Let's talk about the 'driver shortage'.

this Garbage Isn't going to stop the Obese, Heart failure victims, Heavy Snorer's (Which many of you are)
If that's the case- 75% of OTR drivers would be out of a job, Yeah That's approx.- 2.5 million drivers

Plus- Us Old-Timers Don't believe in this Nonsense- if They resist or provide friction our Direction....Fine- We'll Get our Cards the Other Way

Just won't happen- Their isn't enough of you Young-handsome Volvo Lovin' Drivers out there in Militaric Shape Wanting to drive a truck OTR.

Most Young,Healthy, Athletic Types Want to be home nightly raising a family.

If Im wrong here- You folks can Shoot me Point Blank.

 

The doctors will stop the obese from driving. Not because they necessarily want to be mean but if a 600 pounder has a heart attack behind the wheel after passing a physical that doctor's arse will be on the line. In today's sue happy word nobody wants to put themselves out for that kind of potential liability.

 

600 pounder? My Goodness.. Im talking bout the 225-310 pound guys-(You know the type- Comfy well fed-bearded biker looking style)..Been driving all their Lives without issue.

SO...Why is it an issue Now?

Don't see it happening.....Like I Say, Too many Young, Healthy Aren't driving Trucks, specially Over The Darn Road.

I think they should start at around 325 pounds..And Work their way UP from their...

These Doctors are Challenging 210 pound Guys with thick Necks That are Stronger than a Horse With their Half Wit Diagnosis.

Try Driving 25-30 Years.....You'll NEVER Keep Low Blood Pressure- A Six Pack Abs- And Perfect Health. .

This is so Ridiculous!

 

Say what ???

 

You are right. It is rediculous. I know I could and should lose a little weight. But I can strap and tarp a load faster than most young guys. Could probably out work that doctor or FMCSA official who thinks all this is a good idea. My doctor who has known me for over 20 years asked me all the pertinent questions and determined I had no need to go to a sleep apnea clinic. But I'm sure he'll be overruled by some D.O.T. approved doctor who has known me for 12 minutes.

 

I agree with some that there isn't a shortage of drivers but a retention problem. With so much churn going on it is hard to keep capacity up. I hear a lot of calls to increase pay but I don't see that happening. Most trucking companies are running net profit margins in the single digits. There isn't room to bump up pay to .60 cents per mile. Trucking does a poor job managing expectations for new drivers. These guys come in with this view of trucking as a glamorous job but quickly find there is nothing glamorous at all about it. I was a dispatcher before getting behind the wheel and was prepared for it but someone with no background in trucking won't last long; only a small percentage will keep on trucking.

The retention problem isn't going away so rather than take a fresh look at HOS and give us more flexibility and hours to work, the government continues to limit productivity; compounding the problem of poor retention. The government also refuses to allow heavier gross weights to increase productivity. Being there is such a severe retention problem the common sense approach would be to make productivity your number one goal. The Canadians know this and have HOS rules and gross weights that allow for this greater productivity. The US on the other hand is encouraging intermodal as an alternative as well as autonomous vehicles. I think this is a bad idea and wasteful.

The government has been successful in building a culture of fear and hate around trucking and the industry lacks the presence in Washington to counter it. This country will continue down this destructive road for the time being and I only expect things to get worse in regards to reductions in productivity as well as the removal of drivers from the workforce via continuing rules around health.

 

Single digit profit margins are better then most businesses out their.

Before the downturn in the economy after the housing crises, trucking companies were averaging profit margins in the low double digits. Much better then most businesses.

All kinds or room to raise the pay! WTF, do you think all this freight is going to sit on docks, in Cans, and warehouses and just wait around for cheaper freight? That is not going to happen. The mega-crap companies control the freight and therefor the price of freight and they are in a race to the bottom of the market. As long as they can con drivers into working for chicken feed that is what the rates will be. Chicken feed + cost

Who puts that expectation of a 'glamorous job' in the heads of new drivers. It wouldn't be the mega-crap companies that control the freight? The same companies that sell the schools?

Oh the mean government picking on the poor trucking companies is it. That is the solution to low paying, long hours, and poor safety in the trucking industry. The Taxpayer should just collect the bill for all the externalities of the trucking industry so more mega-crap trucking execs can exploit the system.

 

Just say no. But in the end there's always some guy that will work for peanuts. That's who the bottom feeders live off of. Like a parasite. I've talked to a few regional companies and they act like they are doing me a favor. 38 pennies a mile and almost 40 yrs driving w/ a clean DMV. Hahaha click.

 

No driver shortage yet:
But if minimum wage ever hits 15 bucks an hour
Nationwide I'll guess there will be a 30 to 40
Percent exodus in otr drivers with in months.

Why put with this crap for 500 bucks a week
When subway pays the same thing.
What's the sales pitch now from the recruiter
To a new sucker behind the wheel.