What is future forecast for truck driving as industry?

I am not denying it. It just amazes me that companies are so strict about the hiring of a normal person, but may take someone else who has a negative work history.

My comment is my opinion on the law. Not a disagreement. Just sad what the companies do is all.

It is not an area of tax credit that the business returns I do are involved in. Specialized training.

 

I had heard stories back in 1999 of a company in Missouri that would go to Kansas city and round up winos and turn them into owner operators.

Makes me wonder now if they were really stories or not.

 

If you'd been with me the last week or so. You'd swear they were doing it just this year

I can say with complete confidence. I saw some really sad charactors this week, drivers and non-drivers.

I also found my next wife, but she jumped the gun, and got rid of me before I could offer her dinner LOL

 

Truck drivers have some things going for them. There is a critical shortage that will not ease in the near future.
Even if rail expands considerable this will not ease the just in time freight the industry has gravitated towards. It does not matter how cheap or how much freight rails can handle there has to be a place to put it--right?
Also as our population increases more people are attaining a purchasing age faster than are dying.
As for a 5 or 10 year outlook statistic show an increase. The economy(or lack of) does play an important part in freight movement.
The amount of freight still expands exponentially to the increase in the number of people needing to wipe their butts.

 

Your kidding me,..Critical Shortage of Drivers?????......you buy that???

I've got a bridge for sale,....wana buy that too....lol....

 

Walleye,

The big caveat now, is the impending disaster that is about to occur when the economy picks back up.

We've lost so many trucks during this downturn and fuel price increase. Companies are wondering if there will be enough power, along with qualified drivers, to cover the freight when it comes back up.

You know yourself, we are hiring every dirtbag that walks through the door at the moment. Now that the economy is taking a dive...everyone "loves" trucking. Once it recovers, they'll bail. Leaving a gaping hole.

Then they'll try to maintain lower pay, while raising rates. And us guys who had our financial house in order, won't come cheap...if we come at all.

For myself, I have no intention of watching rates skyrocket...while my pay sucks the south end of a northbound cow, once all the wannabe truckers go back to their real jobs.

I have my hazmat, I have my doubles...and I won't sell myself cheap, the next go round. I will ##### myself out to the highest bidder, with a comparable hometime policy.

I will ride this storm out, easily. And I'm taking names while the ride is underway. The list of "good' companies is getting smaller each day.

 

Danc,..My fear is that we will not see this economy turn for a long time,....If ever.....The people in power keep talking about a "global economy"...I have a good idea what things look like globally,..and I don't think we want to see it here in the USA,..I know I don't,..I like having a higher standard of living and I for one would like to keep it....
I also have a "full" CDL well without passenger..(I like people,..just not that much)...And I have been in the job market for awhile and my experience's tell me things are ugly right now,...and will be for quite awhile...

 

Wow,I'm getting the feeling that I may be messing up getting my CDL right now.

 

I wouldn't leave a steady job to do it......But if your out of work,..might as well roll the dice,.everybody else is....

 

Well I have been in construction off and on for last ten years here in Michigan, and blows goats ATM. I'm 31 and understand this work will kill my body at a riper age. Just doesn't seem like I'm gonna break thru and have a crew to do it for me when I'm old like I was hoping.

So I'm a wannbe right now, but went to CDL school for a career choice. I'm gonna knock down 3 million miles and take a nice #### on a beach some day.

So this first company that is reputable, and prob a family outfit, will have my white pimply butt until is wrinkled and hairy!