New Drivers...Have Options?

The leverage will become apparent after you prove your value as a driver.
Show up early and on time (depending on real circumstances).
Do what you say you will do.
“ It’s not my job ! “ is not in your vocabulary.
Say yes to every load offered. You’ll get a lot of crappy ones at first, but after a while you’ll start getting the gravy loads.
Make yourself indispensable, then you can hit them up for a raise or whatever you find appropriate.
But in the end you are expendable to the boss if you get too ####y about it.

 

You have no leverage as there is not a driver shortage. What there is is a problem with high turnover. Companies have to keep hiring folks because so many quit or are fired.

I have my pick of drivers. Leverage, no. To work for me you have to be smarter then the average driver as we self dispatch. If you interview and start asking for special treatment because you think you are not replaceable then the interview is over.

Large companies do not care as they have hundreds of drivers. If you want leverage come work for a small company and make yourself valuable and unreplaceable. You do that by driving 63 mph, never being late on a load and avoiding toll roads, plus not damaging equipment.

The reason you need to do that with a small company is that they will notice. Large companies only notice your screwups.

 

Driver shortage? Totally is. Not every load gets covered. Too many of "the wrong people" in trucking. Too many people getting cdls thinking all you do is drive. It's like any other job, you pay your dues, then as experience mounts, your options open. Local and regional jobs don't have a driver shortage. OTR Jobs have a driver shortage. You've got more people in the industry that have a more "9-5" mindframe than those who are willing to work wherever and whenever. You can't convince people to be away from home that long. I think the earning potential on the road is really good, but most people will quit when they have to miss that first Christmas or any big holiday. People will take the pay cut just to be home everyday. Look at who all is in your trucking school class. One maybe two will still be driving 3 years from now

 

The only thing that will improve for drivers is the experience required to go to a good company. The good companies generally stay good, and the bad companies generally stay bad. Mega carriers are not suddenly going to start paying a penny more than they have to. They study the bare minimum they can pay and still have drivers, and pay that.

So it will always be the same companies doing the same ####, you just might be able to get into a better company quicker.