Trucking industry capacity crunch incoming

I was one of those farm kids. It didn't stop me from jumping through the hoops even so I had to wait until I was 21. Not a big deal. I also remember lots of companies wouldn't look at me because I wasn't 23 either. Limiting the pool of drivers is a good thing.

 

So you would pay to go to a driving school if you’ve already been driving for a couple years?

You had already replied by the time I finished editing my initial post so I’ll say again here. If 18 year olds could be involved in interstate trucking they could run local and shag trailers. It would open up many options other than just running cross country.

 

You mean you'd rather employ the kid with 2 years of furm drivin'....instead of an ol' geezer like me....fresh out of Schneider's kick-butt training curriculum???



<<<retreating now to designated safe space...to heal....& fill out official butt-hurt report form>>>

-- L

 

Schneider seems to give students the proper tools to be successful and it’s up to them to use what they learned. But for every Schneider there’s a ton of “get your CDL in 24 hours!” schools.

I’m not too proud to say that when I started pulling a dry van in 2021 I watched Schneider’s backing videos on YouTube so I could learn to set myself up better. I’ve had my CDL since late 1996 and up until that point I never needed to know how to alley dock and what not.

 

My above "hurt" response was in no way meant to be taken anything even remotely close to serious....

With that said...this Forum is really the only place where I can be immature -- & get away with it.

 

I would also submit -- with all due respect....that a true, active sense of humor -- is one key component...with any of your better, more professional CDL holders.

This would also include....not taking oneself too seriously.

There's just waaaaaa-haaaayyy too much incredibly ridiculous & "ripe" material out there...not to laugh/poke fun at...

-- L

 

I went to a school because it was/is the only way to get into trucking and get your CDL-A. Back in the old days with a chauffeur's license was different, I get it, but that ain't the world we're in anymore. What you or I think about 18 year olds driving really doesn't matter. They're higher risk and insurance companies don't want to lose money on them. Doesnt matter if you know a great kid that might cut it. Most of them won't. I'm ok with them largely being kept out of trucking and nothing you have to say about it will convince me otherwise. Arguments about driving farm trucks don't sway me either. Farm trucks are notorious for running cheap when they ain't farming.

 

Megas will hire 21 year olds with no hesitation. I had one whose 21st birthday was the week before orientation.

I would also rather have an 18 year old who graduated from a ptdi licensed school than a 45 year old that got his cdl at a mill. Or is on their 4 career, twice divorced, credit so bad they can'teven qualify for a secured credit card. Once trainees hit about 35, their quality goes way down. Theyre also harder to train - "Ive been driving for 20 years, I know what I'm doing!". Yeah, ok, so why do you keep getting within 5 sexonds of the vehicle ahead of you?

And they all say "I always wanted to drive truck". Well, what were you waiting for? Give me an 18 year who listens to crappy music and giggles when ever we pass mile marker 67 any day.

As to insurance- raising pay by 5% across the industry would cost about $10 Billion a year. Just at schneider alone it would be about $50 million a year. That would cover a hefty premium hike.

 

The guy I drove for pulling flatbed preferred to hire drivers with no flatbed experience for basically the same reasons. It’s easier to train a new person to do things how you want than correct poor habits that someone has had for years.