Another "trucker shortage" story

15-20% pay increase on .32cpm is amazing!!! I cannot believe people arnt flocking to these jobs for big $$

 

I would partially disagree. I worked for OD. One of the best paying companies and equipment but city guys do have to put in 12-14 hours a day. Most line haul runs take 12-14 hours. I left there because feeling like a zombie working my butt off.

 

because they can't afford it?

with the cost of moving freight going down, BUT the cost of expenses going up somebody has to take the hit. there are MORE drivers than any other employee, the other employees have either already got pay cuts, OR are contractually obligated to get pay raises every year, so it balances itself out

 

I wonder if the 15-20% increase IS the .32 cpm

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4204051]I wonder if the 15-20% increase IS the .32 cpm[/QUOTE]
Yeah with a safety bonus to boot

 

While finally out I'll offer the following: Average carrier gross per unit in 2012 was 220k with some specialized segments reaching 270k. That's per power unit. Most functional carriers keep an operating ration of 90%. That leaves more than enough money to give the drive a decent raise.

The main problem here is age old stereo types by truck management. They love to exploit the FLSA which is good for them. How many trailer doors have decals on them offering "more miles"? You don't need more miles driver, you need to be paid for everything you do and paid more for the miles that you already run.

The lack of drivers has already affected fleet purchase orders. Over 50% OF US fleets want to expand but can't because of no drivers therefore are not buying new iron to add capacity. They simply buy to replace aging power and that is showing up in reduced sales at the dealership.

You the quality driver are at a premium right now and you value rises everyday. Leverage that to your advantage and stop letting them roll you over. Take a look at your credentials. How's your license ? PSP? What's your skill set? Do your homework , clean your records up and target your reward, whatever you want to do and wherever you want to do it.

If they don't want to pay for your value then look elsewhere. Target high end segments and specialized groups and no I don't mean anything mega. Forget them completely. Think private fleets, LtL, Unions etc. That's where the money is. Oilfield is another but that's very iffy. Boom today and gone tomorrow.

Get the attitude you're valuable and go get what you want. Remember, most carriers think you're stupid, show them you're not by being professional.

Good luck

 

Why do chicken plants in Texas send chicken to Ga. and visa versa.
Why do Anheiser Busch in Ga. send beer loads to Texas and visa versa.
Why do Pepsi plants in NY send cola to Ga. and visa versa.
Its as if trucks are being used as rolling storage warehouses because rates are so cheap.

 

Hi 6 Speed, I believe your last sentence said it all. It's long been known to use the trucks as a rolling warehouse. It's probably cheaper in the long run for the companies than to actually warehouse the product. There's a long standing joke, (and who knows, it may have happened) a driver delivers a product, calls their dispatcher, and is overjoyed to hear they are reloading at the same place, only to find out, they are being loaded with the same product they brought in.

 

chalpua, where do you get your numbers from of 220k average gross per power unit per year, and 90% of that goes into operating it?

I think they should put out a story about a fuel shortage. A shortage of sub $4 per gallon fuel!!!!


If one was to put together a company and say to prospective drivers, "I will pay you 0.50 per HUB mile - you just have to state the route you took on your trip envelope and reason why if out of route, I will pay you a bonus to go into NYC, I will pay you for extra deliveries/pickups, and an hourly rate for time sitting waiting at shippers/receivers" how many of you would jump on board? Trucks would be a mix of 389s and w9s and the trucks used for cross country runs would be pete or kw's aerodynamic versions. Only pete and kw. All emissions compliant, all cummins powered. The hoods get the big motors but do overnight runs/east coast/shorter runs. If I have the drivers and other carriers don't, I can demand the higher rates, no? I have more customers than I can handle that are willing to pay me enough to run a business like this. I just need to feel comfortable enough (have enough in the bank) to make it happen. Right now life is good with just one ...

 

[QUOTE="semi" retired;4204093]Hi 6 Speed, I believe your last sentence said it all. It's long been known to use the trucks as a rolling warehouse. It's probably cheaper in the long run for the companies than to actually warehouse the product. There's a long standing joke, (and who knows, it may have happened) a driver delivers a product, calls their dispatcher, and is overjoyed to hear they are reloading at the same place, only to find out, they are being loaded with the same product they brought in.[/QUOTE]I've done a bunch of those loads. Example; take a load from TN to Texas. In Texas, bump the dock then they change the seal and give you another set of bills. Return load to same place in TN. I was told it had something to do with not having to pay taxes on inventory in the warehouse so they put it on the highway until inventory is complete. I don't know if this is correct or not. Another place near Milton, PA was trying to have extra inventory with no paperwork to make their profits look higher because some company was interested in buying the company.