How does this industry expect to get a 23yr driver to drive OTR

Discussion in 'Questions To Truckers From The General Public' started by Jay5GS, Aug 11, 2018.

  1. Jay5GS

    Jay5GS Medium Load Member

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    How does this industry expect to get a 23yr driver to drive OTR
     
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  3. Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    What exactly do you mean???

    With one foot on the throttle and the brake, the other on the clutch, at least one hand on the steering wheel, and when/if needed the other on the stick.
     
  4. austinmike

    austinmike Road Train Member

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    smoke and mirrors....................
     
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  5. Cattleman84

    Cattleman84 Road Train Member

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    Oh yeah I forgot the most important part...


    BOTH EYES ON THE ROAD!
     
  6. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Promising a mountain of money per year without a college education.

    80,000 Per year! ZoW! let's go! (Yea right.)

    I suspect a certain percentage of young ones are simply not suited to being gone weeks or months away from family, basement etc. Payroll structure will have to seriously increase and become salaried among other things for it to be more attractive.

    Finally not least, the young budding professional (Little pun there for some of you...) would find that they are easily disposed of too quickly for relatively minor damage, offenses and hurting others etc.

    There has been enough of very good drivers including myself who has left the industry nationwide that needs to be replaced properly. It is compounded by many companies unwittingly banding together against those with no experience (And imagine some dare to bleat to Uncle Sam about 18 year olds....) and basically run them off before they have a chance to do anything long enough (Without debt, contracts etc) to make any difference.

    I have seen this once before in the 1991-1994 time period, which for me by then was a HUGE advantage at my age back then. Everyone wanted to hire me (And did...) We are there again now. Only this time things have seriously changed. I would never imagine that recruits come from rec pot states for example and post 9-11 security issues just to get and hold a CDL, never mind the medical challenges.

    For example. DOT medical card. Once you got one, you are good to go for however long it says on the card. But NO company will care for it. They will SHIP your fit, perfect human specimen straight to another DOT doctor and redo the whole physical BS all over again. If there is no respect for the original documentation for which you have rightfully earned to any company to leave you be and focus only on those who do NOT hold a valid or current DOT card then we have nothing.
     
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  7. STexan

    STexan Road Train Member

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    I guess your talking about the “OTR” aspect. They’re not concerned about getting new drivers into OTR positions. They are just concerned with getting them the trade skills and into a working job of which there are many thousands of regional and local. Of these and seasoned drivers, the industry will naturally attract and sort out those where OTR is actually a good fit, into the OTR world. You should not worry about this. This is a problem for the carriers who specialize in OTR 48 freight movements. Enough money will attract just enough drivers, every single time it’s tried. And for most, it’s not the wage income they’re seeking. It’s the ability to cut out a lot of expenses and costs associated with having “a home and family”.
     
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  8. haz-matguru

    haz-matguru Road Train Member

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    It's simple keep telling lies and selling empty promises. It's worked the past 23 years hasn't it?
     
  9. otterinthewater

    otterinthewater Road Train Member

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    It’s easy.

    If their choice is 7-11 and getting shot, or $150k in college debt and then a $28k per year job to start in some cube or car rental agency... trucking looks good. “I can drive a car so I can drive a truck. I get to escape My hometown and see the USA and make $80k??? Sign me up.”

    I think this push was started by the parents lobbying the megas so they could get their millennial children out of the basement.
     
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  10. Jazz1

    Jazz1 Road Train Member

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    23 year old is a shoeless immigrant with no education a job, any job is welcome.
     
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  11. MACK E-6

    MACK E-6 Moderator Staff Member

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    I assume by the wording of this question that you’re referring not to someone age 23, but a driver with 23 years experience?

    If so, then the veteran isn’t the target of the advertising campaigns launched by the OTR companies. It’s the new guy. TMC is one of the primary culprits in such things, dangling black, shiny, chromed out Peterbilts in front of potential new drivers and their recruiters know this all too well.
     
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