What bugs me about OTR

Leaving logistics out of the conversation, most wouldn't go under paying their drivers better. We all know why they do it though and it's about what's going into a few select people's pocket. When it comes to the mega carriers, the sad truth is they know if you quit they have a line of people waiting to take your place back at the starting wage. In the end, competitive wages aren't given because it's the right thing to do or whatever good moral reason you can come up with. Competitive wages are given to keep retention up. Many companies don't want retention, they want new, cheap labor. If you're willing to stay for the still relatively low wages as you progress up their low pay scale, even the better for them.

The current economy really helps drive this and keeps it going. As we all know, many don't have jobs right now. A lot of people don't get into trucking because they love to do it, it's a last resort. Many people are in last resort mode these days. The companies know this and they know they'll continue to get a steady flow of drivers willing to get their start. On top of this, many people once they have a job these days are afraid to leave it. They feel like they have no options even though they do. The companies know this as well and will continue to exploit it.

It's wrong, it's screwed up, it's pretty #### greedy. As long as people will continue to accept it it will continue to happen. There are just too many people to exploit out there right now. I agree with you completely that many of these guys should be getting paid more. They can get away with it and people seem to accept it so there's really not much that will change there.

For the logistics side, it's complicated more than I could imagine. There are simple examples of problems. I've hauled reefer mostly so there are issues I could see in that sector. With reefer, many times you have no idea how long you'll be at a shipper/receiver. One place I've been multiple times I've been out in 2 hours and I've been there for 22 hours once. With linehaul you run pretty tight and uniform schedules. Maybe not a uniform schedule for you depending on seniority, but most likely for the company. When you have no clue when a driver will be out of somewhere than having to figure out HOS and availability, you already have a logistical nightmare on your hands. You would have a pool of drivers to help alleviate this but eventually when it happens many times over you're going to end up with an inability to meet your schedules. Our company tried to use local fleets to solve the problem. The thing they found out was it cost a lot more money to pay someone by the hour(which our local pay was) to essentially drive for one hour and sit for hours on end than it cost to send the guy who was paid by the mile. He sits the first two hours for free since detention doesn't start until then. Our detention pay was also less than local hourly pay. On top of that, to have a local driver you need a local truck which costs you more money in purchase, maintenance, insurance/registration/permits and whatever else. It just costs more money.

Like I said, that's a simple problem in all reality compared to other logistical problems a company could face. There really just is no business model that can be used universally. Factor in greed on top of that and you get what we have currently.

I probably sound like I'm one of those guys that knock LTL or local jobs. I'm not, I'm starting a great local job in a week that I'll probably retire at just like my dad is about to in a few years from the same place. He's been there 33 years. I'm all about making the most money for my time and being home which is why I'm going there. I don't get people that seem to be proud to do things cheaper than what they're worth. I just don't see it as feasible for every company to take this type of approach.

 

a lot of drivers do not realize that trucking is 1 of only about 10 job occupations not covered by the 40 hour work week rule. this is the reason most otr companies pay by the mile. this is also why most of those companies pay little or no detention or layover pay. I learned a long time ago that a sleeper on a truck is basically, "LOW INCOME HOUSING" that is why I drive a day cab!

 

No problem. I had nothing better to do other than pack my house up to move 2000 miles away next week. Can you tell I'm a procrastinator? lol Moving sucks. And I agree, people need to go to a good place to begin with. There are good LTL, local and OTR places to start.

Like my co-driver says, "I'm homeless, I live in a Freightliner and have a vacation home in CA I rarely see but pay for every month."

 

Most drivers quit because they are tired of the lifestyle, they miss home or the regular life. Companies can spend thousands on retention but them type drivers are still going to quit and they are right back in the same shoes of a high turn over rate. You can lower it some but it will always be high. So why not just have a hiring pool and save some money on retention is the way many look at it. They are going to quit anyways. 10-20-30 year good drivers are hard to find.

 

Just to give u an idea when I first driving back in the 80s I was making$27cts a mile + $12 a day for meals ! But back then 60% of companies were union ! Even schnider had union drivers ! Times have changed!