Eastern Railroad Discussion > OT: Is there really a "trucker shortage"?

Barron's magazine takes on the issue of an alleged shortage of people wanting to hold jobs in the trucking industry.  In spite of (at least) some evidence, like Walmart's new higher salary levels. the author says there is no shortage.  People enter the business, people retire, people become managers, but wages aren't rising at a rate which would suggest companies are concerned.

The article cites various studies which assert that wages are about what you would expect for similar occupations.

Link to trucker shortage - Myth?

Can't give you a link but I see signs in west Texas begging for truck drivers.

Then why does literally every long-haul truck you see have a sign on the rear doors for "Drivers Wanted", "Top Pay", "Call Now" and the like?

TJY

 

Not to mention that there are big signing bonuses everywhere you look.

Out

A company I am familiar with had a $12,000 signing bonus last year paid out quarterly over 12 months. That's right - twelve thousand dollars.

Posted from Android

Based on my experiences in doing courier work for 30 years around the Washington DC Metro area, I would say there is a "competent trucker shortage".

warren1977 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Based on my experiences in doing courier work for
> 30 years around the Washington DC Metro area, I
> would say there is a "competent trucker shortage".

Well, that's true too....but the carriers are in a bind and turning out 3 week old CDL students and they just don't have good grounding or time with an experienced driver. And I know one local carrier that will hire people fresh out of CDL school and during the first year they MUST accept runs into NYC! After a year they can bid for runs going elsewhere....it seems to me like you'd make a new driver run almost anywhere for a year before sticking him in NYC!

An earlier article in Barron's sister publication, the Wall Street Journal, asserted that many job seekers demand a higher pay level for long haul trucking, specifically because it's a more arduous job. With longer time away from family, etc. It's not a first choice job.

The thing that surprises me is Barron's assertion that the industry's wage rates haven't moved upward. In spite of ample evidence (some mentioned on this thread) that Walmart is paying more to select drivers, and that some other companies are raising wages.

My guess, and it's just a guess, is that many / some drivers enjoy the opportunity to select driving runs which meet their home life needs, and don't find the increased wages for long haul worth the effort.  So, overall wages are moving up gradually, in pace with the rest of the economy. Not with a few well publicized big increases.

warren1977 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Based on my experiences in doing courier work for
> 30 years around the Washington DC Metro area, I
> would say there is a "competent trucker shortage".

In the late 80's-early 90's I used to manage flatbed shipments of wood mouldings from the West Coast to points east. Most flatbed drivers were fairly competent.
They understood how to properly strap and tarp loads of a relatively pricey forest product.
However, a few of our customers took van shipments and van drivers were another story....

TJY

The new tax law passed by the current administration eliminated Per Diem for company drivers.  Some companies now pay drivers per diem but most don't.  This took away any incentive (Including myself) from running The System (Over The Road).  I run regional/local now and make over 90 grand a year and sleep in my own bed 2 to 3 nights a week and have weekends off.  Most companies are advertising 50 to 60 grand a year for newbies and are importing drivers from other countries along with their bad habits.  So if you see a guy in his 60's driving down the road in a safe and professional manner, wave at him, because we are the last of a breed.  Dan Tracy  driver for 35 years and currently with Quality Carriers.

dt8089 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The new tax law passed by the current
> administration eliminated Per Diem for company
> drivers.  Some companies now pay drivers per diem
> but most don't.  This took away any incentive
> (Including myself) from running The System (Over
> The Road).  I run regional/local now and make
> over 90 grand a year and sleep in my own bed 2 to
> 3 nights a week and have weekends off....

Appreciate you sharing your story. 

If the Per Diem were to come back, would you go back to OTR, or stay with what you are doing now? 

 

I'd go back.  The railfan in me made it enjoyable being stuck in places like Houston over a weekend.  The wife didn't mind me being gone 2 to 3 weeks at a time.  Sometimes I think she enjoyed it :-)  Dan

dt8089 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I'd go back.  The railfan in me made it enjoyable
> being stuck in places like Houston over a
> weekend.  The wife didn't mind me being gone 2 to
> 3 weeks at a time.  Sometimes I think she enjoyed
> it :-)  Dan

Dan, thanks again. 

So with OTR, the next load takes you wherever until you eventually get back home? 
 

Trucking has slowed down a little this year.  Finding drivers is hard. Finding competent drivers is really hard. Old drivers have great knowledge and habits that can't be replaced.

tomstp Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Can't give you a link but I see signs in west
> Texas begging for truck drivers.

South Texas, too, in the want ads.

The dt809 post is an excellent example of how decisions and incentives interact.

Average national numbers would never grab that level of detail.

Posted from Android

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dt8089 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'd go back.  The railfan in me made it
> enjoyable
> > being stuck in places like Houston over a
> > weekend.  The wife didn't mind me being gone 2
> to
> > 3 weeks at a time.  Sometimes I think she
> enjoyed
> > it :-)  Dan
>
> Dan, thanks again. 
>
> So with OTR, the next load takes you wherever
> until you eventually get back home? 
>  


Depends on the company. Smaller companies will get you back home sooner as they regular customers to service in thier hometown. The big ones don't give a rat's hieny if ever see home for a month or so
Michael t Kerner
Collinsville, IL

Posted from Android

the higher the hiring bonus, the worse the job, been driving scinse 1988, the really best companys do not have to advertise, NYC metro area and long island, I'd rather go to hell, than go there again

DLM Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Trucking has slowed down a little this year. 
> Finding drivers is hard. Finding competent drivers
> is really hard. Old drivers have great knowledge
> and habits that can't be replaced.

Sounds a little like railroaders, eh?

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> dt8089 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > I'd go back.  The railfan in me made it
> enjoyable
> > being stuck in places like Houston over a
> > weekend.  The wife didn't mind me being gone 2
> to
> > 3 weeks at a time.  Sometimes I think she
> enjoyed
> > it :-)  Dan
>
> Dan, thanks again. 
>
> So with OTR, the next load takes you wherever
> until you eventually get back home? 
>  

Yep. Anywhere in the country.

Posted from Android



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 03/16/19 19:58 by ALCO630.