Fair to assume the driver shortage is real?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by UKJ, Jan 18, 2015.

  1. TNMT

    TNMT Light Load Member

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    I've got 20 years in and I'm done. I was making more money 10 years ago."

    I guess you know now why there is shortage.
     
  2. HardlyWorkingNeverHome

    HardlyWorkingNeverHome Heavy Load Member

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    You have to interview with them. They want the best. They pay accordingly. The driver in the Tracy Morgan crash for example commuted from Georgia for a position out of Delaware. Why? Because all the jobs down south are buttoned up. Once you get in you try not to leave. Down there 80k is a huge step up compared to the jobs that churn through drivers.

    Up North the Salaries are getting better. It is getting to the point that certain OTR jobs are within 10-15k of Walmart pay. I'd rather make 10k less and have a truck to go home with then commute 3 hours one way let alone 10 hours+ like Kevin Roper did. Also up North the pool of drivers is smaller.
     
  3. walstib

    walstib Darkstar

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    I have no idea of what the actual ratio would look like but I'm sure it's very high..

    1 : ???

    driver that makes it : driver that can't handle lifestyle

    ...they just wanted a job...
     
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  4. tucker

    tucker Road Train Member

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    in every article about a driver shortage, they mention that no young drivers, in their 20's are applying for OTR jobs, and that the older drivers are retiring.

    They ignore the fact that people in their forties are applying in droves.
     
  5. tinytim

    tinytim Road Train Member

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    If salaries are getting better that's supply and demand at work so that indicates the 'driver shortage' is becoming more of a reality.

    If Walmart wants the best they'll need to raise their pay accordingly or they'll just become another big carrier.

    Probably just coincidence but since I've started hearing all the recruitment ads for Walmart I've noticed some pretty dumb moves by some of their drivers.
     
  6. Clyde07

    Clyde07 Heavy Load Member

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    ...Arguing over the bar tab on the Titanic...
     
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  7. Derailed

    Derailed Road Train Member

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    You hit the nail right on the head!
     
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  8. UKJ

    UKJ Heavy Load Member

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    LOL, I'll have to find the video but on youtube there's like a 20-30min vid of a ship sinking(Italian cruise I believe) and this guy is trying to leave his family on the deck and go back down into the ship to grab his wine bottle he ordered and he's mad he paid for it and didn't get because the ship started sinking. :biggrin_2559:
     
  9. Radman

    Radman Road Train Member

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    No driver shortage? Well here in Denver I looked On CL there's a boat load of good driving jobs for Jan. All LTL's are still hiring. Not super busy but they are projecting it to get busy by feb. That's very rare for January.
     
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  10. UKJ

    UKJ Heavy Load Member

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    I am seeing the same here, Local gig 65k+ a year, 20+hr for detention time, etc
     
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