Shortage of Drivers?

There you go>that's a big part of it!

 

I'm not bashing and yes it is possible to have a good career with a mega-carrier, its just very rare. Most newbies enlist with the mega-carriers because they make it so easy to get a job and the other reason is that these recruiters and even teachers at the mills only talk about and recommend the top 5 because they are being paid to do so. I really don't think it is fair to the new guys that don't know any better. For a lot of them, these being their only options (so they are told) end up cutting their career short or having a bad experience and quit. You can get a really good job right off the bat, you just have to know where to look. You really have to put in the extra effort in finding these companies. Good companies don't advertise for drivers. The drivers they have are all happy and they rarely need replacing. Therefore you must go to them and its then they realize they may want to take on a good new driver to train and to be with the company for many years to come. A lot of new drivers also don't realize that these smaller companies usually pay better, have better benefits, have better equipment and at the top of the list, better dispatchers! At these smaller companies the dispatchers are only responsible for a handful of drivers instead of hundreds of drivers like the mega-carriers. This means more personal attention for you and more time to build a good relationship with them. This is the number one key to making money! A good relationship with your dispatcher will make you $$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

You are not working 24 hours. You are at work 24 hours, but you're not working all that time. There is a difference. You're away, you're not home, that's true. But you're definitely not working either. But I think you need to remember that there are LOTS of jobs which require travel and pretty much none of them pay wages for every hour you're away from home. My wife is on a trip for work right now. She most definitely is not getting paid for the time she isn't working. When I flew planes for a living, I didn't get paid for the time I wasn't flying while on a trip. In fact, in that industry, much like trucking, most don't even get paid for all the time that they're on duty. Flight time only is fairly standard. All the time spent at work but not flying (trip prep, plane prep etc) is not paid.


That being said, I get paid by the hour and I go home every night. If you're so hung up on not getting paid to sit in truck stops, get a local job. It shouldn't be hard to do what with the driver shortage and all. That is unless those who have been telling you about the driver shortage were lying to you. Could it be? Who would do such a thing?

 

sorry but we are not short drivers out here. We have to many Idiots out here that just want a JOB. That Don't want to live our Lifestyle... its coming down to if ur not parked by 6pm ur not gonna get parked. Idk how many times ive went to bed on a shoulder somewhere u dont get a good nite rest when trucks are flying by.. Or you get those idiots that lay on there air horns when they see a line of trucks outside the rest area sleeping... That's just stright up rude. Trucking has been in my blood for awhile. i rod with my dad when he drove and now i drive. Things was BETTER back then. Drivers where more nice then what they are now. I dont even wanna hear its cuz of elogs cuz thats a big load of BS. each company gives u time to get where u need to be. Stay out of that truck stop during the day when ur driving u wont be so tight on time. After ur 10 hour break is up LEAVE no need to sit there for 15hours.... i hear it all the time on the CB im in a rush cuz these elogs... PFfft stay do ur break then leave. When u park at night go in take a shower go out watch a movie go to bed get up in ur 10 hours and LEAVE how it should be.

 

So true. I am brand new, and was just hired by Star Transportation out of Nashville. They are a big company, but not even close to being a "mega-carrier." They are really nice, and believe it or not, my recruiter took care of me and DID NOT TELL ME A SINGLE LIE, or stretch the truth in any way. Stay away from the meat market!!!! Fellow newbies, you can do it!

 

How 'bout that pilot shortage, eh? I.e. shortage of people willing to spend 100k on education to fly planes for 2k/mo. It's the same thing as the driver shortage. Pay .45/mi for new drivers and no more shortage. Don't forget to give them miles though. Pay new pilots 45k/yr, no more pilot shortage. This would happen if the shortages were real.

 

That's because few drivers do any/adequate research into potential employers. They settle for what's offered. Why would you leave a crappy job for another crappy job? Do sone research and move UP!

 

At present pilots are federally required 8 hours rest between shifts. This includes travel to and from a hotel, hygiene, and sleep. Lounging and spending time at bars isn't in the schedule. Pilots live out of a suitcase, I have all sorts of cabinets and storage. Who has the harder time on the road?

 

... and what are the divorces costing drivers? What value do you assign to not hardly seeing your kids grow up ... missing most of his soccer games?

No shortage of driver wanna-be's ... just a difficulty retaining drivers who have proven themselves as potentially safe, productive drivers