Truck driver shortage, other troubles could push up prices for consumers

That equates to $10.49/hr not counting the overtime exemption which would make it around $8.78/hr.

Is that an acceptable wage living on the road 24/7 away from family and the normal things in life? Then they wonder why they have a hard time filling the seats. There is not a shortage of drivers, only a shortage of drivers not willing to work for low wages.

 

Hi patty, I know we've discussed this before, but I don't really see it as a pay issue, as much as people just don't want to drive a truck anymore. When I started in the late 70's, all I wanted to do, was drive a truck. While most of my friends were breaking their backs in construction, I got paid to boogy down the boulevard listening to music. I was/am a motorhead, and motorheads and truck drivers went hand in hand. Now , you don't see near as many motorheads, and take up trucking out of desperation, and quickly find out it wasn't what they planned. BTW, I checked CL Sioux City, just to see, and you are right, it's the same people that are advertising all over the nation. 180 transport listings in Milw. alone. How do you make a choice when there are so many? It's the junk somebody else tried and quit.

 

There is no driver shortage. If there was why dont
you see the pay and benefits get better. Most of these companies are paying drivers half what you
where being paid 20 years ago if you factor in inflation and the cost of living these days. Its the law of supply and demand. If there isnt enough to
go around you pay more for it. You can thank the
government and the ATA for what this industry has become.

 

There's just nothing im interested in.Jobs im finding requires more work then just driving and very low pay.I think its very unfair we work like dogs only to support ppl in Washington.Hard work bad pay and even worse after taxes.Everything has gone up from stores to your bills and the pay goes down or remains the same.Where is the relief for us.When you think about the dollar isn't worth much anymore after taxes.Wonder what percent of our pay goes directly to us and how much of a percent goes to the government.Back when I first started driving it wasn't nearly as bad as it is now.It rapidly got bad once the economy started getting bad and now some are taking full advantage of it by making us work a lot harder then the pay,jacking up prices ect.I would say the real ppl hurting are us,the little people.Far as choosing a job on CL, that's easy pick one at random.I do think its funny these same local companies here keep looking for drivers because the ones they hire quit.Serves the companies right because they don't value drivers.Nobody does, here anyway that I can see.[QUOTE="semi" retired;4107892]Hi patty, I know we've discussed this before, but I don't really see it as a pay issue, as much as people just don't want to drive a truck anymore. When I started in the late 70's, all I wanted to do, was drive a truck. While most of my friends were breaking their backs in construction, I got paid to boogy down the boulevard listening to music. I was/am a motorhead, and motorheads and truck drivers went hand in hand. Now , you don't see near as many motorheads, and take up trucking out of desperation, and quickly find out it wasn't what they planned. BTW, I checked CL Sioux City, just to see, and you are right, it's the same people that are advertising all over the nation. 180 transport listings in Milw. alone. How do you make a choice when there are so many? It's the junk somebody else tried and quit.[/QUOTE]

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4107892]Hi patty, I know we've discussed this before, but I don't really see it as a pay issue, as much as people just don't want to drive a truck anymore. [/QUOTE]

There are plenty of people that want to drive a truck. They just can't afford it!

 

Drivers are starting to wake up.Why do you think im not working.Of course Ray is paying my bills too.He doesn't mind either.He says he likes me home.One day I plan on getting back out there but not until I find a job that pays for everything I do and actually values the drivers.But also do you think companies are having a harder time finding drivers due to their records?Ray says kb is turning more drivers away now then hireing because of their CSA score.

 

five more years and i will otr(off the road)after 45 yrs. thank god!!!!!

 

Maybe put a cap on broker profits since they only provide lip service as in kissing butt while the truckers put up all the cost for moving the goods. Truckers should be paying brokers rather than waiting on the broker for payment.

 

I don't know anything about brokers and how one is paid thru them but I do like your way of thinken.

 

Here is the math I always give out when there is talk about the bogus driver shortage or driver pay increases. Waaaaaay back in the late '70s Carretta trucking had plastered on all their trailers "Come work for us and make $48,000". Too many drivers would be overjoyed to earn that much money today. But if you plug in that pay rate, and correct for inflation, it would be $119,000 in today's money! I'm guessing close to ZERO per cent company drivers make that kind of pay, and unfortunately probably a significant per cent of O/O's GROSS that kind of money at today's expenses.
So I don't want to hear about how if driver's waqges go up it will adversely effect the cost of living. Driver's wages have LOST ground against the cost of living for decades, and are one of the reasons the cost of living has not been dramatically inflated.