Back in my day...

That was a time when driving a truck was a career and was respected by the general public .
It was a difficult job but you were paid a good wage and people would aspire to be a professional truck driver.
Now truck driving is mostly a fall back position .
If they fail at everything else they could always drive a truck.

 

You're right. I sure wish you weren't.

 

The real bummer is, if you could selectively cull out about 10% of the motor carriers and about 10% of the drivers [new and old], the entire complexion of the industry would improve by leaps and bounds.

That small percentage goes such a long way to trashing the entire industry.

I know many here think "lots" of bad drivers exist but I contend their true numbers are actually quite small when taken as a percentage of all drivers.

A hard and fast ELD mandate may go a long ways to this end.

 

Also, the industry is largely "over-staffed" because of

• Too many drivers who can't manage their time well
• Too many dispatchers and planners who can't properly manage their side of the business
• Too many in the industry who have no business here - operating and hiring illegally
• An inefficient and unsafe HOS system

Correct these and it would be so much better for those remaining.

Bottom line is - you have many more than is ultimately necessary splitting a finite amount of work [and wages]

 

I don't think so, but agree in a way with your 10% remark... I think it will actually exasperate it. I see it here in Detroit as more and more outfits, local outfits, install these ELDs. Now, it is beat the clock. Guys racing, accidents, etc, that would have never done such things until the stop watch was installed in their trucks.

I'm an OO leased to a company that hauls the same freight, automotive, and I know what it means to be under the gun. But, I run paper, and do my thing safely, as I can fix those issues. These guys, they can't. I see them weekly running out of hours at the Big 3 and the suppliers. In a few cases, the guys were left stranded, day cabs, they could not drive the truck back to the terminal as they would get a ding, or fired in some cases. They were left stranded until morning in some cases until someone would come rescue them. Hence, driving like lunatics.

Honestly, I don't think we have seen anything yet. From my math, I am going to take a 30% pay cut with an ELD. I don't go anywhere, get plenty of rest, but the hours are all over the map. We are the guys that bail out these trucking companies!

Seriously thinking of just turning the Authority back on if things do not work out. I am not going to play beat the clock. Or, I will just find something else to do and sell the truck.

 

You should. Im about to activate mine.

As someone said in another thread..." the driver with 11hrs drive time will be broker best friend"...u will be able to set your rate.

 

I also think this ELD mandate just makes things worse , how many older experienced drivers , who are fed up with the state of trucking and can probably retire , but still drive because it's their lifestyle and they don't feel right sitting at the house .
They just quit and are replaced by meat in the seat drivers who don't have a clue.
Also I'd like to hear how we can cull weak players in this market out .
The only way I've seen this happen is during a recession , and a serious freight downturn

 

Oh I seriously am... Trust me on that.

 

The only way what happens, happened, I missed something?

 

Yeah my bad I'm watching football , somehow I split my response around your quote