Let's talk about the 'driver shortage'.

Funny, I actually worked for your company for about a month before Jimmy the jack*### lied to me one too many times, so I walked. But I actually wanted to like Regency...the truck was very nice, the routes were easy, pay was OK, the drop yard was close enough to home. Driver management was just bad though.

 

The first guy, totally understandable. The second guy just kind of sounded like a spoiled brat. Anybody who can bumble along for 3 years without working must not need to that badly anyway.

 

The second guy? Maybe his wife had a good job. Whatever. He was the kind of guy that you're glad to see walk out of the office.

 

I want a new truck when I get hired.

 

Good post but that is the hitch in the add. At five years in, most good drivers have either settled on a company they intend to stay with, have taken on a truck of their own, or left the industry in disgust.

What you and your buddy got were newbies that haven't been burned enough by the business and flunkies that are trying to cope with their bad decisions. At five years most profesionals have settled into a good job or moved on.

Not a shortage of drivers in any way, just more strict requirements then the job probably entailed. I know it is likely caused by insurance requirements but any business has to make the decision between paying higher wages for the work, or lowering the requirements of the insurance policy and paying the insurance company.

 

5 years exp and averaging 60k? I was making more than that when I had 2 years exp - years ago. I agree that drivers willing to work for peanuts is the issue with pay. however, it appears those working for such low pay are doing so bc they have to. they've backed themselves into a corner and can't get a better paying job. as aforementioned, it's not the companies, it's the (prospective) employees.

 

Good post. I'm just wondering about one thing, how come the LTL carriers use an opposite business model from the mega junk companies? Outfits like Old Dominion, ABF, UPS, and Fed-Ex pay well and therefore have a low turnover rate. Why does having a steering wheel holder revolving door work so well for the likes of Swift but Old Dominion would rather pay well to retain good drivers long term?

 

good question

 

Pretty simple really; LTL companies haul, for example, a couple hundred boxes on the trailer with maybe 75 different BOL's from 75 different shippers. The shippers are paying premium prices for each box, so the LTL companies can afford high driver pay and still make a huge profit.
Truckload companies usually just have one BOL for the entire truckload from one shipper; pretty much speaks for itself.

 

I've worked for three companies in the last 8 years

At each company I've kept all of logs,every single one at each job

According to federal law we are supposed to be paid for pre/post trip, every hour in a dock,breakdown pay and if your truck goes into a dealer for repairs you are supposed to be paid for each day you sit in your hotel room waiting for your truck to be finished

After being on the job for awhile I add up all the hours I wasn't paid for everything mentioned above and go to my boss

I explain to him what's owed,I get blown off

Then I go to the labor board,file a claim

I've won every time and after getting a favorable ruling bossmam says they'll pay what's owed but not fines/penalties

I never accept the settlement cause its usually not that much,maybe one,two thousand dollars

However,with fines/penalties it's closer to 3k-4k

Once bossman declines to pay a mediation hearing is set,the arbitrator hears the case and I win,again

I've made a nice chunk of change doing this and I'm only doing it cause its what I'm entitled to by law

This is how you get better pay,hold these companies accountable

Don't be a stupid,lazy,tool