Driver Shortage rant

Recently, I noticed on CTV in the morning - they were reporting on driver shortage. I know there are a lot of other links on here of drivers including myself who dont support "importing" any more drivers. I am very sorry you are being jerked around.
I wish the politicians could be in our shoes.

 

It is definitely an urban myth. There isn't a shortage of drivers, there is a shortage of quality jobs. There are more than enough positions out there just none you want to take. It sucks for sure but just keep on trying. The good positions don't open up often because the drivers that have them usually know it and wont give it up because they know it could be a bit before they find another good one.

 

Recently experienced a job search through junk. Junk work at poor rates with no incentives. I'm staying where I am until it is time to leave what I have loved like no other work because there will be no place worth changing for and cost of living and maintenance will overcome earnings potential.

 

You just contradicted yourself. You said "there's no shortage of drivers" then followed that up with "There are more than enough positions out there just none you want to take". "more than enough positions" suggests more positions than drivers. However, your point is correct, there is no shortage of drivers looking for that $100,000/yr job driving 8 hours a day, 5 days a week home every night. I don't think there is a shortage of "license holders" (they are a dime a dozen) but "drivers" willing to do the work can sometime be in short supply. A case in point is in the OP "I was hired by a petroleum hauler, where I found out, like my boss told me, "this job isn't for everyone". I left there on good terms, but would not go back. He was right, it wasn't for me." If that truck is still sitting without a driver, THAT's a driver shortage regardless of how many people are out there, unemployed with a CDL.

 

We don't band together and are separated by the nature of our work. Most of us are too tired to research how to make changes for our industry or to see if it's even possible to make changes.
I joined OBAC (owner operator's business association of Canada) in 2010 but forgot to renew. I heard next to nothing from the organization that year and the things I did get weren't helpful to our main concerns as people trying for decent work. The organization was mostly into rules, regulations and on board computer news at the time. Oh and of course, that CVSA 2010 USA safety implementation.

Recently where I am, there was a reforming of the driver employment pyramid. To guard against any form of union, the giant company hired a third party P and D company to manage the operators and paid them a flat rate for services. For long haul they created a third party company to do all the safety, training and wages. This way, a union would just fold the third party or result in a termination of the third parties with contract cancellation and the massive company could hire or create another outside body.
There had been some talk around in the last few years about trying to format transportation as a trade. First, second, third and fourth year then journeyman. I'm all for this. It would raise the cost of all goods on the market, most likely, and it is understandable that no one but operators would be happy with this format due to decreased profit margins for carriers from paying fair wages.
There are no welders, plumbers or electricians being lifted from other countries that I know about and our Canadian tradespeople seem pretty satisfied.
Becoming a trade would result in streamlining our profession into something with set wages and conditions (somewhat depending on commodity). Experience would be paid for in actual dollars and the associations would work for us. The bar would be raised on qualifications to operate and perhaps eliminate the hazards that come from inexperience on the roadway. I would gladly pay dues to join something like this.

 

I hope the secret police that regulate consumer goods don't find me in the middle of the night. Lol

 

Tam tam, there are all kinds of tfw's in the oil sands and every one is yelling bloody murder, literally. Did you hear about the oil tanks at cnrl ft mckay that killed 3or4 people. They were all tfw's. companies are still bringing them in, so even if driving was a trade tfw's would still come over.