Hi Franglais.But surely thats the Point.It doesn’t really matter what you pay in ‘‘social costs’’,as whats in your pocket is the Money you can spend.The Swedish system is quite good,You pay a lot of taxes but you[and your employer]lots into the '‘social’'system to cover all these so called ‘‘safety net’’ costs which the state use.Most wages are structered by the state\employers\unions so the working man doesn’t have to fight for better wages.I’m not sure about ‘‘lower take home pay’’.Having been born in the UK,lived in Holland and Canada and now here it see quite a good ratio between wages and standards.Also something which most people forget is the ‘‘quality of life’’
$80k ain’t that fantastic, if it is then my driver earns more than a driver with the best job in the USA and yes, that’s take home pay after all deductions. Healthcare and a 401k pension plan are unnecessary as our at source tax and social security deductions pay for that.
I’m looking to put more trucks on the road Pat, if you fancy a payrise? [emoji16]
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hutpik:
Hi Franglais.But surely thats the Point.It doesn’t really matter what you pay in ‘‘social costs’’,as whats in your pocket is the Money you can spend.The Swedish system is quite good,You pay a lot of taxes but you[and your employer]lots into the '‘social’'system to cover all these so called ‘‘safety net’’ costs which the state use.Most wages are structered by the state\employers\unions so the working man doesn’t have to fight for better wages.I’m not sure about ‘‘lower take home pay’’.Having been born in the UK,lived in Holland and Canada and now here it see quite a good ratio between wages and standards.Also something which most people forget is the ‘‘quality of life’’
“Quality of life” is too often forgotten, you’re right.
Some of the reason is probably the cost of housing in the UK? Anyone wanting to raise a family must chase money above all else at the expense of all else it seems. A greater proportion of wages goes to housing now than ever before I think.
It’s difficult to comment without going off on a political tangent, but I think the UK is going the wrong direction. We don’t need more privatisation of hospitals, geriatric care, etc with cash being syphoned off. We need a better National Health and Social Care system. Staffed by people who aren’t chasing the biggest bucks but are committed to the system itself. Those who give service, content to know they in turn will be looked after when the need arises. No need for big salaries of you don’t need to find private hospitals schools and hospices.
Freedom of choice? Some politicos want us to be free to be exploited and ripped off by scammers. They want us to have the freedom to choose 2nd best (operates at a profit by their mates).
Sorry. I’m off on a rant…
I’ll go get another bottle of soma.
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newmercman:
$80k ain’t that fantastic, if it is then my driver earns more than a driver with the best job in the USA and yes, that’s take home pay after all deductions. Healthcare and a 401k pension plan are unnecessary as our at source tax and social security deductions pay for that.I’m looking to put more trucks on the road Pat, if you fancy a payrise? [emoji16]
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Spot on newmercman, I grossed just over $83K last year which included a month off.
I work 12/13hr days, home every night with every weekend off between Oct-April, and work every other weekend Apr-Oct.
Paid by the hr with O/T after 8hrs or 40hrs.
My hourly rate isn’t great by any means, pretty average for Calgary, there are lots of companies pay better than us.
Neil, my bloke has a pretty good deal I think, he took a week off in February to go to Cuba, paid for by his Xmas box, he had two weeks in July and went fishing and kayaking up in the boonies last weekend for four days, all that’s on top of his normal weekends at home. He does usually leave on Sunday afternoon, granted, but he’s generally back by Friday morning at the latest, so it still counts as a full weekend really.
He makes bloody good money too, I wish I had a job like his when I was a company driver! Which is the whole point really, it keeps him turning up for work every week and that’s what I need.
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newmercman:
Neil, my bloke has a pretty good deal I think, he took a week off in February to go to Cuba, paid for by his Xmas box, he had two weeks in July and went fishing and kayaking up in the boonies last weekend for four days, all that’s on top of his normal weekends at home. He does usually leave on Sunday afternoon, granted, but he’s generally back by Friday morning at the latest, so it still counts as a full weekend really.He makes bloody good money too, I wish I had a job like his when I was a company driver! Which is the whole point really, it keeps him turning up for work every week and that’s what I need.
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There’s proof in the pudding right there, you pay well and treat them right, you get a good reliable driver, nice one, pity a lot more bosses aren’t like you.
My boss is the best I’ve worked for in 35yrs driving, the money’s decent, good kit, well maintained, treats us great, values our opinions on anything that’ll make the job better.
Comes out with us for meals, fetches the bill evertime, has BBQ’s at his farm 4/5 times a year, Xmas bonus & party.
Real top bloke.
It’s not all about the money, the little things count as well towards a happy working enviroment.
hutpik:
Hi Pat,not wishing to appear picky but is that 80K a take home.If so excellent,but if not what is in the bank.
I see so much on these sites that people earn vast fortunes,then they say ‘‘thats brutto’’.Lets be honest,who cares what we earn ‘‘brutto’’,its what goes in the bank that we spend.
It’s top line before deductions, I always thought Walmart drivers were in better positions but as my friend ‘Remy’ (Charles) is a veteran Walmart driver and tells me it’s now crap and he has quit I know different.
neilg14:
newmercman:
Neil, my bloke has a pretty good deal I think, he took a week off in February to go to Cuba, paid for by his Xmas box, he had two weeks in July and went fishing and kayaking up in the boonies last weekend for four days, all that’s on top of his normal weekends at home. He does usually leave on Sunday afternoon, granted, but he’s generally back by Friday morning at the latest, so it still counts as a full weekend really.He makes bloody good money too, I wish I had a job like his when I was a company driver! Which is the whole point really, it keeps him turning up for work every week and that’s what I need.
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There’s proof in the pudding right there, you pay well and treat them right, you get a good reliable driver, nice one, pity a lot more bosses aren’t like you.
My boss is the best I’ve worked for in 35yrs driving, the money’s decent, good kit, well maintained, treats us great, values our opinions on anything that’ll make the job better.
Comes out with us for meals, fetches the bill evertime, has BBQ’s at his farm 4/5 times a year, Xmas bonus & party.
Real top bloke.
It’s not all about the money, the little things count as well towards a happy working enviroment.
My philosophy is to treat a driver the way I want to be treated. As I said, I pay my bloke well, yet I still make money out of the deal, if I can do it how come the majority of employers plead poverty and pay just enough to get away with it? I know bigger firms have larger overheads, but they also have better paying work if they’re working direct, rather than subcontracting like me.
My overheads aren’t exactly cheap, my Peterbilt glider cost me a bloody fortune, I’m replacing my other truck with a new one in November, I rent a heated shop to park them in, I never scrimp on maintenance or parts, pay a good wage, supply a wide open cell phone and kit the truck out with fridge, microwave, GPS, CB radio etc. I’m never going to be rich, but I make a decent living still.
As I see it there’s too much greed, but in the long run saving a pound on wages and maintenance ends up costing a fiver, so greed is a costly habit.
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newmercman:
neilg14:
newmercman:
Neil, my bloke has a pretty good deal I think, he took a week off in February to go to Cuba, paid for by his Xmas box, he had two weeks in July and went fishing and kayaking up in the boonies last weekend for four days, all that’s on top of his normal weekends at home. He does usually leave on Sunday afternoon, granted, but he’s generally back by Friday morning at the latest, so it still counts as a full weekend really.He makes bloody good money too, I wish I had a job like his when I was a company driver! Which is the whole point really, it keeps him turning up for work every week and that’s what I need.
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There’s proof in the pudding right there, you pay well and treat them right, you get a good reliable driver, nice one, pity a lot more bosses aren’t like you.
My boss is the best I’ve worked for in 35yrs driving, the money’s decent, good kit, well maintained, treats us great, values our opinions on anything that’ll make the job better.
Comes out with us for meals, fetches the bill evertime, has BBQ’s at his farm 4/5 times a year, Xmas bonus & party.
Real top bloke.
It’s not all about the money, the little things count as well towards a happy working enviroment.My philosophy is to treat a driver the way I want to be treated. As I said, I pay my bloke well, yet I still make money out of the deal, if I can do it how come the majority of employers plead poverty and pay just enough to get away with it? I know bigger firms have larger overheads, but they also have better paying work if they’re working direct, rather than subcontracting like me.
My overheads aren’t exactly cheap, my Peterbilt glider cost me a bloody fortune, I’m replacing my other truck with a new one in November, I rent a heated shop to park them in, I never scrimp on maintenance or parts, pay a good wage, supply a wide open cell phone and kit the truck out with fridge, microwave, GPS, CB radio etc. I’m never going to be rich, but I make a decent living still.
As I see it there’s too much greed, but in the long run saving a pound on wages and maintenance ends up costing a fiver, so greed is a costly habit.
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Great philosophy newmercman, Wal Mart is now finding out how true your last sentence is, greedy buggers.
Charles, pay peanuts and you get monkeys…
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newmercman:
Charles, pay peanuts and you get monkeys…Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk
Yes but now they can’t even get monkeys 
They eliminated a lot of set runs and day cabs knowing that a lot of drivers would leave so they could hire new guys and pay them ten cents less per mile but no one applied. So they changed the pay back to the higher rate but still no one applied. Their next brilliant plan was to call all the drivers that left and ask them if they wanted to come back but not many did, the damage was done.
So now they have to have outside carriers haul the trailers to the stores because of limited company drivers and these carriers know they have Wally by the short hairs and are charging a premium rate so in the long run they didn’t save a ■■■■ thing.
newmercman:
$80k ain’t that fantastic, if it is then my driver earns more than a driver with the best job in the USA and yes, that’s take home pay after all deductions. Healthcare and a 401k pension plan are unnecessary as our at source tax and social security deductions pay for that.I’m looking to put more trucks on the road Pat, if you fancy a payrise? [emoji16]
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Hi everyone. Mark your healthcare and pension schemes are way ahead of ours here in the States.
My company just changed insurance providers, and for health, dental and eye care it costs me, just myself $450:00/month plus I have to pay $30.00 each Doctors visit and $50.00 for a specialist. I used to have a $2500 deductable that has now jumped to $4000. I have to pay this before the insurance company pays a dime.
You can’t afford to be sick here, as I am getting older and falling apart it scares the crap out of me.
Unfortunately due to Postal contract regulations which differ through out the country I can not opt out. There are better and cheaper policies available on the health exchange. Many people join companies for affordable health care, especially if you need coverage for your whole family!
Our tax system is different also, so making a comparison of U.S. and Canadian earnings isn’t straight forward! Plus the exchange rates etc.
How ever, I believe you have it better north of the border.
Good to see you are doing well.
Paul
Paul, my driver is the top earner on the firm, the other driver earns a pittance. [emoji24] healthcare is absolutely better up here if you have a serious illness it won’t bankrupt you, but it’s not without problems, day to day stuff is shocking, trying to get a family doctor is nigh on impossible, ours is a waste of time, they’re booking months in advance, by the time you actually get an appointment you’re either not ill anymore or it will be too late to do anything about it.
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newmercman:
Paul, my driver is the top earner on the firm, the other driver earns a pittance. [emoji24] healthcare is absolutely better up here if you have a serious illness it won’t bankrupt you, but it’s not without problems, day to day stuff is shocking, trying to get a family doctor is nigh on impossible, ours is a waste of time, they’re booking months in advance, by the time you actually get an appointment you’re either not ill anymore or it will be too late to do anything about it.Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk
We’re the same in AB, we have a DR but struggle to get to see him, he’s at the hospital working at A&E 3 to 4 days a week, so could be up to a month to see him but if it’s anything serious, we can use the walk-in at the hospital.
I had Gallstones a couple of years ago which were bad and they got me in to remove the Gallbladder within the week.
I now have a torn bicep & rotator cuff in my shoulder, got about 30% use of my right arm and am looking at waiting 2yrs for surgery.
I think the amount of DR’s is not keeping up with the continued influx of immigrants.
This getting old ■■■■■ btw.
We have the walk in clinics too, they’re pretty handy. With your medical history computerised it’s just the same as visiting your family doctor really. Although getting old ■■■■■, it’s better than the alternative…
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Bloody 'ell, i turned seventy two months ago and didn’t feel too bad till you two started this ‘getting old’ crap 