A TIDAL WAVE of UNQUALIFIED new truck drivers is coming

It's already been discussed on this forum, that C.R. Englund is trying to figure 3 drivers to a truck. For 24 hour operation, 365 days a year.

 

I think OP is correct, to a degree. But I don't think it's going to have more of an effect than it's already had.

True story. I watched a driver for 30 minutes try to back his trailer into a door at US Foods in Pittston PA. One dropped trailer to his right, no trucks or trailers in any other dock. Got out and tried to help him. For 30 more minutes, he kept doing exactly the opposite of what I was suggesting that he do, with the expected result of not lining up with the door. So here it is an hour later, and nobody else has been able to get in a door because only one truck at a time can get backed in. I finally had to convince him to get out of the truck and let me back it in for him. One pull-up and it's done.

I spoke with him afterwards and gave him some tips about setting up for backing and lining the trailer up in various situations and how to compensate for whatever position the trailer tandems happened to be in. He told me that he just got his CDL and the school never told him the things I was telling him. They just taught him how to pass the test. He didn't even know about the 41' kingpin rule, and got very wide eyed when I pulled out my Motor Carrier Atlas and showed him the pages with the size and dimension rules for each state. He didn't even know that such a publication existed.

He was a very interesting guy. Asian, with a Russian accent. He said that his English teacher was Russian, therefore he ended up with a Russian accent.

So in summary, it's been my experience that there are unqualified immigrant drivers being released into the market, and the OP is somewhat correct in that regard.

 

Nope. It was the HOS change from 14/10 to 11/10 way back in 2003. They lowered the HOS drive time to make people who can't drive more competitive. The elogs helps the stupid and spineless, so their dispatcher can't "FORCE" them to drive when they're tired. Then the automatics, then the electronic cattle prods for people who are too stupid to control a truck down the highway, or use their mirrors, or look far enough down the road to avoid any issues.

It's like if the NFL decided to change the rules to allow wimpy and unathletic people to play pro football. Can't be too strong, can't be too fast, can't tackle, can't throw any farther than 5 yards. Can't take a shower but once a week. The old guys that played the old way would call the new players a bunch of candyassics. The money would drop dramatically. Public perception would be awful. What would Jack Lambert say?

"But Jack, there aren't any players getting concussions anymore. The game is SAFER!"

 

I’m with you, the op is completely wrong.

 

You know windsmith, I think backing up isn't the issue that indicates what the OP is talking about, rates are and have been for the past 10 years.

However I got stuck in a line to get into a dock at one of the LG distribution centers because the guy in front of me took 45 minutes to put the truck in the dock. He was not a mega but an O/O who could not back up. When we were in the shipping office signing all the paper work, another guy asked him how long he was driving and the guy said 10 years. That got a bunch of laughs out of the others who were there.

See to me he is a product of the road test that should actually test skills not see if you know how to start a truck.

 

I've been driving almost 20 years. I"m not the greatest at backing. Never had to worry about it much.

Can I do it. SURE. Can i handle any situation thrown at me. NOPE.

I"ve hardly pulled any vans. And outside of vans. There's really not much else that uses docks but maybe a rare occasion.

 

Yeah I found a job where I get both. Why go to Cali chasing pennies a mile when I can stay with a day of the house?
The industry model is changing. Those day of spending weeks on the road are why no one wants this job.

 

What kind of Visa do you have??
When I had my green card I had no such requirements and my CDL did not say non citizen.