than min wage. She was 54. She had a stroke at 70 still managed to accumulate almost 200k. So dont tell me it cant be done. We think we have to have everything now and pay later. If you are having this problem, challenge yourself for one month to record every penny spent.then see where your money went.

[@peoplez129]

Challenge yourself to have to eat out for every meal, then see how far your money stretches. Challenge yourself to have to do laundry at somewhere other than home, challenge yourself to not wanting some guilty pleasures after monotonously driving for 15 hours a day, every day. Challenge yourself to finding the time and place to take a shower that isn't at home. Then see how much money you have left, if any at all. The point in this video is that while their pay is technically high on paper, they also have to cover and deal with all their own maintenance, which is insanely expensive, so that eats up most of their paycheck. And since foreign workers are always available to take a load eventually, these workers can't even try to say "Sorry, I won't do the job for less than twice the cost". The trucking agency will simply laugh at them and there will simply be no job for them to do, and a truck sitting doing nothing is worse than a truck making less money, because a sitting truck makes no money and there's no place to keep a large truck for long, while at the same time being costly to move around. So you can't even play musical chairs with parking spots around town, because it costs you literally dollars every mile you move it. So you have no choice but to take the job. You can't even quite and sell your truck, because again, you need somewhere to put it, you need a buyer, and you need time for buyer to get the loan and the money to go through....meanwhile if you're paying to park it somewhere legally, you're probably paying thousands a month just to do that....while also having no income and no home. So you're essentially homeless, with a truck you can't sell and can't park anywhere, a truck that if towed, would cost even more to get out of the towing lot, with still nowhere to actually put it after you get it out....meanwhile what money you might have left, is rapidly disintegrating, if you have any left at all. So you can't easily get out of the business even if you want to.

[@StevenManser]

I've drove truck for 13 years and going. 37 years old making 120k. The problem is people settling for low wages. LEAVE if you don't like your compensation. Also more importantly keep a CLEAN driving record. 13 years with 1 point to my license. They pay for safe drivers.

[@Madmun357]

The most needed workers in this country are also the lowest paid. That spells trouble.

[@robertrichardsonjr.6705]

I was a trucker for 24 years and was pushed out due to finding out about a heart disease. It was a love hate relationship. Once you become a trucker and stop , it’s hard to get it out of your blood.

[@giovannigiorgio8962]

It's not about "getting trucking out of your blood" People are habitual, whatever you do consistently gets wired into your brain.

[@user-vl4nv8oz8j]

I agree! Best thing to do is get on disability and drive around the country with a small camper

[@masmith1960]

I loved Trucking and would go back if I could. Medical issues too.

[@user-vl4nv8oz8j]

@@masmith1960 I have a heart defibrillator implant i can't drive so I'm waiting my SSDI then I going to Asia to live

[@masmith1960]

I understand. Been a trucker and a police officer. To old to work the pd. Have like you med issues for dot. Been turned down on ssdi. For me it’s like so many of us trucking is in my blood. Should have never become a cop. Liked helping people and the job was okay but it was never like trucking for me.

[@cherylsterling4238]

I’ve been an independent insurance adjuster for 20 years. The industry has just decreased decreased, decreased in wages yet increased in what they expect from you. You go from storm to storm you have no roots. You can’t afford to have a house any longer. I decided to cold turkey quit the industry, however in search of a new career at my age, it’s difficult. I applied for a job just yesterday thinking well. I would do something that was less pay. At least I could be near my family and actually have a home. When I got the job offer it was $10.50 an hour and only offered 30 hours a week. I used to make $700-$2000 a day. I’ve decided being poor is the new rich.

[@Nob0dy-91]

If you’re in your 50s 60s and 70s and can’t afford a house your money management is horrible. This guy was making a 100k a year at one point he should’ve owned a house by now, with money in the bank. This guy is just terrible with money. He lived through a time where everything was dirt cheap you could buy a home back then for 25k even cheaper in some places. It’s his own fault he’s in the position he’s in.

[@captaindishman9126]

My dad was a trucker for 40 years. 2 years before retirement he catches a heart condition. The company had to let him go because they saw him as a liability. He is now 70 and working for a retailer instead of enjoying his retirement. I've seen several elderly people still working because life rips away what they built up for decades. It is disgusting. It is a shame to know that the same will happen to me. Doesn't matter how much money you make. It will just get taken from you and you will have to slave while your body is failing. YOU WILL DIE AT A JOB YOU DIDN'T WANT! ENJOY!!

[@timbrooks8690]

So he failed to save for retirement......

[@jaimecruz5367]

Be smart save up and retired in a country where you can live on your pension . Like Filipinas 🇵🇭

[@captaindishman9126]

@@timbrooks8690 because getting caught up in the system to get assistance drains what you have. I'm sorry you didn't have several traumatic experiences so you could understand what reality does to people.

[@timbrooks8690]

@@captaindishman9126 I had lots of bad experiences I just wasn't a retard with my money.

[@bobshagit-io8lq]

they will work us to our death, you are right the royal families in charge need to be overthrown

[@justaguy-69]

i retired from trucking in 2017 and not a minute too soon! i saw it go from a great job to being nothing more than a human transmission . most truckers do it for the freedom and couldn't imagine sitting in an office everyday their whole lives or in a factory with someone looking over their shoulder all day,but now you are one of the most under surveillance people in the world, on camera,computer watching every gear shifted every time you touch the brakes every turn you make every move your truck makes the temperature of your engine the rpms, exactly pinpointed by gps on a map down to the yard and how many minutes you sat there or if you nudged forward 6 inches or 20 feet. and if your truck is running or shut off , and if you follow orders and drive exactly as youre told exactly when youre told the exact route youre told and stop when and where youre told you really are just a human link between the accelerator and clutch and the gps map on your dash and the orders coming thru the dashtop computer, basically a "transmission" a robot all day...and night. so much for taking a different route down the country road parallel to the highway to see the scenery or small town america or eating at your favorite mom and pop truckstops while passing thru to say HI to your favorite waitress and give her a tip, learning the quiet scenic shortcuts over the CB from other guys... those days are gone. If you do drive down any of those roads today - all across america you will see all the boarded up closed down eateries and truckstops and deserted ruins of all the businesses that used to make a living off of, and feed their families off of, the truckers friendly visits of the good ol' days. ☮

[@Trollmaster08]

I felt that and im a 7 yr vet. I still go down back rd. I started right when everything begin to change I remember when companies were still running off logs. It was all for safety. The data is in and there’s nothing safe about trucks running out of “time” and parking in entrance ramps of having no where to park at truck stop. And now even at Walmart they booting trucks now and starting price to get it off is 250$ it’s sad. But I love driving.

[@justaguy-69]

@@Trollmaster08 I hear ya, but it'll never be like the good ol days.

[@mikeymarvintv6042]

This is so true .

[@mattmattmatt131313]

It is sad how a career known to attract people who greatly desire freedom above all, now gets regulated more than almost any other job out there. It's perverse really.

[@AvenueD417]

The office cubicle workers are now getting the preferential treatment,

[@janice8925]

If I made that kind of money my whole life, I would have saved a ton of money. I'm 65 and worked low paying jobs all but 1 year. Out of debt too. I would never purchase a house. You must be crazy.

[@DrawinskyMoon]

This is the era of working smarter not harder. I’m just grateful as a millennial/gen z I have such a good relationship with my parents I can be in their home and care for them.

[@enijize1234]

Bot comment

[@desperado914]

I am trucker for over 30 years, I made a lot of money, spent it all and working at 71.

[@sly_g]

Exactly 😂