I start school on wednesday and i could not agree with you more. I grew up in the marine corps and served 8 years myself. i left the corps because i felt i was ready to settle down and have a family and i know what it was like growing up in it. my dad was there for the most part even though he worked three jobs and went to school, but he did what he had to do to provide for us. he also coached our baseball teams and nearly never missed any major event in our life, but as a child it seemed as though he was gone a lot. i didn't want that for my family so i left a profession that was guaranteed to be that way. i have worked in restaurants nearly all my life, including those that my parents were working in while i was growing up, and i love to cook. i, however, came to the realization that i am struggling to provide for my family, though i do enjoy the job, and though i only work between 35-50 hours a week, i am so exhausted when i get home that i don't want to spend time with my family. i decided a few months back that driving a truck would be for the best because i believe i will enjoy the job, and though i probably wont see my family every night or week i know that i will have several days off in a row and will be able to spend more quality time with them when i am at home. i have done a ton of research and have 3 or 4 companies i would love to get on with once my schooling is complete. in my research i have come to realize that while you may make more money per mile starting out at a smaller outfit or at a flatbed company, the miles are going to be less so the pay is going to average out about the same for anyone with little or no experience no matter where you go. the difference is how you feel about a company, your work ethic, and the work ethics of those around you. if you do the research and you find a place that you believe you fit into, it will all work out and everyone will be happy. once you get your experience and more training under your belt then you can move on to bigger and better things. i am doing this for my family and to better us financially and in quality time i get to spend with my children. i will probably end up making less than .30 starting out, but within a year i will be well over .30 and even at .25/mile i will still be making nearly 3 times what i make now, mileage dependent obviously. i am one of the highest paid employees where i work, and have been most restaurants i have worked in, and if i work 40 hour weeks on average i will make less than 1500/month, where in the trucking industry, starting out, with no experience i will be making two to three times that. you can argue for/against unions all day, but as was previously stated, no one is going to change the other's mind, just realize each side has its purpose and don't complain about the guy who is working for scraps, because scraps might be what gets you through the night in order for you to be eating off the buffet tomorrow. not everyone works that cheap, and not all companies pay that poorly, some pay a company driver in excess of .80 /mile you just have to get the experience, the training, and do your job to the best of your ability and it all will work out.

 

isnt that what this country is changing into? You can't do anything for free anymore. Everything you do, you have to buy a permit, license or pay a tax on. So living in this country is no different than being in a Union, yeah? Oh, you can go down to the city park for free...but only during certian times.

 

I am sure that you will do well. I am glad to see that you realize that it may take some time and training to achieve your goals. Some people seem to think that they should start at top pay with no experience. You can still earn a good living in this business. The more experience you have and the better you do your job the more money you can earn. There are a few carriers who can get you home for a day or so each week, but they usually require a year or two experience. I feel confident that you will find something that will work best for you.

 

Unfortunately, you are right about this country heading into socialism. I hope people wake up before it is too late. We are already well on our way to losing much of our freedoms to socialism.

 

Hmm.... that's funny.... I'm almost 54 years old, and I can't think of a SINGLE freedom that I had as a child that I don't have now.

Plus I gained one! I get to stay up (or out) as late as I wanna! :lol2:

 

I'm the same age, and when we were kids we had the freedom to not wear or wear a seat belt as we wished.

There's one!

 

or depending on where you live, you had the freedom to smoke in your car, or walking out in the street. Now, some places, you can't.

 

When I grew up we could go out and buy a gun and take it home right after the purchase. We didn't have to wait on a criminal background check. We also didn't have to register our guns and could have a gun in the car without having to worry about being thrown in jail. That is another freedom we have lost.

When I grew up we could enter military bases with a gun. We no longer have that freedom at most bases.

When I grew up we had the freedom to study the Bible, pray and say the pledge of allegiance in school. We no longer have that right or freedom.

When I grew up and until about a year ago we could enter any port in the country. We now must have a criminal background check and a special card to enter ports. Freedom lost.

When I grew up we could idle our trucks to keep warm or cool. We are no longer free idle our trucks in several states. Doing so can result in heavy fines. Freedom lost.

When I grew up we could enter ports no matter how old our trucks. We can no longer enter some ports if our trucks are past a certain age. That wasn't true until about a year or so ago. Freedom lost.

When I grew up we could cross the Mexican or Canadian border without having a passport. We will now be denied entry without a passport, at least to come back into the U.S. Freedom lost.

When I grew up you could not be forced to provide evidence against yourself. Today, if you refuse to provide a breath test you will lose your drivers license, possibly go to jail and have a criminal record, all without due process. This is a violation of the 5th amendment. Freedom lost.

When I grew up we could display the 10 commandments in our courts and schools. We no longer have that freedom. In fact, a judge was recently removed from office in Alabama for that very reason. Freedom lost.

When I grew up we could criticize our government or political representatives without fear of repercussions. We may not be accused or racism or intolerance or even hate crimes for criticizing certain individuals or groups. Freedom lost.

When I grew up we could go to an airport, check our luggage and board an airplane. We now must go through an extensive check and may now even have to be x-rayed along with our luggage at most airports. Freedom lost.

I could go on.

 

While I vehemently disagree with your anti union stance, I agree with the examples of lost freedoms that you have posted Gman.

.

 

I am glad that we can agree on something, Kranky. :thumbsup: