In the early '80s there came deregulation of this industry. Deregulation created a fertile ground for growth of the trucking industry, even if it was at the expense of freight rates. This fertile ground gave birth to many small companies in need of drivers.
In the mid '80s came the oil market bust, and a housing/construction slow down, thus creating a pool workers in need of a job. Guess where these unemployed people went? That's right! And, because there was so many of them the phrase, " Drivers are a dime a dozen. ", was born. With this motto came poor pay, equipment, and driver relations.
In the late '90s the industry started to change because of a percived driver shortage. Carriers began upgading pay, equipment, and they are still TRYING to do better in driver relations. All this in an effort to retain and recruite drivers; it had now become a driver's market. If you were a driver with a stable work history and a clean MVR, you could pick and choose your employer and get a decent wage with benifits, and for the fore seeable short term this still holds true.
Now let's evaluate the markets today. The oil industry is going great-guns and shows no sign of slowing down, but, the housing/construction industry has once again bit the dust, and many in the auto manufacturing industry are wondering where the next paycheck will come from. I have the answer! Yep, that's right. The good old trucking industry takes all commers.
So this has me thinking, with the slow down that we are currently experiencing in the trucking industry, and the influx of new drivers, " Will we be hearing that old phrase once again? "
A penny for your thoughts.
An observation
Discussion in 'Motor Carrier Questions - The Inside Scoop' started by jdrentzjr, Mar 23, 2008.
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(You may keep your penny.) -
I haven't missed a year without hearing it. "drivers are a dime a dozen"
Yet, I still see the "shortage" claims of EVERYONE. And laugh my ### off.
I was looking at our regional paper today. NO LESS than 20 ads for drivers, local, regional, and OTR.
At least 4 were "free training". Werner had their usual ad. Several require 2 or more years experience. At least 8 of those were local companies.
Yup...drivers truly are a dime a dozen. According to my newspaper.
My concern. Along with bottom feeder companies. We are getting the bottom of the barrel citizens getting into trucking. People who do not care whether someone ELSE dies because of their lack of concern/skills. People who would steal you blind, if given a chance. Violent offenders, looking for a "break". Sex offenders looking for a way to remain mobile, and hidden in plain sight. The list goes on and on.
And yes, they will all get jobs. -
The link below proves there will be an influx of (ex)construction workers into the trucking industry.
http://www.thetruckersreport.com/truckingindustryforum/ask-an-owner-operator/40029-new-to-this.html -
Not sure what the link proves, but I am a construction worker, have been for 30+ years (not ex just yet, though it is a possibility)......Illegals (their employers and OUR government) are destroying the construction industry. Trucking may be the only industry left for people like me (old frickers who did not have sense enough to save enough money).....Good luck to everyone. It will take that.......
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Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds
Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.