Reserve Army of Truckers?

I often wonder what kind of money the mega carriers are sliding the insurance companies to persuade them to not allow small carriers to insure new drivers.

 

Judging by my premiums and the fact that there is only 1 yes 1 insurance company that will insure a driver under the age of 23 on their own. A lot. Its complete as inside as far as I'm concerned. But when a new driver with a clean record can raise premiums in excess of $6500/year yep it gets to be pretty hard. That's a lot of profit out the door right there. I was hoping to get rid of progressive and find somebody cheaper and that actually knows something about truck insurance nope. Still have another year of dealing with them.

My premiums WOULDVE dropped almost $4000/year though if it weren't for my dads fender bender in indiana. Its amazing what a $500 body shop bill will do to insurance. You don't even want to know how much a serious traffic violation increases rates. #### near had a heart attack when I got that quote. Between that showing and not showing was almost $10,000/year.

Rediculious I still believe that is 90% of the problem. If insurance were more affordable I beleiev we would have a lot more quality drivers on the road who were trained properly by a smaller mom and pop operation. I don't see this driver shortage many of us are talking about. I see a lot of Bob tails at truck stops, and hear a lot of drivers complaining about miles and not getting enough of them. I guess my point is if we had a driver shortage wouldn't all the companies be pushing for 3600+ miles a week out of every driver?

And if there was really a shortage don't you think freight rates would be a lot higher because there weren't enough trucks and drivers to meet the supply needs because they need their freight and they need it now? I understand a lot of the older drivers are starting to get to the point where they want to retire. They deserve too, but until companies start running drivers and not letting them sit like they do. I won't believe this driver shortage.

I do agree with the industry problems outlined though. And the over regulation that has been going on for decades is going to amputate an already crippled industry. Wish they'd start regulating the railroads like they do us still say the best terrorist attack anybody could plan was to attack a stopped train hauling propane near a large city.

 

How?
Trucking doesn't generate employment.
We haul freight as it is offered.
Less or more regulations will not create more freight that needs to be hauled.


There is no driver shortage.
If there were,drivers would be paid a decent wage.
Shippers would pay so their freight wasn't sitting on the dock.(and it isn't sitting on the dock now)
The free market works for that.

 

Another way of skewing the numbers of qualified drivers that have left the industry for whatever reason is that many states now require a current medical and a certification that a CDL holder is actively USING their license. So if you're not actively working you are not qualified in many states to renew your CDL. That trend will show a lowering number of CDl holders and distort the facts once again.