THERE IS NO DRIVER SHORTAGE (?!)

there IS a shortage of PROFESSIONAL, well groomed, and well mannered drivers..

idiots, dirty, ignorant, rude, steering wheel holders are a penny a dozen...not even worth "that dime a dozen" crowd.

when you finally obtain your CDL, then see all the news about the accidents, drunk, drugged out truckers, you'll be ashamed to let people know you are a trucker.

 

While I’m driving, I listen to the satellite radio channel 146 which is 24/7 trucker talk. They just discussed this subject in depth with the other day, and I found a few things quite interesting.

1. there is indeed, no driver shortage. There is a driver retention problem. Bad trucking companies think there’s a driver shortage because they can’t keep their drivers.
2. The insurance companies are also a major culprit behind this. They need to restructure how they analyze their data. They will be more quick to approve a brand new driver fresh out of CDL school than a driver who has a perfect driving record over 15 years and perhaps took a year or two off, and then wants to get back into trucking. They view him as a greater risk, and perhaps even uninsurable over the experienced driver who took a year or so off. Ridiculous and ignorant.

3. The real issue is trucking companies that treat their drivers like dirt. Like a red headed step child. And then they complain to the government that there’s no drivers.

regardless, we got about seven years for most of us. Do you think it’s bad now wait until the major entities like Amazon, Walmart, etc. start shifting to AI and self driving trucks and the market gets flooded with over 1 million drivers seeking the few remaining spots. And if you think your company won’t switch over to this nonsense this coming you’re dreaming. They will have to to be able to compete. There’s no way around it. It still amazes me that nobody is talking about this.
1/3 of drivers will be replaced within 7 years.

I would not advise any young person to go into Trucking these days. When I first got into it, that wasn’t the case. But now that I am follow what’s coming on the technology horizon I have accepted reality that basically all of us are about to be replaced. Yeah it’s happening.

 

Trucking companies want twice as many drivers willing to work for 1/2 of the pay. With this setup they can service more customers and drivers will be available.

If you were a man wanting to "date" random women three times per day, would you announce you have a minimum standard for candidates that have at least 1 year as a fashion model in Paris or announce your minimum standard as "must be female and weigh less than a pickup"?

Stickers on trucks hang around for many years. Ever notice how many painted over phone numbers for the company are also on trailer doors.

CDL schools and trucking companies have a financial interest in having an infinite number of applicants. The CDL school gets paid when the student starts class, even if the student shows up in a wheelchair and is in a coma.

If you were deciding about using illegal drugs would you base your decision on what the drug dealer told you? Does the drug dealer have a financial interest in giving accurate information about the addictive features of his drug or in selling more drugs to as many customers as he can find?

NOBODY but you has an interest in you having a good life. If you don't look out for you, nobody else will. Trucking is an industry, not a kindergarten where your happiness is the ultimate goal.

 

Because they are not gonna spend money to repaint trailers.

 

All of this post is spot on, but the last paragraph was like a slap across the face of reality. I’ve always said it. In this industry, if you allow yourself to be stepped on, you will be stepped on. Now it doesn’t mean you gotta walk around, ready to argue and be combative with everyone but you definitely have to stand up for yourself. Creating happiness in your life while doing this job, IS NOT EASY! First of all, it takes a certain type of person to even be able to do this long-term. And you’ve got to have goals, you’ve got to have a reason to be out here. Otherwise, it starts to make very little sense.

 

i have been seeing a "push" towards trade and technical schools on tv, radio and in print.

all sorts of trades classes.

i wish i had stayed as a mechanic frankly.

higher wages, better hours, ALL holidays off with pay

HOME time every day, week.

no sleeping at a truckstop, no eating at the counter, no waiting to shower, comfortable bed, with my wife.

seeing my kids grow up, and being there when they needed me.

oh sure the trades, you can and will work long hours, but you still get to go home to the family at the end of the day.

none of this "your guilty to proven innocent" by the safety dept, dispatch, insurance companies.....

i'd rather see the millions of dollars that go to those colleges who only support/protest god forsaken things....

go to trade schools instead that train for a brighter future

where someone can make something of thier lives, rather than a local college with moronic protesters, be on tv and get beat down by the cops

 

My truck school was a trade school. Was able to get a grant and got college credit as well.

 

some are, some aren't

many are just "mills"...we all know that

 

Alot of those signs are pretty worn out. Even the foreign companies have them. Saw a Facebook ad for u.s. express today that says local, $33/hr. I would bet is bogus. Because trucking companies and Facebook ads are not reliable.

 

There's no job in what you said..