The Driver Shortage, CDL Training, and CSA 2010- The Saga Continues
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y Allen Smith
It’s no secret to everyone, drivers have been anticipating a lot of change and rumors of change within the trucking industry.
First there is the infamous CSA 2010, the description and explanation of which can alter depending upon which website you land on. Even the FMCSA website has changed a few things since it first released the plans for implementing the new laws in 2010.
The most recent notification by FMCSA is that there will be a delay in the implementation of CSA 2010 in order to incorporate “valuable feedback” which they have received from many. (rolled back to Nov 30th instead of July ) Last month we had a lengthy phone meeting with 4 members of the FMCSA in which Candice Tolliver of the Dept. of Transportation’s office of public affairs arranged.
During that meeting we shared many of the concerns we had for the drivers, including the fact that many times drivers cannot be responsible for the way a shipment is loaded, or the way equipment is maintained, and to hold a driver responsible for such ( not to mention receiving points of violation) did not appear to be fair or appropriate. Also mentioned to them was the fact that newly acquired CDL drivers would have an unfair advantage over veteran drivers as they will come on board with a “clean slate” since new drivers wouldn’t have any aquired data in the system for the required 3 year look back of roadside inspections or DOT recordable accidents.
We brought up many other concerns with the FMCSA during that meeting, plus written communication of 12 other questions and concerns. Ms Tolliver has advised us that they will be addressing and replying to our additional concerns in a write up shortly and will be sending it back to us. We will be posting their reply here on the blog.
Now, the “Driver Shortage” So what’s this all about? How many times have we heard this? Is there really a driver shortage? If there’s a driver shortage, why are so many drivers complaining about slow freight and low miles? Why are the companies continually lowering the drivers CPM? I had one driver write me today expressing he just can’t make it on 19/cpm !!!! That’s unheard of!
Next, along with the media cry of “driver shortage” will come the anticipated influx of new drivers. After all, if there’s a driver shortage, we better hurry up and get those schools pumping out more drivers. Here’s the irony of it all. In a time when so much work and effort is being placed into CSA 2010, ensuring the utmost safety for the highways, we’re going to be putting thousands of new inexperienced drivers on the road. How safe is that? Imagine thousands of people with 3 weeks of training and a couple of months with a company trainer driving on the highways.
Join us Thursday April 15th on Blog Talk Radio, Truth About Trucking “Live” as we address these and other issues that are starting to unravel which are being widely distributed by the media about the trucking industry.
We’ll discuss the truth behind the truck “driver shortage”, the cause and effect associated with the projected influx of CDL Training and new driver company training, and of course CSA 2010 and the effects towards drivers.
We urge you to join in with your questions and comments.
347-826-9170 You can either listen from your phone or from your computer.
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: blog talk radio, CSA 2010, FMCSA, truck driver shortage
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This evening, April 15th, 2009 at 7 PM EST, 
