Truck Driver Shortage

The only thing you have correct is that this is free market capitalism.

That is why this driver shortage is a myth.

Case in point. I wanted a couple loads of gravel so I could repair and expand the driveway at home. Never had a problem calling up the day before and getting them. This time they said no chance, way over booked, maybe first of the week.......I asked can I have my truck come get it. Sure but you won't find one the Thursday before Memorial Day.

I called the folks who do their deliveries. Offered what they get paid from supplier plus 15%.

Guess who had his loads that afternoon?


I wanted it, and I paid for it.

Same thing applies to all of these mega corps, and small companies. So long as cheap labor is happy with 50k a year they will pay 50k. When freight is actually left sitting because folks are tired of sub-minimum wages will they raise pay standards.

They put out these pieces trying to find the folks making 10 an hour to promise a doubling in salary. They fail to include that will triple their hours. So they come, they fail, they leave, another article entices a new set of suckers......

Rinse repeat.....

Trust me when Walmart has to have a truck we get one. We may pay a premium but we have one. Until that fails there is no shortage. There is just a glut of low paying jobs no one wants to fill.

 

Your paying 8% more towards social security and Medicare which is costing you 3.75 cents a mile so now you are only making 43.25 a mile .

I'm a 3 month old rookie making 45cpm with dental and medical insurance paid on a 1040.

Find a new Job

 

The trucking industry in general sucks. No one wants to live in a truck for weeks at a time anymore. Especially for the pay.

 

That's not true. There are more than a few who don't have a problem staying out for up to months at a time and it's a good thing too. It's hard to get freight moved when it's typically sitting 2 or 3 days out of every 7 days.

This widespread attitude is a big part of why there is a "driver shortage". But I get it. Some simply can't and won't accept staying out beyond 7 days. That's why there are different driving segments for them.

 

Is that a theory?

 

You're right about that...I hear folks complain about having to be out two weeks! What's two weeks?!?!

 

I can't answer that. It depends on what you have going on in terms of your obligations. What's good for one may not be good for the other

 

Y'all get so caught up in Walmart as if no other business exists....it's not just the stores anymore, combine that with the increased online shopping

 

Nope fact.

 

Companies pay overtime there would be no shortage. Currently there is no incentive to work over 44 hours per week when you consider the unskilled help loading, unloading and working with the end product are payed overtime for excess hours.