Is there really a trucker shortage?

Absolutely not true.

people think this is all about the driver and their making choices, it isn’t. There is enough trucks on the road, but just look at where these “driver shortages” are actually at.

It seems that it is coming from the same companies, through the same lobbying/propaganda groups.

the purpose for this is just to cover areas to capture all the revenue that they are going to miss if they don’t.

this is part of the revolving door issues.

 

We may pay more for most things, than you all do in the USA, but our drivers make so much more money, they are still further ahead.
Reading what you pay for insurance down there though, our insurance is definitely cheaper.
When I read about 2,000 a month for 5 axle dry van, its cringe worthy.
8 axle, super b, fuel truck, which is way more expensive to insure, isn't even near $2,000 /month.

 

Unskilled jobs won’t let you work overtime because they can usually find plenty of people to do the work

wages are always supply and demand

the harder it is to replace you. The higher your wages will be .

take a grocery store , or a Walmart .
Which position requires how much training ?

let’s say the manager just pulls an average person off the sidewalk in front of the store, and trains them to be a cashier ?
How many hours or days does it take before they can perform the tasks required of that position?

How about taking that average person and training them to service and repair the coolers and freezers ? Or the hvac units on the roof ?
That would take quite a bit more training than the cashier or stock clerk.

how about the truck driver ?
That takes quite a bit more training than the cashier .

How about the certified welder that’s adding new beams over the loading dock for the new roof ?
Did it take longer to train them than the cashier?

skilled tradesmen can usually work overtime if they want , sometimes they don’t have any choice , and they almost always get paid OT for doing it . Because they have marketable skills , that other employers are seeking , and as we see in the trucking biz , that other employer might offer more money and better working conditions to poach your skilled employees,
so you have to keep up with the market wages or the good employees will leave .

 

You're preaching to the choir with you thoughts there.....I'm not ignorant to the way pay structure works....it don't make a difference whether your employees are skilled or unskilled, employers gotta take care of them or else they'll always be looking for help. Every employee should have a wage in line in the costs of living. I am not saying everyone should be paid the same, because you should be rewarded for your skill level, and level of contribution to society. In trucking, the shortage will never be fixed. It's just not an appealing lifestyle to the majority of people. In the aforementioned jobs, that's where paying more money and having better working conditions will keep people around. They aren't having to change too much of their lifestyle at the end of the day.

 

What are the load boards saying? is there an excessive amount of loads not being delivered? Are supermarkets running out of produce? Are gas stations running out of fuel? If yes then that would surely indicate a shortage of drivers. Is it really a driver shortage or just companies not being able to find enough drivers because no one wants to work for them due to poor equipment, poor dispatch, lack of miles, no home time, not paying a high enough rate?,

 

They want a glut of drivers because then cheap freight gets hauled

 

The 2nd one.

 

Actually there are parts of the country where certain items are out of stock. There have been certain states that had trouble getting fuel at gas stations, Colorado comes to mind. There have been multiple times where I've had to make adjustments to what I buy due to items being out of stock, or items that are so expensive that I've gone to alternatives.

 

There’s been a shortage of almost everything for quite a while now. That’s why trucks are so high, vehicles are high, some restaurants and food items aren’t available, fuel prices are high and on and on. Whether it’s a shortage of drivers that’s causing it I don’t know. Depends what news sight you prefer to look at. Personally I’m getting to where I don’t believe any of them.

 

Yes I just read an article about the UK where by there trying to recruit another 5000 foreign truckers to come to Great Britain for about 3 months to help with the Christmas rush period and have now extended the stay till February 2022. UK extends truck driver visa program as fuel crisis persists