Turnover's Going Back Up

Wait.......it's NOT all chrome and glory?

Darn!

 

1st of all many these companies keep screen when a driver shortage there is no driver shortage..

 

Yes there is. The next crop is hung up in Mexico and can’t get here

 

If there was a driver shortage, rates would be thru the roof...its bogus

 

Well. Consider this. Consider how many truck drivers are in a solo position today. Now let’s try and image, of these, how many will drop out of the trade somewhere between today and 6 months from today.

Now let’s consider the multitudes of reasons that drivers leave or are fired

• Retirement
• Dies
• Tired of the job
• Can’t do the job
• Doesn’t want to do the job properly and dependably
• Finds the job too stressful
• Fail a drug test
• Too many tickets or violations
• Trying to save a marriage
• OTJ injury/crash death
• And others

It’s fair to say drivers are falling out at considerable rate and there is no guarantee that from quarter to quarter they will come into the trade as fast as others fall out.

Then factor in the hope for improving economy and/or increasing market share (fleet expansion hopes). I can see where carriers live in a constant state of worry trying to keep seats warm as they try and fulfill contact obligations into an unknown future.

Consider all the Dollar General and Walmart type contract trucks that few find satisfaction doing. The carrier MUST keep those trucks running at certain levels today, six months and a year from now. No ifs ands or buts.

 

My local Walmart has signs up in the store and the parking lot advertising for cdl drivers. I ran into one of their drivers inside the McDonalds and asked him what was up. He told me that they had just changed a bunch of seniority routes and assignments and over 2000 drivers hit the door. He said he is leaving as soon as the holidays are over.