Recession turns US trucker shortage to surplus - Truckers' Trucking Forum

Cybergal · **^ Top** #1 03.31.2009

Recession turns US trucker shortage to surplus

Quote:

*Credit crunch cutting all types of truck shipments
*Soaring turnover, $5,000 signing bonuses disappear
*Companies using crunch to "upgrade" driver base

DETROIT, March 31 (Reuters) - If you think now is a good time to try your hand as a U.S. truck driver with steady pay and a life on the open road, think again.
The U.S. recession has turned a serious shortage of drivers into a surplus virtually overnight. Disappearing credit has hurt production and shipments of goods of all kinds all at once, idling thousands of trucks.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt...36651520090331

074344 · **^ Top** #2 03.31.2009

I don't think so. Never did and never will.

However, I do believe that there was a "shortage of drivers" who did not want to work for substandard wages, mediocre benefits, poor retirement and little to no respect for being a professional driver. Not all but most. Not to mention the fact that they got the opportunity to do this by being away from family for weeks at a time. They also enjoyed sitting at customers for free while the company was paid. Oh and don't forget the other free time that they "had" to give to the company. Such as breakdowns, repairs and sitting for days to get a load etc.

Now in this time of companies laying off, people are looking towards truck driving for employment. The companies are just ringing their hands. They can get new drivers to work for even less. They have cut bonuses (did not those to begin with), reduced pay rates, reduced benefits and just about any other item they can take away from their employees. The sad part is, just like before, people will except anything in times of need. Most companies will continue to prey on those less fortunate as well as their current drivers. Their motto is, if you don't like it, leave. Some will, only to find out that it is the same at their new company. This is a market for the companies, not for the driver.

Fortunately, there are still some good companies out there. I wish all of you luck in fulfilling your dream to be a professional driver.

Drive safe

groovemachine · **^ Top** #3 03.31.2009

If demographic trends continued -- an aging populace with fewer white males aged 35 to 54, the current mainstay of the industry -- and U.S. long-term economic growth hits targets, the driver shortage could hit 111,000 by 2014, the study said.

We can only hope this comes to fruition. Then these companies will have to treat their drivers better or find themselves in dire straits.

kingsson · **^ Top** #4 04.01.2009

Personally, I work for a good company. I have thought about going elsewhere, as I do get tired of the northeast every week, etc. but then I usually reconsider. Drivers say they are paid a pittance while the company gets paid. I happen to know for a fact our company is making pennies if anything on each load and fighting to stay afloat. But the boss is committed to riding out this storm. Most drivers have no real idea what the companies are going through, nor do they care. It's all about them. I am grateful to have a job with a good company.
Thanks, Cybergal, for posting this article. It is a great one to hang on to and share with those non-drivers in my life looking for information.

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