Truck Driver Shortage – Here We Go Again
Here we go again. Talks about a major truck driver shortage is rearing its ugly head again. Trucking companies are having such a difficult time filling truck driving job positions, even in this economy. I wonder what all you CDL students, graduates and veteran drivers out there who have found it almost impossible to get hired, think about this?
Once again, the media is throwing out the fear of a driver shortage, thus the possibility of the rise in the price of goods. According to one report concerning the driver shortage, trucking companies just cannot find enough drivers to fill the need. Are they looking? I receive emails daily from CDL graduates and veteran drivers who have applied everywhere and still, no hire. A driver shortage? Here we go again . . .
CDL students who graduated anywhere from six months to a year ago, have still not been able to land a job, even through the so-called “job assistance” program offered by many of these CDL truck driving schools. Where exactly are you trucking companies looking for drivers? They are everywhere. Another aspect that may help, is to classify professional truckers as “skilled” labor and not unskilled labor. The safe handling of an 18-wheeler is not skilled? According to the labor department, it is not.
Another aspect you may want to consider is how you treat your drivers. It’s just the same old story that goes on and on and on . . .
Not long ago we were being told that there were too many drivers, and now . . . we are facing a truck driver shortage . . . again. Come on now, there is no, nor has there ever been a truck driver shortage. Are we going down this old road again? Look around . . . many drivers are trying to find a driving job, but you’re not hiring them. Why? If there is a fear of a driver shortage, why are you not hiring?
Keep pushing your drivers to run illegal . . . keep from getting them home when they want to go home . . . keep using new drivers as a form of cheap labor . . . keep pushing out experienced, veteran drivers . . . keep putting more hardships on owner operators . . . keep them sitting for 2-3 days . . . keep giving them low miles . . . and by all means, keep hauling cheap freight . . . continue doing all of these things that have been going on for years, and some day . . . you just might have a real driver shortage.
Some analysts’ are reporting that the trucking industry is improving and larger companies are taking on more freight. The industry may be improving, but only because of downsizing and the failure of many smaller trucking companies. The failing of these companies will only be adding more experienced drivers into the job market, so where is the driver shortage? Furthermore, I hardly see where the failing of many smaller companies are a reason for celebration.
Once again, the media jumps on the remarks by these trucking companies and the fear of a driver shortage is appearing once more.
Give me a break.
Allen Smith
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Nice blog. Way to cut through the media’s smoke screen. To tell you the truth, I never gave much thought to the “driver shortage” claims. One of our drivers was recently layed off and he found three jobs in three weeks, but none of them had the miles or benefits of his former position.
Trucking companies and organizations want to keep this driver shortage issue going, in large part to keep the turn-over going which in turn keeps the government subsidies flowing … always about money … money to the companies, not the drivers.
Just cut the “per mile” pay. Drivers will stop cheating on logs, Accidents will go down. “per mile pay” is OK if they offer, lets say
.37 cpm or $800.00 whichever is best but politicians get good
Money from trucking companies and they’ll never change it.
The best way to do better is to gather a million man march
To the capitol to be heard. They will listen!……
Oh just wait till CSA 2010 go into full effect, then we’ll see Safer Well Paid Truck Drivers on the road. I’ve seen compnies push safe drivers out of the door from having more than 4 jobs in the past 3 years, then turn around and hire a guy with a dirty background and filthy crimal history. These trucking companies have lost their minds puting dirty drivers on the road next to my family. Shame On You!!!