Reserve Army of Truckers?

Clarify a couple things here for ya pal...

1. Maybe it's because experience or seniority don't seem to get big rewards in trucking, other than working smarter and getting more miles because of experience. The exception might be unionized company drivers.
Very very, wrong on that one....the only way most guys ever get to reap the rewards of a good trucking job is to have both of those things , along with the right attitude a good safety record and some luck.

2.What's an average stay at one trucking job before changing companies?
can't speak to many , but the ones I know and worked with , at the same place for over 3 decades will tell you it's a long time/career for some of us.

3.How many are actually leaving the industry because of retirement, or for racking up too many accidents/incidents/problems, or leaving for other industries?
in this day and age not so many get to do the retirement thing , mainly because many places don't care about retaining good employees...that's not true for trucking either...seem our whole society has gotten away from that. Sad too. As far as the folks that seem to weed themselves out for the reasons that you mentioned , accidents/incidents/problems..that sort has always been around. ( they just "thought" they wanted to be drivers)

4.What % of drivers stay at the same company for more than 2 years?
already addressed this one...it's sad, but guys don't usually stay with companies very long anymore...don't know where to place "that" blame...All I know is when I started there were very few trucking schools around..you were either taught growing up , living in a farming environment (like me) , you learned in the military , or someone took you under their wing.....Things are different nowadays...better on some accounts for sure...but worse on some accounts too......

 

I don't know about any body else...but I ain't even thinking about working part-time...ANYWHERE.....

 

Nuff said.

 

The driver pool is affected by retirements, as you mentioned, but also competition from the construction industry for these same people as the economy improves.

In the long run, the increase in the amount of freight to be hauled will put tremendous strains on trucking capacity and highway infrastructure. I know this is hard to believe while we are stuck in the doldrums with banks having money they will not lend, and the former middle class working part time jobs. When this economy turns the corner, truck driver wages will have to rise but maybe not during my lifetime.

 

I have my CDL and I haven't touched a CDL rig in almost a year. Why?

1) I was sold on the idea by friends of mine, that was a mistake. I was lied to about all the money I could make. Honestly, I never really made anything as a CDL driver, I spent more than I made out there trying to stay alive. The costs are insane for the driver, I did what I could to save money, but I never could save enough.

2) Trucking is so over regulated it's insane. Log books, scales, weights, e.t.c make it impossible not to be stressed out constantly.

3) Everything is setup to be the drivers fault. Overweight? Your fault. Truck broken or won't pass inspection? Your fault. The company takes zero responsibility for their own equipment.

4) Control. Companies be sure to send drivers as far away from home as possible for as long as possible. I live in Washington, and I constantly ended up in Texas (the devils toilet IMHO) and southern california (the devils urinal) as much as possible. Both places suck so bad, yet I kept having to go there. (That and Arizona too)

5) Companies want less and less company drivers, they are always pushing you to own or lease equipment, passing on the major costs of that equipment to you.

We will continue to have a driver shortage until the over regulation of the industry is stopped, and the pay increases. Once the job becomes more livable for real human beings with real home time, real benefits, livable pay, and the ability to actually drive the truck instead of spending all day at the shippers and the scales trying to make these idiotic weight requirements and log book hours.

Only once these problems are fixed, will we actually see things improve. Sadly though, these things will NEVER change. The industry will continue to thrive on fly by night labor, people will come in and get their taste of how bad this industry is and run like hell with 3 weeks of experience off into a real job that at least lets them see their own bed every night. At least then they will have money to actually pay bills, vs. giving it all away to survive on the road.

 

Nailed it..

Students get that first taste of the constant stress and low pay and they end up like me, CDL in hand but working at Safeway because at least they can pay bills with the paycheck.

 

There may be alot of CDL holders but what are they doing with it? As for me I have a job at a state highway dept, and yes I make less money than an experienced 18 wheeler driver, but I am home every night and off every weekend. And for about 7 months of the year we work a 4 day 10 hour schedule so I am off every Friday Saturday and Sunday = Three days off a week where a truck drive has to be out on the road, on the job 24/7 for three weeks to get three days off! And has to be at his place of employment 24 hours a day 7 days a week during that time.

ALSO - alot of guys with CDLs would LOVE to go over the road and drive but CAN'T! WHY?? Because of the STUPID truck driving rule that you have to have a PERFECT employment history to work there most of the time! Been out of work two months? Oh hell no we can't hire you! Been out of work a year? Oh my god are you kidding me we can't hire you!! In ANY other JOB go to school after being out of work for 1, 2 or 10 dang years and get your schooling done and get your certificate for welding, nursing, HVAC, cooking - whatever and companies will hire you and CONGRATULATE you for turning your life around and going to school and improving yourself! Been out of work a year and go to truck driving school, pass - get your license then apply for a job - oh hell no we can't hire you you haven't worked in a year!! What difference does it make if you haven't worked a year for whatever dang reason you please? Trucking is the only industry that STOPS people who want to learn and not mind even going OTR for a couple years from getting hired! Try to get hired at Roehl if you've been out of work a year oh hell no they won't! Try to get hired at Prime if you've been out of work a year oh hell no! Been out of work a year and get your welding, nursing, HVAC, cooking license and school done many many many companies will hire you! That my friends is why trucking is just about the worst there is - they STOP people from coming into the industry with their stupid nonsense!

 

Yes but is it possible that the company you worked for is not the same as xxx company down the street? I don't think there will ever be a driver shortage to the point that companies can't fill the seats but I also believe there will not be an "army of reserve truckers". There might be an army waiting to get their foot in the door but once in, people (possibly like you) realize that trucking is not all it's cracked up to be and are out the door before they even step their other foot in. It's always going to be like that. Your post #16 brings up some good points but for the most part it has always been like that, at least for the 24 years I've been doing it. It's the same game with a few new twists and turns. You either work smart and adapt or get out. Sometimes people work smart but have a run of bad luck. And sometimes throughout your career you will find that luck has a big role in the way things turn out, good and bad.

 

I think the mega-carriers business model is now to force any prospective truck driver to come to them for the training and experience, they want to get 3 or 4 years out of a guy and I don't really think they care if you stick around after that. If your record is still clean you'll move on to better carriers, if your record isn't clean you'll be out on your can. Maybe they can throw a few shillings your way and get you to hang around as a "trainer" for a couple more years but that's about it.