America's truck driver shortage

Innovation Trail ^ | August 6, 2013 | Kate O'Connell

[Fiji Hill]

5 dollar diesel and all the regulatory BS hasn’t helped, either

Sounds as though mandating half-hour rest stops is another "doo-gooder" measure that has made things worse for those it intended to help.

[ThunderSleeps]

That’s what I figure. I’ve been hearing about driver “shortages” for 20 years or more. If there’s a chronic shortage of people to do a job it is probably because there are elements of the job that suck and drive off (pardon the pun) most people.

[Cvengr]

Kevin Dugan has a college degree in heating and air conditioning.

It might be a technical degree associated with a trade, but the typical college degree associated with HVAC is Mechanical Engineering and HVAC is only a very limited portion of that curriculum in ABET accredited programs.

[VerySadAmerican]

First of all, what college gives a degree in heating and a/c?

Second, if you can’t cook the books, you can’t make enough money to make it worthwhile.

Third, he thinks riding around the NE is fun?

And fourth, what does a Warner driver have in common with a weigh station attendent? They both sit behind glass and watch big trucks go by. Seriously, Warner is the slowest truck on the road.

[dalereed]

“Who else but the Teamsters has been standing up to prevent the implementation of that provision of NAFTA that will allow Mexican trucking firms to do business in the U.S.? “

They already have full access to all the frderal highway system.

[2ndDivisionVet]

I have a diesel automobile and I’ve been paying between $3.65 and $3.80 for over a year now. Where’s this $5 diesel fuel at?

[BooBoo1000]

There is a good reason Oil Field Truckers get more money. You have to be one tough Mot))Xr %Uc(er to do that, it is one thing to drive on a nice four lane highway, and hauling 40 tons through miles of mud, no roads etc.

[Rodamala]

"Be sure and tell 'em, 'Large Marge sent ya!'"

[KarlInOhio]

to inefficient terminal operations where the customer doesn't load or unload the truck very efficiently (and the driver is "on the clock" but isn't getting paid because the truck isn't moving).

I hate to say this, but it's likely that the only way to fix the system is to have the Teamsters make some serious inroads into the trucking industry.

One problem is that the inefficiency at the dock is often caused by their "union brothers" who always seem to have a lunch or other rest break right when the truck arrives. And if you come in near shift change, you aren't getting anything done until well after the new shift is in.

[autumnraine]

Then why do I know so many unemployed truck drivers? what is the disconnect with this article and reality?

[babble-on]

Yeah, that seems relatively simple to me as well. Pay a little bit more, and worker shortages have a way of disappearing really fast.

[GailA]

Son got his CDL last year, 28 days on the road, does not do a diabetic any favors. And they knew it when they put him through school. Needs local job so he can control it.