Why is it so hard to find good drivers?

Because most perspective drivers don't last the year that's required to be able to get a decent job and by virtue of the first job they had being ####ty, they move onto another career. Most other drivers that stick it out, move on to better jobs and the cream of the crop find their places and stay. It's a paradox.

 

I agree but I've found to get a decent job i'm going to have to either drive a really crappy low paying local job or go OTR for at least 6 months. It seems to be the only way to move forward. Sucks because the low tier crap jobs that most new guys get drive the vast majority to leave trucking the first year so that leaves VERY FEW GOOD qualified drivers for the good companies to pick from. If this industry just paid well from the start, had higher standards than hiring illegals who can't speak English it would run better across the board and in the aggregate companies would be more profitable if they had more professional standards and paid accordingly from the outset. But that makes too much sense and in today's short-term thinking corporate mentality sadly, an impossibility.

 

Man these megas make a killing from having their own schools and then paying poverty wages out the gate.

 

Are you sure this is now the case? I thought a CDL now requires proof of permanent residency or citizenship / birth certificate in order to initially get a CDL or to renew it. At least that is the new requirement in Washington State. A lot of existing CDL holders are now unable to renew their license due to not meeting this new standard.

I would guess that many will move into Non-CDL hotshotting and then DOT will eventually require all drivers who do interstate commerce to get a CDL regardless of the 26K rule.

 

You also have to understand I use a sports analogy in that not all truck drivers are created equally. There’s a whole list of things that go into making someone a good truck driver. And a lot of them aren’t about truck driving experience. Things like work ethic, your learning ability, some people just pick up skills very quickly and others it can take years.

if you’re a talented truck driver, with a strong work ethic and you learn quick, you should get paid right out of the gate for that. Or a company should be willing to take a slight risk on you.

Im not shy anymore. I’m good at what I do. I’ve seen what’s out there. I know where I stand in this industry. I’m not the very best, but I’m definitely in the top tier of performers. And I wanna get paid for it. If I work for Said company and they’re trying to take advantage of me, I’ll call them out on it. If they don’t step up? I’ll start taking offers. And when I talk to recruiters I spell things out to them not the other way around. I interview them.

I’ve got three years of experience, 388,000 miles and absolutely stellar perfect clean record, no missed days, no callouts, no late loads, no citations, no violations, and that goes back 40 years to when I was 15 years old. If you don’t wanna pay me for that, someone else will.

You have to realize, you’re a commodity in this industry. You are more than just an employee. If you don’t know what a commodity is, look it up. And get paid what you deserve.

 

No I’m not sure but I am heartened to hear you say that. I hope that is the case because these jobs should be for Americans as I’m sure you all agree.

 

Perhaps Companies should reconsider their pay scale. 25% of 80% of the Loads with a Driver working 6 days a week isn’t a lucrative business opportunity for any Driver.

 

Trust me I know of many Experienced Car Haulers in the Northeast and Midwest that IF the Money and benefit package was right they would make a change. When you have United Road offering a sign on bonus of $20k and Jack Cooper with a sign on bonus of $10k why would said Experienced Drivers looking to make a change go to smaller companies just for that “family” atmosphere?

 

I addressed Your 1st Post too as Why it’s so difficult to hire Experienced Car Haulers. Doesn’t seem like the Mega Carriers are having any issues with hiring drivers without a sign on bonus even. Where’s Moore, Brothers, Virginia, Waddle, Delta getting their Drivers? Maybe that’s the real question….