I worked at UPS to put my self through college and get an engineering degree.
While I was there, working my backside off, I got to know a lot of truck drivers.
College was a joke to them because they knew that they were making more than I would see after decades in engineering.
After just a few years they were pulling in much more than I make now after 7 years of experience. And I am at the top of my pay grade.
The same goes for workers on the line in most aircraft plants. I knew an engineer that was being hassled by some hourly guys over something. He finally told them "hey, just because you guys make twice as much as me doesn't mean you can just blow me off." I guess their jaws dropped. It was probably the first time they realized how good they had it.
The union employees love to whine but they fail to realize that the corporate landscape changed a long time ago.
They, the blue collar workers are the elite. Everyone else is dirt.
There's a big confussion in here about trucking companies. UPS, Roadway, ect are exceptions rather than the rule. A OTR job with most other companies is less than minimum wage for hours actually worked. Why do they stay? Usually for a shot at a company that does pay better. These companies as well hire who they know rather than off the street.UPS may pay great I can name you plenty more who do not. I worked for JB Hunts competition we earned the same wages. I'll give you a clue. When you see a tractor with a sleeper they will be the ones working for peanuts usaually. Ever notice a sleeper in a UPS truck? It's city to city terminal and drop. They will get to their destination during their shift. An OTR transport going from Tennessee to Califorina will not. You pick it up and usually you deliver it on a rushed schedule. You drive your tail off then wait while it's unloaded hopefully that day then you wait for another load maybe 1 hour maybe 3 days later which again is promised at an unreasonable time for the distance and hours you have to get there in a legal manner. I made more on National Guard drill weekends than I made in most weeks.