The Driver Shortage Myth

Why are you using trucking as an example? Why not use McDonalds? LOL

They seem to be the employer of choice for the college degree folks. Especially the ones that are bad at math.

Bad at math = idiot with $100k of student loans. And a PHD in Theory of licking windows.

 

They replaced soldiers and guns over 50 years ago too. With nukes. Yet, there are still dead bodies lying in fields around the world with bullet holes.

75% of people surveyed disliked the idea of autonomous CARS. Try selling them 80k pounds of truck

 

That works too. My point is if you spend the money for a degree and then go to a job that does not require a degree or the degree you have is not pertinent to the job you just threw money away, just my opinion.

 

Nah, just think of all those smug tenured professors that are glad people are racking up student loan debts for degrees they will never use.

 

I agree with you. And will go a step further. If you register for an advanced degree/college before you turn 23, you’ve wasted money and time. And will most likely be stuck in a job you hate.

I know a lot of people with degrees. And jobs that have absolutely nothing to to with those degrees. Wasted time and money.

Some of the most successful people I know, were high school dropouts.

Just sayin

 

Right, but there's pilotless drones on the battlefield now and F-22 Raptors that are state-of-the-art combat fighters. The point is that technology is changing everything and will change trucking too. Look at automatic transmissions, they've gotten so much better as the technology improved and whole fleets are going automatic now. Automatics have let people into the industry who can't shift and this affects the supply of drivers in the workforce. Heck, platoons of driverless automated trucks are running the Ohio Turnpike right now, as we type.

I'm not saying technology will replace ALL trucking jobs and drivers, but you'd be foolish to think your job won't be affected in some way in the future.

 

Not being foolish. But nope, it will have zero impact on me in the future. And I just bought a truck.

I have 3-9 years (undecided) before retirement. And even if they brought out a 200k strong fleet of autonomous trucks next week. I know how to drive in the woods. Where there are no lines, markers, or lanes. Hell those roads aren’t even found on Google maps lol

Log haulers will not be replaced before I retire

Ask any seasoned bull hauler how many short cuts they know, that don’t appear on Google maps Or any map. Autonomous trucks can’t open fences

And folks in the north, will pay GOOD money to have their groceries delivered in bad weather conditions that require skill and chains. Winter of 2016 caught northwest WalMart DC’s by surprise. They utilized contractors to service stores that had loads running 7-10 days late. Autonomous trucks can’t do that. They can’t chain. lol AI will NEVER completely replace the need for skilled drivers.

But I wouldn’t mind one bit if they replaced a lot of the steering wheel holders tomorrow.

 

If you drop 200k robot trucks in the industry, I think that will effect the pay of everyone. Not all that lost a job will be able to do your/my job but some will.

 

It will be 50 years before an autonomous truck is let loose for normal trucking without a driver. Pilots do very little work, but they still use two. They are more computer programmers. Trucks cant open doors, go to the shipping office, park in certain places waiting to dock, etc. Just like an airplane. They can get from city to city, but someone has to take over eventually. Now it may reach the point the truck hits a holding area near a town and a driver jumps in. This is a long way off for a 100 reasons no one can even imagine.

 

The key word here is yet. Some of the megas are already exploring ways to bring people from other countries here.
The megas will sponsor them, teach them to drive, help them with immigration papers and such, and put them out on the road.
I hope they teach them how to speak English too.
The megas are desperate to fill seats and don't really care about anything but the bottom line. If that means putting even more marginally qualified drivers on the road they think the trade-off is worth it.
A few wrecks, some late freight, some equipment damage...it's all figured in already and they see it as a normal cost of doing business.
And yeah, what the megas are doing stinks. No argument there. But you better get ready for it.