Trucking too risky right now for new career?

EBay ? http://www.marketwatch.com/news/sto...est&dist=dist_smartbrief&dist=dist_smartbrief
and Amazon ? http://www.marketwatch.com/tools/qu...N&sid=41519&dist=TQP_chart_date&freq=1&time=8
Trucking is not recession proof . About the only operating cost carriers can control is driver pay and benefits . Drivers will take the hit like Schneider drivers having their trucks cut back to 60 m.p.h. which means their weekly mileage potential is cut by 500 miles or more .

 

You're right...trucking is NOT recession proof. Let's see, I live in a SMALL town in West Tennessee. Um, one trucking company (that I know of) has closed the doors. Another filed Chapter 11, now he can't keep fuel to his drivers AND has many trucks parked as well...AND, Milan Express has even laid off drivers. Heck, Jevic, in NJ, is gone now. I DO know USF Holland has laid many off. Heck, I saw where even a crap company, like Werner, has laid 500 drivers off.

I mean look at Roehl, .37/mile is pretty good, but sheesh, three years ago I was making .47 1/2 per mile with Heartland Express. Seems like these companies NEVER go up anymore. Man, in Feb. of 1994 I started out, with Southwest Express, at .27 1/2 per mile and FIFTEEN years later Roehl pays .37/mile? Think they are going to raise the rates now? Nope....

The trucks get slower, the rates stay same or go down, the drivers are simply screwed. With this economy...you are STUCK or GONE. Or, like one driver said, you'll be paid the same and cut back to 55mph (which IS a pay cut).

 

My original point still stands. During the Depression my grandfather worked at Ford. He had his hours cut back but still had a good job and never had to hit the bread line. Many of these companies that are closing did so when fuel prices went up, but fuel prices are crashing. In two weeks fuel has dropped 20% or more. If the basic economics of a family or a company are good they will weather the storm, if not then they will fail. Roehl has cut back their trucks, yet I still get 600 to 630 miles a day if the trip is long enough. I have heard just as many drivers talk about how well they are doing as ones that are parking their trucks because they can't make it.

If your company is laying off, why? Roehl is adding trucks and new customer service people because they are expanding. It's simple, healthy companies are poised to either ride the storm or expand. Just like my Grandpa, I am concerned with having a job, keeping a roof over my family's head and feeding a growing tweener. In today's paper the only section of classified help wanted larger than the one looking for drivers is healthcare and misc.

I also said that every industry gets oversaturated and goes through a shakeout. Your comments about the companies that are cutting back or going under simply underscore that point. I have heard one report that Swift needs to raise its freight rate by $.14 just to reach break even. I am not disputing that there are companies in bad shape. I am not disputing that we won't be affected. One more thing to consider, JD Power is predicting that the entire automotive manufaturing industry could collapse next year. Would you prefer to drive a truck or work for GM?

Economics are simple- "If your out go exceeds your income, then your upkeep becomes your downfall."

 

Well I am working for Millis, and we hall mostley beer. So unless people quit drinking I think Millis will stay afloat pretty good.

 

I hope this is on the subject. I'm a 39 yr. old male, just lost my job in a yarn production plant. I have worked the same job for 20 yrs, now they have shut down. I'm looking at driving as a new job (no previous experince) My previous income was around 30k year. I worked 12hr days standing on concrete and would like to try something new. In anyones opinion, would driving be a good idea. Thanks for any and all input