don't become a truck driver

It takes to long to ship by rail. Trucks will always be around.

 

It's always been a series of truckers poo-pooing railroads and railroaders poo-pooing truckers, but we all work together. Trains will never take over all of the loads from trucks, and trucks will never haul all the freight on trains. Simple as that. Besides, even if trains hauled -ALL- the freight, trucks would still be needed to move it from the rail yard to the warehouse/store/etc., but that's never going to happen, so let's not worry about it.

If you have no loads, get a better carrier, or be a better driver. (Note- Idon't know what kind of driver you are, and I'm not calling you a bad driver, so please don't take it that way. I don't even know you! )
Russ "The ex-railroader"

 

Now about that little statement....

The Pres doesn't get to determine when the country is in a recession. Economists not politicians determine when its a recession/depression. They use the real numbers of the GDP of each country as the guideline.

The historical requirement for a recession has been 2 consecutive qtrs of negative GDP growth. By that definition the US is not in a recession..yet.

There is another less used guideline, and never has been used in the US, based on positive GDP growth being less than expected. This is the one the media has grabbed onto as a way to allow Bush bashers and sheeple to post "Bush lied" statements covering yet another area a President has little control of.

More directly... Bush lied about the economy.... aided by all his close friends at CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, and MSNBC who've never thought about contradicting anything Bush has ever said, and would never go so far as finding anyone with a mouth and the slightest connection to any little subject that someone thinks Bush can be smeared with.

 

As with any industry the matter of evolution will come into play. Every business, operation and indutry has improved production, quality and service.

Transportation is no acception. Look at the evoultion of the truck itself first........... Where the truck has evolved from in the 30's. Next loading /unloading (forklifts, powerjacks, etc.)...........The interstate systems.............

But to talk about this subject.......the rail system is unable to lay or afford enough rail in the time frame that would even be close to affecting our current futures. EVen when that time comes, what that would do is reduce the OTR driver, not trucking.

The technology that truly threatens us is driver less trucks...........and again the technology time frame is not soon enough to affect our current futures. Their is a company that is currently testing a driver-less truck system. It will be at least 10-15-20 years if that soon before the technology itself will outway the cost to become available for mass use. The next factor is the safety one that NHTSB will have to approve. And, of course we all know how that will go until someone dies from an accident involved with it.

Just my opinion................Solo OTR is currently the most threatened part of trans. currently. Because of the recent fuel cost nightmare we recently had, companies looked at the ones who run solo against the ones who were teams and saw the money factor differences. A solo driver LEGALLY driving cross country takes roughly 3-4 days. A team operation can do it in 2-3 days without the down time of idling. It's all about the money....... bottom line profit loss.

 

In Idaho and Oregon alone there has been enough rails removed that it would be much to costly to replace. so there for your going to need trucks no matter what. Where rails used to be and lumber hauled by rail is no longer by rail but by truck, where rails took tankers, they no longer go, refer cars bulk cars all gone from much of idaho oregon and many other states. I do how ever hope the economy picks up enough so we dont end up in another depression,, that wouldnt be good.

 

If there isn't any jobs, somebody needs to tell the trucking companies that are hiring drivers. Ads are everywhere for drivers,

 

They already know, but what happens when you run people off they need to be replaced...............SO THEY CAN TRAIN........LOL

 

I saw the commercial that was stating how the rail takes the work of so many trucks and I thought it was rediculous. Mainly because you need trucks to take them from the rails. I work for a company that hauls containers and they make good miles. On that note I drive a dry-van but our company does mostly consumable goods, stuff that people buy no matter what the economy is doing. While my weekly mile average has gone down a little we are doing ok. Don't let the press shove there doom and gloom on you.

 

We are still out of balance. Too many trucks and trucking companies for the current freight volumes.

Companies are cutting dead wood. Under performing drivers, whiners, crybabies, bad attitudes, drivers who have accidents, too many tickets, log violations, etc. are being shown the door. Newbies are having a tough time finding employment especially when veteran drivers that have been laid off are competing for the same jobs.

The companies have the upper hand right now on the pay and bennies offered. "take it or leave it" is the attitude they have now. Even the bottom of the barrel companies are getting stricter.

Pascale's are dropping too. Unions are having to make concessions and starting pay is down at many carriers because there are 3 applicants for every job available.

Best advice? If you have a driving job do the best job you possibly can. Protect yourself and the carrier you are working for. Avoid taking unnecessary chances with your driving and your health. Avoid making any major purchases right now (you may lose your job and not have the money for the grocery bill let alone the mortgage, utilities, and medicine your family needs). Be as positive as you can. Complaining to your dispatcher about no miles in this economy may just be the excuse they need to cut you loose and hire one of those newbies to replace you. Slow down. Less idle time will save the company money and maybe your job.