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

Really? Wow, I had no idea this forum was so restrictive. Is it corporate sponsored?

 

I love it!! So better pay won't fill seats huh?? Tell me why Walmart has a waiting list at 70k plus bennies and Knight and Swift do not...... I call BS . All they have to do is pay up!

JMO

 

Money talks and BS walks....

 

Wages have been falling in most professions for decades. If we want to earn more we have to make ourselves more valuable. Driving a truck is the easiest job I've ever had - except for the hours of course. It was easy to get into also. I want to earn more too and will when I get a more specialized job.

I can't really say though that I'm underpaid. I'm getting $50,000 this year to do a fairly low-skill (and local) job and will do better when I "move up" from CR England. I believe the old timers when they talk about the good ol days but I accept that with a global economy and massive debt at home, those days are not likely to return in my lifetime.

In the hear-n-now, am glad to be getting decent pay and feel pretty good about the opportunities ahead.

 

No and No.
It is just that when the "U" word fall people start throwing insults and getting all political .
THAT isn't allowed on the forum,actually you can but you have to do it in the "politics section".(no mods there)

 

Alright. I give up. Call me stupid.
What's the "U" word?

 

UNION
Quickest way to start a fight among truckers.
(i declare not preference for or against unions)

 

Ok, thanks , that makes sense.

 

Adding fuel to the fire..... The latest Modern Bulk Transporter has an article in it where fleet managers were surveyed about future tractor purchases. 98% said they were NOT adding new tractors this year. ( replacements only ) 55% of those said it was because there is not enough drivers available to fill the new seats. AKA a driver shortage.

What's interesting to me is the economics of a carrier. Surveyed carriers reported 2012 gross earnings of 220k plus per tractor with a normal operating ratio of 90% and driver wages of 25%. This puts him at 198k all done and a profit per unit of $22,000. yet he says he can't give anymore wages until rates go up. Point being there is more money to give out just in profits alone. We won't look at the waste hiding in that 90% operating ratio. I personally fell there is a lot of unneeded baggage in that 90% due to the favorable tax structure of trucking . Toss in age old stereo types that drivers only need a certain amount of money AND ( my fav. ) there's 10,000 just like me waiting outside the gate and well there you go, the mind of a carrier and his resistance to pay more.

JMHO

 

The mega carriers can make it fine with and O/R of 90, but and O/O can not maintain if he is spending .90 cents of every dollar he sees. Especially since he is having to spend that .90 cents long before he can hope to see a check.