Driver Shortage

Awesome to hear

 

that would work with a load of paper towels or a load of can goods but, that load of strawberries going from Florida to Chicago won’t cut it it sitting on a rail siding or that load of ice pack chicken going from Georgia to LA.
There will always be long haul trucking as long as people want fresh food or goods within a few days.

 

Not a skill? Laughable!
I guess there is no skill avoiding a major catastrophe driving that hazmat tanker on I95 at rush hour or keeping that truck in one piece coming down Donner in a snowstorm. ??

 

No, sorry. Not a skill as far as labors assessment. There’s no real barrier to entry, no time put into it, and everyone more or less has the basic skill already (regular license). It’s not meant as a knock but just as an explanation to why you’re replaceable. My test is this, if a high school kid (18 year old) can be your coworker, and do the same work as you, it’s not a skilled job.

 

Then that covers 100% of the work force. Congratulations you just told 100% of the work force they are non essential.

 

I'd guess it's even higher than 75%. It has been in my experience at least..
Schneider was my first job after cdl school, and out of 20 drivers in my orientation- only 1 remained beyond 3 months according to my DM. That was me.

Same thing happened at my current company. We had 20+ in my orientation and nearly everyone was gone within.
2 weeks. Me and only 1 other still remain. I know this because we had created a groupme and stayed in touch during orientation and after getting our trucks and stuff. 90% of the orientation class was bashing anything & everything within a week of getting in their truck. The main complaint was "My Recruiter Lied REEEE!"
They all started scheming where they'd go next (many went to CFI).

 

I already know about the perishable goods and spoiled people that "need it now". If anything, that should be done via relays. Pull it off like an LTL operation.

I just don't see too many people willing to step up to these coast to coast runs without becoming hateful people over time. We've all got our breaking point and no amount of anger management will mitigate what one encounters over the road.

That's why it's either quit and go back to service jobs, low level crime, or begging.

I'm also a fan of railroads and wouldn't care less if more shipments moved to them. All this road vs. Rail fist fighting is pointless because neither is going anywhere. I'm just more trusting of a rail shipment arriving more than a truck shipment. The driver is the huge difference between the lower arriving on time or laying in a ditch.

 

How many high schoolers do you know working as doctors, lawyers, paralegals, nurses, pharmacy techs, HVAC, architects, engineers, on and on we can go. I hope you don’t think the “skill” level of a CDL holder is equal to those.

But you are correct. A huge percentage of the worlds population is made up of non skilled labor, including yourself. A CDL can be obtained by taking a test, and until the law changes, no training of any kind is needed. Once the law changes, in 20 short days or less you can obtain a CDL.

I’ll make it simpler. Does having a driving license make you skilled labor? You have to study the state manual, take a written test, and a driving test. Sounds familiar.

 

Your ignorance is astounding. But there again not surprising since you are trying to move your goal post. You said coworker. All the above have co workers that can work with them at 18. Laborers, techs, apprentices. You have to be above 21 to get a CDL for now and obtain a CDL which requires actual driving skills test. BUT that is not where the skill is. The skill as with all your half arsed examples on goal post moving comes with the doing and becoming proficient at it. But there again I figure once you get into the actual industry you will get absorbed into the 70% of the drop outs and blame everything under the sun. Good luck with your ignorance. I hope life doesn't kick you in the teeth too bad. Don't presume to know anything about folks. It just re enforces your total laziness in intellect. BUT, just to help you out. I had been a mechanic for 20+ years helping self absorbed folks such as yourself stay on the road before getting into driving trucks. Before that I did framing, roofing, and warehousing. Before even all that Farmer and ranch hand. That being said. Have a good day and good luck with your lack of knowledge and comfort and arrogance in that ignorance.

 

What goal post did I move? I said and I quote “if a high school student of 18 is your coworker AND does the same job as you”. Of course a toddler can be hired on at any company, but if they perform the same work as you then you don’t have a skilled job. It’s just common sense and shouldn’t offend anyone. Knowing how you’re viewed by corporate is a…wait for it…SKILL.

All of those amazing jobs you held? All of those professions? Sounds like you failed at them all if you had to keep switching it up and ended up as a lowly trucker, eh? Sounds like you’re part of that 70%.

Myself? Well, I’m not ignorant to the business and I have a plan going into it that I hope comes to fruition. I don’t shine turds and call it gold just because acknowledging my reality would hurt my pride.