Reality vs 'knights of the road' legend on semi driving

Harper's has a deep dive on truck driving and driver training school, or, as one economist calls it, "a sweatshop on wheels." It touches on the issue of the romance of trucking for people who peddle the "knights of the open road" mythos. That, in turn, is itself exploited by trucking companies that cater to hiring independent drivers as contractors, who are then part of an even bigger sweatshop on wheels than company-employed truckers.

I remember during the early COVID days, companies offering up to $190K a year or something for independent drivers. Sounded great, no? But, at the high fuel prices of that time, you needed to deduct $60K for that. Since these were independent drivers, you probably needed to deduct another $25K a year, maybe more, for the annual payment on their current cab, if not paid off. (I was estimating $125K for a basic model new cab hitting a total price of $175K on a 7-year note; my guess was in the ballpark, it turns out.) Say $10K a year for the amount of insurance you have to have as a driver, especially owning your own rig. Maintenance costs. Double-pay on FISA taxes as self-employed. And more.

At the time, $6/gallon or more diesel probably meant $90K a year on fuel costs alone, at the high end. So, down to $100K right there. Start subtracting that other stuff and you see where you're at soon enough.

It's even worse with one particular "white knight of the road," the cattle hauler. Sure, you're not driving cross-country. You've got a semi-dedicated run. But, especially for the dudes with their name in lights on a trailer they haul? You can only haul one thing. Cattle.

The situation is broadly similar in the Rockies and Sierras with logging trucks.

And, that's why, as a generalization but not a stereotype, these people drive like assholes.