18-20 year olds possibly driving

90% of new CDL drivers leave the industry before 1 year of experience.

 

Yeah, I was in trucking for nearly four years after I retired from the Air Force. I like the driving a truck part but it’s the culture and the rules and so many good drivers leaving and their being replaced by the CDL sweatshop companies and like you say most of them wash out.

I have a 19 year old almost 20 and in interacting with that age group so much it’s not that their lazy. It’s that they don’t see this kind of profession as being worth it when they can get $15 hr or more doing jobs that aren’t so dangerous, without so many rules and regulations. My daughters hourly rate as a waitress at a steak house is probably higher than many here. Uber drivers getting $25 hr, door dash getting $20-$25 an hour. And no camera in your face, no smell of urine at truck stops. No we sue truckers billboards every half mile.

That’s why I’m struggling not to laugh at the people who seem to think allowing 18-20 yr olds will solve all our problems. Most of that age group will rightfully see this industry as one that needs to improve itself.

 

I think for anyone to be long term successful and enjoy the career you have to love to drive and travel.
Be able to interact sometimes and enjoy being w yourself.

You also must be sharper than the average driver..which isn't so hard lately imho

I'm sure some 18-20 year olds can do this job but more can't.

 

The industry is going to try EVERY approach, including giving a 5 CPM raise. When none of them address the real problems and produce an increased supply of new drives they will try EVERY change in regulations.

There are TOO MANY trucking companies in the industry for ANY of them to have much influence on customers. In many other industries the top 5 companies may provide 75-90% capacity in that industry. In trucking, the top 5 companies might control 10-15% of capacity, I can't remember. The trucking companies cannot solve the "driving among A-hole 4-wheelers, all day, every day" problem. The trucking companies cannot solve the "not enough road capacity" problem. The trucking companies cannot solve the "not enough truck parking" problem. So far their solutions have tried to find new sources of candidate drivers either with less understanding of the conditions in trucking, or from such a deprived background that the poor conditions in trucking will seem like a healthy step-up. These include recent prisoners, recent immigrants, foreign-qualified drivers, empty nesters, 'drop-outs' & nomads of 'regular employment'.

The industry receives 400,000 new CDL drivers every year. It also chases almost 90% of those new drivers away in the same year. It's possible if the "driver shortage" gets bad enough certain big customers will use their economic power to solve the issue for that one company. I don't see the government or the trucking companies solving this issue.

 

So let me get this straight, from this thread the Boomers (mostly) conclude that:

18-20 year olds are too immature/not mentally developed enough to drive a truck, but yet you all complain about how nobody wants to work. But when the government offers to open up a pathway to an industry that was previously (partially) closed off to that demographic, you all complain about that. So you don't want them to drive a truck, what do you want them to do instead?

Because the complaints I see from your demographic (older Boomer OTR & O/O Truckers) seem to be heavily focused on the service industry and about how you all can't get a meal at the Flying J Denny's because they have to close down early due to staffing issues. But you guys are VERY vocal about how you want the younger generation working these types of jobs so you can get your meals when out OTR.

So let me guess this straight. You all don't want the 18-20 year olds to dive into a blue collared profession that could lead to a rewarding career and put them on solid financial footing in starting their adult lives, but instead they should be working as a low wage cook at the Flying J's Denny's or as a low wage cashier at the Love's Hardees (nothing wrong with either job by the way, both provide valuable services) so that they can serve you meals, because your demographic is too lazy to shop at Walmart and cook for yourselves in the truck.

Give me a break. That is such a bitter mentality to have.

 

I didn't see that at all in this thread. I did see a few who are skeptical that some would want this job, but most (I'm not a Boomer, I'm Gen X) are supportive of this move. I got my license at 17. Why should the industry make anyone who would consider this career wait 3 years and start something else in the meantime?

 

The 18-20 year olds won't even leave the house. They don't work, they don't join the military, they don't own a car, they don't get an apartment, they don't get married, they don't grow up. The working world sees these "kids" come into the working world and it's not that they don't already know how to do everything. The complaint is they show up and start making demands, expecting raises and promotions because they have worked almost 4 straight days, JUST THIS WEEK. Where are the old drivers demanding more drivers on the road. Old drivers are saying we DON"T have a driver shortage that needs to be solved.

 

Most kids that age don’t want to work 70 hrs a week. Those that do may turn into good drivers

 

I think it will be a somewhat self-selecting group of 18-20 year olds that choose to go into trucking. The ones that do decide to put forward the effort to go through the training are more likely to be the ones mature enough to handle it. The majority of kids don't go into the military, but those that do are pretty serious about it. Or, at least I'm hoping that's the way it works out with trucking. We may not have a driver shortage now, but with the average age of drivers today, we really will in the next 10 years or so if not enough new people enter the industry.

 

Maybe at Electronic wizardry but not so much, from MY assessment,
at MANUAL LABOR!!
Well there were, are, will be a Bunch of "Old Farts"
(that started before *Logan's Run age*)
that have, can and will run circles around many Youth.
Been that way since the mid-latter 70's as to MY Recollection.

I have 2 speeds: ON, off.

*I was "29 and holding" until I was 40* then started Truck Driving!

YEAH I WANT CHEEZY POOFS!!