Trucking ups and downs

This is talked about daily, Now is not the time to start driving, Not enough work, Pay rates are low.

 

3-4 years ago was my best years ever.

 

Some experienced drivers with the better carriers are still doing well . Certain sectors of the industry haven't been hurt that much by the economy . But the fact is most carriers have reduced their fleet size and put drivers out of work . There are no good opportunities for anyone with no experience . There are too many experienced drivers to compete with .

 

I think like most industry's, drivers like to ##### but they wouldn't trade their job for anything.

As others have said, this is not the right time to get into the industry. My hubby has lost 2 jobs within this last year due to closing terminals and cutting back. Luckily he found another job (wasn't easy). He will be okay as long as Chrysler stays a float

 

Chrysler should do o.k. with their deal with Fiat . They are threatening to close Canadian plants if they don't get concessions from Canadian Auto Workers but I hope they work something out . The Challengers are only made in Canada .

 

If you have always watched trucks and thought about the lifestyle of drivers, go for it. It does not matter to drivers that the trucking industry is a mature industry, heavily taxed, with small profit margins. It does not matter to drivers that the trucking industry is volatile with many bankruptcies and mergers. When the economy catches a cold, the trucking industry catches pneumonia. Long gone are the days when improvements in the highway system and improvement in equipment design led to increased productivity which could be passed on to mostly union drivers. Truck driving is a last resort for many. Those who love it will not do anything else.

 

There were plenty . That's why turnover was over 120% . Then you had Public Citizen fighting HOS in court trying to make us drive less than 11 hours and take away the restart . Then ATA tried to get speed limiters put on all trucks . The carriers and brokers were stealing part of the Fuel Surcharge from O/O's . There's always been issues .