Have I lost touch with this industry?

I think Brandson hit it on the head without even knowing it. Although it isn't just newer "drivers" with his attitude, it seems most of the younger (under 40) workers just don't have any pride in what they do. to most it is just a J O B, not a career. There seems to be fewer and fewer that take pride in what they do, although it is not completely dead. I had a younger guy today at the Blue Beacon who really took pride in his job, did one of the best washes I have had in a long time, and he was happy to be working.

As for him thinking you don't work hard Stan, don't even drop to his level by challenging him, most who have not been owners have no idea what we do behind the scenes to keep the lights on and wheels turning. I hate being in the office and shop and chose to drive most days, meaning I put 13-14 hours in the truck then another few in the office at night, getting about 3 hours sleep a night. I would take your job and give up on the trucks I have now if Kansas was in Pennsylvania or New Mexico LOL. I spent 8 hours yesterday working on one of the trucks while the driver sat at home collecting his daily salary, no offer to come help, not willing to take my truck out even though he is qualified to operate it, only a complaint that I didn't put the truck down on Friday so he could have a three day weekend!

I understand having a life, but, if you chose to be an OTR driver then you should expect to be over the road for long periods of time. Stan, you are running a true OTR operation, something that is going away in trucking today, so it will keep getting harder to find drivers that are willing to work like you have come to expect. Like I said before, we are local, home daily and still have a hard time filling the seats with the same pay package you offer, they all dislike the 14 hour days Monday thru Friday and want more like 8 hour days. I don't believe money will fix the retention issue, it may get bodies in the door but no amount of money will keep someone long term if they are not happy.

 

people wonder why i am cranky

i had a mate on the fishing boat always bugging me to move up to captain
i said you screw up when i am here why would i send you 100 miles to sea without me
"Oh I would be different if i was in charge"
made perfect sense to him...........sigh

 

Brandson sums it up for the attitude of the younger driver, person, employee, etc. today. All walks of life, the majority of younger (40 and under) people these days just flat don't give a $-hit about anyone or anything but themselves. Give me money, give me a new truck, give me this or that, I am ENTITLED to it.

Oh, and you think it's easy just sitting back in the office running a trucking operation???? I have news for you sonny. You have no clue.

 

Wow, you old guys really suffered from those old trucks not filtering exhaust well enough...

Why would a person not want to work 70 hours a week..? Laziness!!!

Why would someone want to be home, living like a human, surrounded by lives ones..? Lazy pansy!!!

Why don't younguns want to work harder than necessary so their boss can make more money (in a society where lower rung employees do NOT see benefit from profits)..? LAZY!!!

I've said it before, Ill say it again. I'll work as hard as I need to, relative to what I'm being paid for. When it comes to OTR work, any monkey can do it. Look around the truck stop. I get paid to throw my personal life and freedom out the window for weeks or more at a time. Say what you will, I get my work done, and I do it safely, legally and by company standard, and occasionally in pajamas (yeah, I know you guys love that). The only thing I'm proud of is how big my check is.

What did you pay for all your pride out here? We've already spotted the exhaust fumes damage. Blown knees? Bad backs? Diabetes? COPD? Arthritis? Failed marriage? Kids hate you? Don't tell me you can be a career otr driver and have a meaningful relationship with your family. Hope,it was all worth making your boss more money, in an industry where wage increases didn't even keep up with inflation, lol.

 

I'll say it again. You don't have a clue.

Now on to the next. You have nothing to say that remotely makes sense enough for me to listen.

 

I'm sorry, I listed facts and counterpoints. You offer ... age insults..?

Does your nurse let you use the internet this late..?

 

The point all of you are missing is that the responsibility of the owner is different from their employees. If you were working an office job, you wouldn't expect to make your bosses pay but to that point you don't want to put in more work than you're being paid for. The newer breed of drivers are coming into this field with a greater knowledge of how corporate America works. Their college educated, they've worked in corporate jobs, they understand the dynamics of salary vs work output. Back in the day, you would bust your ### to have your boss notice and reward your work ethic. Now a days, you strive to do your job well and then request you be paid more to do an even better job. The trend overall in employment has been that you must now ask for the pay you deserve because companies want to save every dollar they can. They will not give voluntary raises.

Most of the people attacking Brandson it sounds like are O/Os who have 15+ years of experience. You are your own boss. The goals of your business and the goals of your drivers are different. The title of this thread is "Have I Lost Touch With This Industry". The OP is asking cause he's having trouble attracting good drivers.

The first thing we need to establish is we need to get rid of this term "new breed of driver" and call it what it is....the modern driver. The industry has evolved. Modern drivers want to have a better quality of life on the road and off. They want to be compensated for the responsibility they have. Modern drivers want to be home so they can make love to their wife and see their kids grow up. Drivers want good health insurance, dental, 401k, etc. The thing modern drivers have mastered is that they have figured out how much their time is worth. That is a powerful thing ! The future belongs to tighter regulation, e-logs, safer equipment, etc. The days of the outlaw trucker are coming to an end. Modern drivers are well aware of their worth and aren't afraid to ask for the compensation they deserve.

 

the modern driver wants to be paid for experience he doesn't have or value
any monkey can drive a truck but let him drive it well
and not be in the middle of the pile in WY
I dont respect the work ethic of the next generation which would include my own kids
and the kids of many of the companies the fathers built

 

Ahh the joys of being a broker again. And working for myself again ! And working for my wife and kids again by trying to save money, again .....

Guys, my 'new to me' tractor has 71 grease nipples on it. It takes me 45 minutes a week now to grease it. But I did the 'new' math, and by greasing myself, it'll all get done right, the nipples will be clean BEFORE the nozzle gets put on it. AND I'll save thousands of $$ a year doing it myself. Keep it clean and keep it greased, and it'll keep you in money, not out of it.

Back in the old days of breathing un-filtered diesel exhaust in the cab, I learned this as a company driver.

 

the people in NS are even stranger then the modern driver