Projected driver shortage to tripple by 2026 but companies keep closing?!

^THIS.

 

Most people say that there is no driver shortage because all the shelves are full. I can remember stopping at a port of entry in Wyoming. The lady there was telling me how frequent it is to go to a Walmart and the shelves were missing product. It was often times difficult for them to keep drivers in those areas. Maybe there is no driver shortage for dry vans and reefers. As for flatbeds and tankers, that maybe a different story. I just recently had to switch back to flatbed from reefer because it was easier for my company to find flatbed loads than reefer or dry van. People only use stores to justify no driver shortage. I think there is a shortage in certain areas of trucking, and over saturated in others.

 

I don't think there is a driver shortage, but there is a shortage of GOOD drivers who respect themselves, the industry and the overall importance of job for which they get paid.

I recently came in to the industry as I begin to transition my career from something I had to do to support the family and pay bills into something I want to do. I can certainly say the camaraderie and culture I have seen so far aren't exactly what I expected.... The whole sweatpants and sandals thing, dead silence on the radio, very little communication with other drivers at fuel stops, no pride in your equipment or appearance, and little if any professional courtesy. I believe a majority of folks behind the wheel are here to make a fast buck and move on, or here because they have no other option. Guys like myself who want to be here seem to be few and far between, and more get squeezed out every day by those that lower the standards for everyone.

As for me, I'll continue to blink my lights in thanks, warn other drivers on the radio of problems up ahead, use the fuel island for fueling only, stop to help a fellow driver along side the road, wave at other drivers on the 2 lane, blow my horn for kids, dress and act like a professional and try to make the best of every day I'm given. As my old man used to say........ "Sure beats diggin a ditch"

 

Exactly right.

 

Stop at any major truck stop or service plaza around Chicago, NE or pretty much anywhere in USA after 10PM and see how packed it is! Beside Saturday and Sundays it will be almost 100% full
Driver shortage my ***

 

Unless the driver is being paid percentage what difference does cost to shipper versus pay to driver mean? The driver decides if the pay for the job is worth it to him and that's that. I think what is behind some of this are driver/newbies that are unwilling to do research and find a job that fits them want some rule that guarantees them results NOW that some of the "diamond minors" have found for themselves.

There are very good driving jobs to be found, but they have experience requirements or conditions many drivers/newbies don't want. Well, that's why they make so many flavors of ice cream. You pick what works for you
This country is dying as so many people are trying to make rules that make them feel good, regardless of the effect it has on others. The trucking companies decide how badly they want to attract drivers and drivers decide how badly they want this job or that job. NOT ONE PERSON on this forum hasn't seen the media exaggerate something wildly, yet the next story they see in the media they believe. Journalist are ROUTINELY hoaxed and they don't change how they do business. People that fall for media hoaxes are the problem. They want people to lie to them, and people will.

We are not going to solve the industry's problems. Go get your piece of the pie andcstay away from the crooks & con-men. That's how the rest of us carved out a career in trucking. We cannot afford to "fix" everything with more and better helicopter parenting for the nation.

 

Trucking lifestyle isn't brutal. It's nothing compared to what the older guys had to deal with I am sure.

I had to give up some things, sure but I get paid more too. The stress I had to deal with day-to-day complexities far out weights anything else.

I MIGHT have to talk to my dispatcher once a day. Or more if something breaks, but that's the exception. At my office job I'd have about 6 voicemails waiting for me when I arrived, when there were none when I left the night before. 20-50 emails, meeting invites, and other crap that wastes my time. Then when I accept SOME of those meetings and I sit in them when I don't need to be there, then my manager calls a meeting for me to talk about why work isn't getting done because I was in those meetings. Then those people I didn't accept meetings to are passive aggressive and tell me stuff like well if you accepted my meeting invite you would know about this already.

I did that for 10 years. Honest to god it just kills you. Doing this job with smaller quarters, having a bit less entertainment, not being able to cook as much, and having to piss in a jug just isn't a comparison at all to the rest of all that crap. I'll take the truck any day.

 

Let's just keep building those huge truck only parking lots that are creeping in certain places. A few times those were a life saver. I parked at one at like 2-3AM easily and there was plenty of room, even with the 4-wheelers taking up a few spaces. Seems to me that's the easiest answer for the time being and it can't really cost that much since they don't even provide amenities, just a place to park, and that's all most of us really want half the time where we know we wont get woke up in the middle of our 10 and commanded to move.

 

You're 2nd to the last line says it all.

You state..... "know it ALL"...... The reality my friend is...... "KNOW BETTER" .... than to be treated like a piece of shiitt slave and get paid by one. THAT, is what newbs KNOW. Thanks for Forums (such as this here) and countless YouTube videos from current LONG TIME drivers keep posting up and backing with evidence.

So yea, gone are the days of "this dude closing his trucking business) that are treating drivers like a PIECE OF SHHIIITTT.

The pendulum of what is a fair balance between Worker's RIGHTS and Corporate GREED has swung to the Extreme in Corporate's favor. Corporate Trucking is getting it's karma.... finally. Time to pay the piper and treat him with RESPECT !

Are you a Vet (Marine) ? Then you of all people know what RESPECT means. Stand up for the little guy.