6 ton bridge and loaded semi don't mix

Law's cant fix stupid, No matter how much law makers try to tell you they can. All they do is screw the people that have common sense and don't need to be lead around like a lost puppy. Unfortunately now with the CDL mills the thought of common sense and a brain are a rare and valued thing.

 

I know right? It's udderly insane who they give cdl's to anymore. Some people are so flippant and lackadaisical about this industry. Its almost like their pushing a shopping cart through the store without a care in world. I mean zero regard for anything. I'm pretty certain the driver didn't MEAN for this to happen, but if you're in the ring with Mike Tyson and round after round he tells ya, you should turn back now and get out of the ring because something really bad is about to happen, you do! A normal person with even SOME of their faculties, runs!! So, to continue on after multiple signs and warnings, you're getting exactly what you have coming to ya. Ya can't fix stupid. That's it.

 

I'm sure that we will someday have electronic triggers in the "6 ton weight limit" sign that will shut the truck down before it hits the bridge. I mean, we've already got trucks with electronic log books (because the driver can't possibly steer AND keep a log book), speed governors (because the driver can't possibly steer AND keep a safe speed), lane departure (because the driver can't possibly steer AND stay in the lane), VORAD (because the driver can't possibly steer AND keep from rear-ending someone), driver-facing cameras (because the driver can't possibly be trusted to steer AND pay attention). How can the driver POSSIBLY steer AND not drive over 6-ton bridges without an electronic shut-down? I mean come on!!

 

Lol

 

Minimum wage pay,
Minimum wage results

 

Texting while driving?

 

Years ago I would have agreed with this statement and had made similar statements back when I was "less seasoned" but today? Today, paying more only attracts more to the job ... more of the same unfit, unqualified applicants.

Only way you're going to improve the applicant pool in terms of skills and knowledge and professionalism is to raise hiring standards and raise them a lot. This must be done FIRST. Once standards have been raised, and the pool begins to clear out a bit, then you can begin raising wages to keep those that have "made the cut".

If carriers are not going to raise standards and expectations, it will be absolutely useless and very costly to raise pay [across the board] if the goal is to have more safer and more "professional" drivers in the fleet. Higher pay does not make better drivers out of thin air. Either you have it or you don't. More pay is not going to change any of that.

It's the same thing as the illegal immigrants problem. You have to seal the border first, then you can deal with those already here. Raising driver wages willy-nilly as a means to "improve the applicant pool" will actually only exacerbate the problem in the short term and the long term. It's about expectations and hiring standards, not pay.

 

Well spoken. I can't "thank" this post enough. If companies would just do this, there would be no need for all the electronic babysitting devices I posted about.

 

Yes, some good points made,
but Economics 101--Supply and Demand.

 

Economics 101 does not apply much anymore. Look around you. Look at all that's going on domestically and internationally and what "economic laws" are being steadfastly honored? Everything is upside down. What used to be right is wrong. What used to be wrong is right. What used to be abnormal, is now normal. "This is then norm" has been voiced many times by powers that be the last 8 years.

Inflation should be in double digits today based on money supply. Gold should be above $4,000 oz. Oil should be around $60 bbl. Nothing is as it should be is my point. And the fundamental reason is government(s) are taking up the slack for their own miserable economies by printing money and increasing welfare systems.

Bars have been lowered, standards have been lowered and expectations have been shifted to an entirely different set of means