Driver shortage changing face of trucking industry - Truckers' Trucking Forum | Message Board

Cybergal · **^ Top** #1 02.11.2008

Driver shortage changing face of trucking industry
2/11/08

Quote:

The job of a long-haul trucker is changing and, many trucking companies hope, becoming more attractive.

Trucking companies across the country are facing a shortage of long-haul drivers.

To compensate, companies are trying to recast trucking's nomadic image and recruit more minorities, retired military people and those who want a second career.

Middle-age husband-and-wife teams are becoming more popular. Their kids are raised, they want extra money for retirement or a change in what they do and they become truckers. Teaming up also helps reduce the grind of the road and the time away from home, which have driven many truckers out of the industry.

High driver turnover has traditionally been a problem throughout the trucking industry. But retirements and growing shipping demand have made the shortage of long-haul drivers more acute. Fewer drivers means delayed deliveries and higher delivery costs that could be passed on to consumers. The issue is especially crucial for the Phoenix area, which touts itself as a shipping hub for businesses fed up with the costs and congestion around Los Angeles-area ports. Metropolitan Phoenix also is headquarters to two of the country's biggest for-hire trucking companies: Swift Transportation and Knight Transportation.

"We're not getting any new blood coming into the business," said Jeff Mason, a publisher and vice president at Randall-Reilly Publishing, an Alabama company that puts out publications for drivers and fleet managers. "We've got to find new sources of people interested in driving."
Thetrucker>>>>

rookietrucker · **^ Top** #2 02.11.2008

If I didn't know better. This is a publicity stunt for Swift ?

Generation Follower · **^ Top** #3 02.11.2008

Why don't let lower the age of driving so i can start my career faster.

bjohn920 · **^ Top** #4 02.11.2008

There are many, many people out there that have CDL,s but are not driving. The pay just isn't worth it.

bullhaulerswife · **^ Top** #5 02.11.2008

You know, I think that the driver shortage is all in the minds of the companies like JB Hunt, that can't keep drivers, to save their neck. They don't want to admit that they are the problem, so they scream shortage. If the bad companies would pull their heads out and wake up and treat drivers like humans, there would be NO shortage of drivers.

CaptCaveman · **^ Top** #6 02.12.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by bjohn920

There are many, many people out there that have CDL,s but are not driving. The pay just isn't worth it.

I saw a statistic a few months ago, there are approx. 3.4 million CDL-A drivers on the road right now but there are over 20 million CDL-A licenses issued. It's not a driver shortage, it's a driver willing to put up with the big company BS shortage.

hondadrv24 · **^ Top** #7 02.12.2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by bullhaulerswife

You know, I think that the driver shortage is all in the minds of the companies like JB Hunt, that can't keep drivers, to save their neck. They don't want to admit that they are the problem, so they scream shortage. If the bad companies would pull their heads out and wake up and treat drivers like humans, there would be NO shortage of drivers.

I think that you are 100% correct!!!

Wiseguywireless · **^ Top** #8 02.12.2008

I don't believe there is a shortage of drivers. Or I would of been hired from N. Michigan during the winter last winter. Shoot, I have been out on the road for 4 weeks now. havn't complained a bit. Nor am I going to . I'll be out for most likely 4 more before I even go home once. I don't mind. I need the money. what little there is. But NO they almost all said. We can't hire north of I94. I said OK.... If you all need drivers so bad. I'll put my address south of I 94. Oh Mr McKay, we can't do that still. They just want an excuse to hire illegals to drive the trucks for less money.

lyion · **^ Top** #9 02.12.2008

we drivers need to be paid by the hour .this wood bring more good drivers back out on the road ,but every body reads the ad in the paper saying good company to drive for, better pay it's bull [----] may be when we get a new president will be able to lobby for better condition's and better pay . we do the work but get the scraps ,the little pay doesn't keep up with inflation .drivers need to be payed .50 a mile then we can get a home buy a new car even may be a new truck and be come a owner operator .we need to let our voice be heard are they will keep showing us . it bad when these companies talk us in to leasing a new or use truck from them ,we make the big payments so we can haul there fr ate and they get the truck payed for by us suckers thinking we will make more money rather than being a company driver .its time for a change in the trucking industry be for we all go broke .

Generation Follower · **^ Top** #10 02.12.2008

I would like to see every driver park their for one day just to see what would happen.If they would panic.

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