While the driver turnover rate has been down in the last few years, it’s just seen a significant double-digit bump according to a new report released by the American Trucking Association. Driver turnover is an indicator of the strength of the freight economy, but the ATA also claims that it is a sign of the “acceleration of the driver shortage.”
When the economy is down, freight tonnage tends to go down. When tonnage goes down, there’s less loads to be hauled and therefore less demand for drivers to haul them. This generally results in a drop in driver turnover as truckers stay longer at their current jobs when well-paying jobs are harder to come by.
Now that freight tonnage is on the rise however, the driver turnover rate is going back up. In the second quarter of this year, turnover at large truckload carriers jumped 16 percentage points to 90%, the highest it’s been since 2015. Turnover at small fleets jumped 19 points to 85%.
ATA’s chief economist Bob Costello claims that the rise in driver turnover was expected.
“We predicted that last year’s period of relatively low and stable turnover could be short-lived if the freight economy recovered from 2016’s freight recession,” Costello said according to an ATA press release. “It appears those predictions were correct and we may be seeing the beginnings of a significant tightening of the driver market and acceleration of the driver shortage.”
But freight tonnage isn’t the only factor in determining the “acceleration of the driver shortage.”
Meanwhile, the turnover for OTR LTL is at around 9% and local LTL is at 14%.
Source: ATA, gobytrucknews, truckinginfo, overdrive
John says
High turnover because drivers don’t want ELD’s. Any other reason is a total fabrication.
Gail Morra says
No the companies say they want OTR drivers with miles like it should be with linehaul. But then, they try and make OTR drivers into regional drivers. That doesn’t work they need to quit lying. OTR means OTR!
Craig says
Absurdly ignorant.
Michelle says
Agreed it’s about ELDs, and the subsequent pay cut. If they want to keep us, need to make sure pay stays as it was before failures to preplan, cutting my driving day short to make sure I have somewhere to park for my excessive sleep, and delays at shippers and recvrs all added up to lost income!
Michael Gallegos says
10-4
I quit driving after ten years when pay for last three years was same level as the first 1-3 driving years.
Am making ok money in a restaurant cooking, home and showered every damn night, and my wife’s honey-do’s are a long and loving lists. So I am happier, so is she, and there is no work environment BS like the trucking industry forces on drivers.
Delays are abundant especially at receivers and shippers. I think the smart carriers – if there are any – will adjust to receivers and shippers who are professional about getting trucks loaded and unloaded as quickly as possible. That only makes sense if shippers and receivers want to serve their customers more efficiently … but then; there’s the lumper industry, whose people can’t and often refuse to handle the freight fast and efficient and make or break the transportation chain in terms of efficiency which is hard for them to get, understand, or spell.
No more truckin’ for me. But I tell you, it will always be tempting me – I love truckin’.
Be safe all you Drivers and hold your sense of safety. Good luck. I hope you make a decent living and get home often.
karam simmons says
Only reason there is a shortage is because people don’t want to work for minimum wage and be taken advantage of.
BM says
John so true,
Yet if a driver was paid 140,000 a year to drive 3,500 to 4,000 miles a week and for everything that we go through THERE WOULD BE 50,000 people in line tomorrow applying for a job.
The depressed wages of a truck driver are 1970’s rates this is on of the main problem out here
ZEE says
3.57 AN HOUR FOR WORKING 2500 MILES/168 HOURS A WEEK /40CPM – 3 TO 400 TAXES AND EXPENSES(FIGURING 25% TAXES AND 100.00 EXPENSES) GROSS=$1,000
4.76 AN HOUR ON 3000 MILES/168 HOURS A WEEK@4O CPM
(SAME 25% TAX DEDUCTION AND $100 EXPENSES) GROSS=!$1200
REAL OTR= ALWAYS ON DUTY (TRY TURNING OFF THE ELB/ALWAYS ON DUTY -CLOCK IS ALWAYS RUNNING) YOU ARE ALWAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE LOAD AND TRUCK. DON’T BELIEVE OTHERWISE!
ROBOT TRUCKS ARE COMING. YOU ARE ARE EXPENDABLE!
Mark says
I’ll bet the primary reason for the high turnover rate is excessive govt regulation. That’s what will be having me retire in a little over 2 years when I hit 62. I’ve had enough of this crap. When I started driving in 1980, driving was fun…now it just sucks and I can’t wait to get out.
Mark Mason says
I totally agree with you! I turn 62 this year I’ve had enough
Gail Morra says
Wish it was over for me. Can’t stand cocky dispatchers either. You show you can run hard and then the can’t even replant next load out. Women dispatchers the worst.
Don W0lford says
U are right, I started in 1973, think how I feel,
GC says
Amen brother. I started driving in 1984 and I agree it was fun back then.
I took a 14 yr sabbatical and came back in 2011 and what a freaking nightmare the industry turned in to. A bunch of over-regulated, micro-managing, computerized crap with an industry full of clueless, inconsiderate morons with no self-respect much less respect for anybody else. And forget about any courtesy anymore. And let’s not forget about the lies you’re told just to get you to orientation. I found that out the hard way. Old days there wasn’t any ‘orientation’, you went to a company, applied, took a road test, drug test, physical all in one day and you’d be trucking the next day. The good ole days of trucking are long gone. 5 years after coming back I said enough of this bs and I bailed last Oct. I miss trucking the open road in a nice large car but I sure don’t miss all the micro-managing bs in-between. Trucking is NOTHING like it used to be that’s for sure.
Daniel says
I don’t mind a certain amount of regulations because I see most drivers in our yard start their truck and are moving onto the road before my logs are even ready for the road, much less my inspections. They should be kicked up the arse so hard they can’t walk for a week.
What I don’t like is having tight deadlines and then being caught in truck traffic at scales when I’ve done my job – I’m not overweight; everything is secure; the equipment is in good shape – screw you, overbearing regulations! If the system worked, we wouldn’t have 90% of our drivers leaving the yard without even so much as checking tires!
So, yeah.. The system doesn’t work – it just screws over good drivers.
Tom says
I wont take a job that isnt 95% drop and hook with 24 hr access to my loads. I don’t really mind the 10 hr breaks. An hour to wind down and eat. Six in the bunk, get up, shower and have breakfast, call home to catch up on what’s happening. That eats up my ten.
C.J.Moore says
ELD’s is going to be the Main Factor for drivers that have 30 to 40 years. They never have had so many forced over Ruled and over Regulated with a current Under Paid Industry to deal with… The White Towel is being Thrown In… They also advise there families and friends to stay away from this industry… It’s no longer worth the aggravation of the job. So many needs and expensive CDL License, HAZMAT, Back Ground Fee, TWIC, etc… And the Corporate Greed has made this business Unattractive!
If ever there was a need for Union’s to be honest to represent the Blue Collar Workers it’s Now!
Matthew says
Low pay,elds,cameras, poor life style, poor treatment to name a few. Many drivers like me are being offered jobs at home. Utilizing our cdl to get into jobs that pay about the same alittle more in some cases.with more freedom &life balance. Giving better peace of mind. And a much better mentality almost forgot steady hourly pay on the 7 day clock.Giving 4 checks a month on a 4 week month. And 5 checks on a 5 week month. no forced perdeim. Making for a much better tax bracket. Making easier to buy a better home. Better more relyable car. Unlike trucking where drivers are paid on piece rate on the 8 day clock. Giving 3 checks on a 4 week month. And 4 checks on a 5 week month. Plus forced perdiem that many driver don’t want.because it puts them in too low of a tax bracket. Making it impossible to buy a nice home,better more relyable car. that’s what’s happening folks.
Kevin says
Yes I agree, corporate greed is out of control. Pay and benefits have become the main reason for driver turn over.
Stop the abuse and fewer drivers will feel the need to look for a better deal.
Bad Influence says
Don’t believe anything the ATA says, they should be called the Anti-Trucking Assc!
John M Maurer says
It’s just them trying to scare people so they can begin using robot drivers. Trucks that run 24 hours a day with no logs to fill out. Who is going to fuel these trucks? Are we getting back to fuel employees filling trucks? What’s that going to cost us? I guess it’s time to really secure my future retirement. The writings on the wall that they want to do away with drivers.
Thomas schlappal says
I don t want to be around any truck driven by a robot it can only do what it,s program tells it to do and can,t see for it,s self what is happening around it,s truck,doesn’t,t sound safe for the motoring public
Clay says
What it could also be is the driverless trucks they keep throwing in our faces. I’m young, 30 years old. I’ll be working for 30 more years if not more. Since they keep talking about driverless trucks I’m not going to sit back and wait for the day I’m replaced. I am looking for a new industry that will be around for the rest of my life. I’m guessing I’m not the only one that feels this way.
Jude Ossowski says
Driver turnover would be cut a lot if recruiters would tell the truth up front. If I get to the terminal at 6AM after two weeks out and I’m told to be back at 4PM tomorrow, I’m not getting “two days off after two weeks out”. If the company runs in a given area, fine. Don’t tell me it runs where it doesn’t or “we never send our drivers there” if you do. Don’t tell me “our trucks will run with traffic” if you’ve castrated them to 62 MPH. Don’t tell me you only run legal then tell me how to beat he computer. Tell me the truth. I’m a big boy now. I can take it, or not sign on with you.
Daniel says
“Don’t tell me “our trucks will run with traffic” if you’ve castrated them to 62 MPH”.
Nice. I agree this 62-65 mph bs is annoying. I’m not asking to be running flat out over 65 in all circumstances – I just need to be able to pass drivers on the road that are driving under the speed limit so I can make my appointments. I can’t do that if I cannot get to a speed that allows me to pass them safely. Period. =)
michael says
I’m going to leave the trucking industry myself.been doing this since 1991 and it’s no fun anymore.these ELD’s is just going to make things worse.
Ray says
I don’t want to leave trucking .. There are a lot of good hard working people .. But I do understand your thoughts … And yes .. These ELD’s are just going to make things worse .. They say ELD’s are going to save 25 deaths per year .. That’s great .. However .. What about the 800 murders that happen in Chicago at a record pace … They want to regulate trucking over 25 deaths but they do not care about all the murders in Chicago … ???? Makes no sense …
D dub says
All “Technology” comes at a cost…..Yeah ,the latest gadgets seem cool, but it only spells more ways to be tracked……Now it’s W.I.M technology (weigh in motion) with cameras taking pictures of your truck/tag etc….. E-LOGS…and like a previous Driver said ,..with driverless trucks on the forefront, this could be the catalyst they need to seem relevant suggesting that an 80,000 Lb vehicle should be autonomous…..this is so ridiculously painful.
Old man says
A robust economy gives more options than trucking. Young people don’t want to live in a truck away from home. Maybe a guaranteed minimum income that is a good living wage would help.
ZEE says
10.00 an hour on 168 hours a week..Sounds like 1,680
a week/87,360 a year and full vacation pay with medical benefits.
The AYE TEE AYE doesn’t want this… here comes the terminator robot
truck. YOU ARE TERMINATED DRIVERS!
CURT says
I have my own authority and if there was a driver shortage’ then that would mean theres more freight than we could haul’
funny how rates have been so bad for so long doesent seem to be a shortage, why does It seem that supply and demand only work’s for the ATA’s of the world never for the small guy’s
THERE IS NO DRIVER SHORTAGE.
Steve says
Your Wright driver there is NOT a driver shortage there is a money shortage on the company driver’s and o/o too the ATA is NOT for the driver’s ATA does not want to tell the truth why there’s a driver shortage it’s all about the money I can live with the ELD but when you put a camera on the driver’s that means you don’t trust your driver’s so why hire him to me that is slavery let me put a camera in your bedroom and I can be a peaping tom too
Craig says
Cover the cab facing camera at night. Duh. Also, the camera is evidence in court that you were indeed a professional driver just prior to an incident.
ZEE says
There doesn’t seem to be a shortage of well off freight brokers either.
CLEE says
WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER! LETS GO! LET THE ELDS MANDATERS DRIVE THE TRUCKS! STRONGER TOGETHER!
Tanker Tom says
It’s not a driver shortage at all – it’s the lack of reasonable pay. I haul hazmat, and when I make the same pay as: a) the pizza delivery guy, and b) I did 15 years ago, there is a serious issue. I get the business side of things, the carriers “dancing” with the customer, because if they don’t move the product for the expected low rate, someone else will. But the drivers need to stand up. Park them trucks! Let’s see how long it takes for all those rates- and
Driver pay- to go up when nothing is going anywhere.
Craig says
Not going to happen. ALL industry is facing competition and wages flat due to two billion people in competition in growing global climb out of poverty.
Max says
It’s not a driver shortage. It’s a pay shortage.
Raise pay 10% and you’ll have all kinds of drivers coming back.
Raise it 20% and you won’t lose them in the first place!
ZEE says
10% of 3.57 an hour for a driver working 168 hours a week(your not
home every night, are you?) doing the companies business.
Expenses out of your own pocket. Companies trying to foist per diem
on you so they pay even less taxes…many reasons not to stay…so
your raise is to the princely sum of 3.92 an hour.
RUN ON THE CLOCK SHOULD BE PAID ON THE CLOCK!
not run like a dog on the clock and paid by the mile .
JC says
I’m running local and I make the same sometimes more per week getting paid by the hour with overtime. Thanks to the fair labor standards act there’s an exception for drivers and that’s how the industry has been allowed to stick it to the driver’s and you can thank the ATA for the ELDs the rest of you are going to be forced to use. I bet the next thing they will make us use is camera’s that point inside and out. They want complete control over you.
ZEE says
the use of the 360 cam has been in place for a while. NHTSA/NTSB
commissioned the 1.000 truck sleeper cam study a couple of years ago.
Reported by Fleet Owners. U of Virginia does a lot of these studies.
Whose pocket do you think they are in?
Here in Colorado…DIX, Matheson Postal, both, among others,
have that capability. A single hard braking incident sends your picture
to a Dispatcher/Safety man. Then you get “Coached” on how to drive
the truck.
THEY HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL OVER YOU ALREADY.
YOU WORK 168 HOURS A WEEK OTR AS AN INDENTURED
SERVANT.
Richard A. says
I’ve been using ELDs for the last 5 years, don’t really mind them that much. What does it with me is almost everything else associated with trucking. Lying dispatchers, inflexible hours, increasing traffic and wacko texting and aggressive drivers. The smallest of mistakes will get you fired. A few years ago, it would be a suspension or a warning. Now, the company will take their chances on a brand new driver and axe a veteran driver for a mistake.
I’d love to get out, but the bills won’t pay themselves…
Ronald says
If we logged by the book according to 395.3(a)ii we would lose about 25 hours off our 70 per week. No time spent at shipper or receiver can be logged as off duty or sleeper. You are working even if your sleeping according to that rule. Everyone has been cheating that rule to make decent money and some even claim they never cheat. We all cheat somewhere.
ZEE says
How many drivers can claim they wrote the 49 CFR rules?
I don’t cheat. The government does…in their favor.
Your assessment is correct. On duty is on duty. Waiting to load,
fueling, etc. OTR- you work 168 hours a week NOT 70.
So who is cheating WHO?
Sapper says
High turnover is due to a surging economy thanks to an outstanding President. As the economy strengthens more drivers leave the industry simple because they can find a better paying job closer to home. its not rocket science and is a “known” factor, quit acting like this comes as a surprise. It should only surprise the ill-informed “snowflake”.
Richard A. says
Just to add: I agree, there is NO DRIVER SHORTAGE. There may be 100+% turnover, but there will ALWAYS be someone who will walk in the door and try it out. They may be gone within a month or two, but that seat will always be filled. With so many immigrants coming in, seats will never be empty.
CURT says
What is my first comment still waiting for
Your comment is awaiting moderation ???????
CURT says
Again there Is no driver shortage’
Just poor working conditions and bad pay’
As long as ATA can continue to treat drivers like indentured servant’s they will have huge turnover’ They keep telling the powers that bee we can’t survive with out our third world immigrant drivers’ anything but pay an american citizen a fare wage and provide good working conditions’ It’s a lie the ATA push decent divers out off the seat to be replaced by cheap obedient grateful third wold immigrant staring whee holders just happy to have a place to sleep’ stop the BS.
Jr says
I live in a truck 3 mos at a time, half of it waiting for receivers. Which is the time I make NOTHING. I’m forced to handle lumpers and paper on my time. ELDs cut my time and pay. Once you factor that I’m making less than minimum on some loads, why bother?
ZEE says
1080 hours you get paid nothing.
The industry is not asking for long term commitments
they only need wheel turners. There was a day when you could find a professional driver , one who got in to this madness because they
liked the independence from the over the shoulder micro-management.
The driver learned to do the real job and hold that responsibility.
Now, the wise driver is leaving, knowing that he/she is not going to have that loyalty from the company, not have that feeling of waving the flag, saying that what he /she does has real meaning, bringing the
EVERYTHING that a driver anywhere in the world knows makes
children and adults more than survive BUT THRIVE.
We are loosing our USEFULNESS. Our need for meaning is getting very far away. We live in A world that wants it two days ago.
Look at Toys R US. Bankrupt. LEGOS… massive lay offs. Both
lost sight of the customer.
The industry is saying drivers as a whole have no meaning.We have become a liability.
PROFIT IS KING!
Richard says
After 6 years of bum-rush micromanaging I’m ready to get a job at a subway or is a door greeter at Walmart
Gail Morra says
I worked for one company that micromanage. Telling me to do a loaded call when I get loaded. Duh!
Gary says
ELD’s. <My truck is for sale!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Low rates, making same as in 1996!!!!!
higher fuel (1996 – $.93 gal), less common sense on roads, student drivers,
mainly ELD's. 1-10 truck companies built this industry / Country, now they FMCSA trying it's best to destroy the little guy, right along side of the stupid people at ATA, they know nothing, cause they have never been in a truck!!!!
Tony Muhammad says
The reason for a so-called driver shortage has nothing to do with the transition mandated of ELDs. The reason is simple – OTR truck driving sucks. Once you divide your average hours worked (65 to 70, including all wait time on duty) in a pay period one realizes they and the average OTR driver are only earning $12.00 an hour – THAT SUCKS!
How to solve the so-called driver shortage is also simple, while a driver is on duty – driving or not – PAY THE DRIVER A LIVEABLE WAGE RATE PER HOUR.
Dohn Joe says
Yes why can’t anyone admit this
ZEE says
3.57 an hour. you work 168 hours a week.
Steve says
Lol yeah these companies talk a good game 48 to 50 cents a mile but what they DON’T tell you is that you ain’t going to get but about 1500 miles a week and on top of that you going to pay out the wazoo for Insurance they don’t tell you that eather so after taxes and insurance you might take home around $475 to 525 after all said and done so there you go. I work for CERTE CARRIER for 4 month and that’s what happin and I was O T R gone 4 to 5 weeks at a time
Jim Bob says
Lets start off with responding to ad Needed day time driver home every night. Go through orientation Oh you work nights until opening on days. We promise you x amount of miles. Oh we don’t have long runs at night. Paycheck sucks. Get on days finally You go to Long Island everyday. Hey dispatch I need directions follow your GPS they say. Don’t divert from Gps big poster in office you can get fired for not following GPS. GPS takes you on journey to outer space. Where are you didn’t you deliver the load yet. Truck in front going slow lets pass oh no I can only go 62 stuck in passing lane people giving you the finger. Car cuts you off or step on brake to hard Bendix goes off. Get back to terminal sign paperwork saying its your fault. After 3 x in a month you have to go out with trainer. Try going to Long Island everyday and not step on brakes or if you leave room 10 cars are cutting you off. Safety safety safety you are taught. Load is overweight just deliver it. Get caught at weigh station its your fault . Safety goes out the door. Meanwhile paperwork is building to fire you but yet you are the most important person the driver. Bullshit We hire to fire should be the Motto. You give them 120% they give fu your fired. Trucking sucks. Dispatch and mangers should go through what we go through on a daily basis and then make comments and accusations. Ive learned that its your fault its your fault its your fault. Great way to give someone self esteem. This is why trucking is going down the tubes
ZEE says
well spoken!
Will says
Why is everyone sweating autonomous trucks? They cost way too much, and can’t handle anything out of the ordinary. Only straight smooth roads, with light traffic and clear westher.
As far as ELD’s, just stop at ten hours on duty, start again after ten off. If the loads late, it’s late. They can’t fire you. There is a driver shortage, after all.
Dohn Joe says
Maybe if they would be at a decent wage for your soul. Once you become their slave it’s hard to put up with each companies bs when you realize you could just work the same amount of hours at Taco Bell and be home every night.
David says
Go figure. Politicians and big companies are clueless that they don’t care about our privacy and our off time so they want to use ELDs to monitor us every minute claiming it will be safer. Nobody has looked at the experienced drivers leaving the industry only because ELDs are the final straw in causing a mass exodus of highly experienced and safer drivers and what the lowering of experience averages will do to the public safety in general. Oh well, it’s no longer my circus or my monkeys. Work all day picking up produce to drive 16 miles and make nothing for my time because I started 14 hours earlier. When they forced an ELD they should force employers to pay by the hour from when our day starts. It’s fair. Go ahead. Push that off duty button while you have to sit up waiting for a door call. Good luck paying your bills! Trump is the only one who can fix this. But he likes cheap or free labor too if it’s legal. Government has lost its mind because they all invested in telecom stock. We all lose now!
Kenneth Wale says
You all have reasonable complaints. Why not get a better education and do something that pays well in this day and age. Driving truck has always been a job that you did while you were figuring out what you were going to do for the rest of you life. People that have started their own business have always relied on the uncommitted to do what they want, while they can. That must be true because this site lets you spell like a five year old and post it. There is no one on your side. Jimmy Hoffa was murdered in 1970 and he was the last union person to actually try to help truckers.
Steve D says
Driver turnover is not about ELDs and government regulation. What a bunch of crap. I drive for a small company with probably 10-20% turnover, mostly from retirement or substandard drivers getting fired. Driver turnover is about how well or badly your company treats you. Our boss learned that if you pay drivers for ALL the time they are out away from home (that means generous layover pay), and are flexible about schedules, (like I need a 3 day weekend, or I need to be home on Friday this week), they tend to stay around.
G says
The problem is the way the trucking industry is currently set up. This is piece work. It needs to be hourly pay during on duty status in addition to milage pay, or at least hourly pay period. I’m shocked by how many people who are brainwashed into thinking that being paid pennies on the mile is adequate, and the uncertainty of a steady paycheck is normal. There’s simply too much free labor on the drivers shoulders that doesn’t get properly compensated, such as sitting for HOURS at a shipper or consignee until your 14 hour clock runs out and you’re forced to take your 10 hour reset at the shipper/consignee due to improper load planning and/or being at the mercy of the ELD, and doing Pre-Trips. Detention pay after 2 and 3 hours is absolutely unacceptable, and even if paid, is a lazy and disrespectful alternative at an attempt of hourly pay. One reason why I feel we should be getting paid hourly because, if we’re governed by time (the ELD and HOS) shouldn’t we be compensated for all of our time in the form of an hourly wage?? Being paid by the mile in pennies is too far outdated and doesn’t coincide with our present economy. The mileage pay model makes us cheap labor, despensible and therefore undeserving of proper respect and the inability to be viewed as equally respected coworkers with rights. Not to mention the trucking companies make hand over fist by paying pennies while keeping as much of the revenue as possible. I don’t know about some of you, but I’d much rather a decent hourly pay and a steady paycheck over being lured into a truck with a TV with DirecTV and an inverter. The money for a subscription on DirecTV alone could have better been appropriated to my paycheck! But this is how THEY see US!!! They think we’re that simple-minded that we’d take amenities in a truck over a decent stable pay. Yet others are too cheap and won’t even put APUs in their trucks, but the money is DEFINITELY there! Because of how we accept being paid they don’t, and won’t, respect drivers. Trucking companies can easily switch to hourly pay if they wanted. Don’t be fooled if you’ve heard different. Drivers are the ones that keep stores stocked and foods readily available. Freight don’t move or don’t move fast enough, prices can go up and shortages happen. Why aren’t we respectfully recognized and properly compensated for the importance of what we do?! When will drivers finally band together and change it???
Daniel says
ELDs are definitely pushing out older, experienced drivers, but carriers that are large enough and have their own schools don’t care – push out the more expensive drivers and haul in new people.
I started in this business in February 2016. I picked up the first carrier that offered me a job because I was in such dire need for income as soon as possible. Now that I’ve been around long enough and have plenty of friends on the job, I have heard how they feel and how the company has treated them. At first, I felt perhaps they were not meeting the demands of their job but I’ve learned fast they are telling the truth because I’m being treated in ways I find utterly disgusting.
I make the lower end of the pay scale they told me, despite me moving and pushing my logs to the outer limits of regulation – literally going until I must go “not driving” to take care of end of day tasks and then “off duty”. I have done this to meet the demands of the company’s needs and the moment I tell them no — that’s it — dispatch starts giving you garbage runs, underpaid runs. It’s not fair how drivers are being treated in the industry. I told them a long time ago, “If I have hours, I will” but they keep Google-mapping runs and telling me they can be done in 6-hours with offload time when I know I need more time than that. It never fails.
Wages need to go up — a lot. I don’t spend most of my time away to make peanuts. The regulations coming in should force minimum daily wages regardless of how dispatch screws a driver for being safe and following the rules so they are then forced to use their drivers properly.
Sue says
Get out . Get out! You will make more money anywhere 🙈.
James says
No one cares about drivers, the inadequate training, the way a common blue collar man is taken advantage of, the decreasing pay and benefits, the ever increasing and dire state of unavailable safe parking, barriers to restrooms, the willful malfeasance for profit from load planners and dispatchers, the way customers treat drivers. Wide industrial roads designed for street parking, that have NO TRUCK Parking signs everywhere. The “police state” will never advocate for drivers, like they will for ELD’s. The trend is now to replace American drivers with foreigners and then driverless trucks — because they don’t want to deal with the many inhumane and disrespectful issues.
Ed says
If I can’t drive local or a dedicated run, I’m done. I started in 2000 as a team. So, I’ve been in the industry long enough to learn, that it’s getting worse, not better. I run solo and at first, the pay was lower than a team, which is to be expected. But, over the years, no matter how hard I run OTR, my pay has dropped. If I run dedicated, I used to be OK, but they give away runs to “contractors”, which puts me on “make do” runs while they “dig something up” on my “Dedicated” run. EDL’s are here to stay, I use them to keep dispatch off my back. With them I can document the 2 to 4 hour delay from driving across “The Big City”. The bottom line is all of the “Big Companies” fail to utilize their assets efficiently and fail their drivers by not paying them enough to have a life, because they want to entrap their drivers in a wage slave situation, thereby ensuring that they have a driver at their beck and call. We have lives, every minute we are away from those we love is time with them we can never reclaim. Pay us a living wage, give us ample time off, and you’ll get loyal, happy drivers to run hard and get the job done. PS It costs a ton to eat on the road. So, get us refrigerators that we can stock with healthy choices and avoid the costly, in more ways than one, bad food choices offered on the road.
Barry Marshall says
Up here in Alberta since the collapse of oil back in 14′ there has always been a shortage since all the people that were laid off went home to their States or their home Province. What the trend we are seeing in that Class 3 operators are training up to Class 1 operators leaving the younger crowd to train up to Class 3 but like a few industries including the O&G Sector in Alberta the money is still better on the rigs that operating a tandem which in Alberta is paying around $30.00 per hour if you have experience, $35.00 and above in rare cases, whereas the Class 1 operators are in some rare cases making up $50.00 per hour hauling condi, produced water, etc, etc. Hauling frac sand is constantly growing as is hauling fluids out of the patch.
George says
Do not trust ATA. They are not helping drivers they are the legal corruption. Lobbying for the mega carriers
Ed says
The American Trucking Association is a joke. Has always been and always will be, poor leadership, interaction, and money hungry to support their lifestyles.
Boycott your ATA membership.
My fellow Truckers;
Go back to College and obtain a Degree in a industry or profession besides trucking. This is an UN-thankful profession.
Mike says
Regulations to the side, I drive, do the training and hiring for my company, I usually have a waiting list. The reason for this? Because we didn’t forget the things that matter 1. Pay 2. Home time 3. Don’t ever forget the one in the seat is the one that pays the bills, so treat them with respect. Give them good safe equipment, stop pushing them let them do the job you hired them to do. ATA listens to ” big companies ” that pay the bills. Why don’t you research companies that don’t have 2k truck s sitting on the yard, or treating your employees like slave labor or steering wheel holders? I can’t pay 50cpm . but my drivers still make 1800 to 2000 a week . and they are rested, safe and friendly ppl. ( and my cvsa score shows it) so ata do me a favor and stop spreading your bull **** propaganda and start listening to real drivers. You might learn something from the people who do the work. And only look to make a living. Not spread bull *** lies ! But what would we know, I have full trucks and am buying more. My average employee has been here for more than 15 years. And the company has been around since 1926 on the 7th generation of owner… Guess we just don’t know anything ( do the math we’ve been around longer than most mega carriers!)
Austin Ford says
They have ruled and regulated the industry to death. It is to the point that a driver can’t even open the drivers door without breaking some kind of regulation. Another big problem is the industry would rather take a chance on newbie drivers out of trucking preschool, who will most likely wash out, rather than a veteran truck driver with decades of experience.
Old Driver says
Its not a driver shortage it a pay shortage. wake up companies.