FWIW, I’m an independent owner operator hauling propane with my own trailer and operating authority. My tractor is a restored 99 Pete 379 Extended Hood, so I’m exempt from E-Logs.
I run locally - home every night (well, Day, because I run at night to avoid the horrible traffic in Seattle), and it took years to get here. Started off hauling nothing but hazmat tanker for the most part. (Gasoline, chemicals.) I run about 65-70 hours per week, 51 weeks a year. A good year grosses $400K, but average years are closer to $300K. Net around $150K after all expenses. Once the equipment is paid off next year that adds $75K to the net.
Had someone told me 10 years ago that I’d be buying $70K worth of fuel annually I would have laughed my ass off. Not now.
Millennials are too lazy and too drug addled to work the hours required to get where I am, even though it can be done in 5 years if you work really hard.
Then there is the credit issue. Not many firms will loan $300K to someone without a really good background and experience. Propane and cryogenic equipment tend to be expensive..
That’s one thing that I think I would have liked to do: long-haul trucking. See the country; I wouldn’t mind the hours. Sleep in the truck. Shower at Petro or Loves. These millennials do not know what they’re missing.
I’m 50 however; at such an age, the long-haul lifestyle would probably put me through the wringer.
Diesel fuel is icky and causes globull warming!/s
They will be happy when the Tesla truck saves the planet!
I am not a Millenial, but could never get the hang of backing up a trailer.
Because they were taught in our communist schools that government is going to give them everything.
JoMa
My instincts tell me that they don’t want to be stereotyped but it is they who see it as such.
Truckers have to work.
Driverless trucks are on their way.
This business of Drivers earning north of 6 figures is troublesome to me. Most drivers are restricted by the DOT from working more than 60 hours in a 7 day period. Seventy hours running in an 8 day log. Drivers cannot work more than 15 hours in a 24 hour day and mandatory break times are required.
A lot of drivers are quite intelligent and can maximize income by manipulating their off duty time so that they can earn ‘time and a half’ for 2 days each week. That applies to ‘on the clock’ drivers and not Owner-Operators, in a Union shop, mostly.
For many years drivers ran 2 Logs in order to cheat the system but that is difficult to do these days with electronic logs being so prevalent.
Also, unloading is not ‘down time’ so it counts, which is why ‘Lumpers’ can do so well. Lumbers will unload trailers in a hurry for a healthy fee. Smart companies use ‘drop & pick’ methods but this requires a larger fleet and reduces mileage on equipment. Dropped trailers can it for extensive periods as little mini warehouses. That is money one how or another. .
I spent more than 20 years in the industry. Drivers can do well but $100K is likely still extraordinary. Owners can gross a lot more than that but the accounting and fees for Brokers are not negligible costs.
A job immigrants do because Americans won’t do it?
I'm calling bull on this one (especially since my Dad and Uncle drove and they never brought home anything close to it working for the companies.)
My 18 year old son is planning on taking his CDL Class A class in January. His ultimate plan is for a trade career but having the CDL first is a good stepping stone.
“Why Are Millennials Passing Up High-Paying Trucking Jobs?”
Because it’s work?
Driving gives them....wait for it....anxiety.
Status issue. Not to be white collar is an embarrassment to that generation.
Because it’s a terrible industry to get into. It’s hyper over regulated, the hours stink, you’re treated like a criminal everyday by every agency, the profitability of your runs is largely determined by minimum wage employees on either end, and it takes weeks and thousands of dollars to fix anything on your truck. And of course goal number one of the self driving vehicle push is to replace truck drivers. I know multiple truckers and all of them give the same career advice: don’t do it unless you absolutely love it, and even then you probably shouldn’t.