Posted on 06/25/2012 11:40:15 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
The U.S. economy can't function unless goods get from point A to B.
That's why we have air carriers like FedEx, railroaders like CSX, and truckers like J.B. Hunt.
Truckers are a crucial component in this equation because a plane or train can't exactly back into the loading dock of the local grocery store.
Unfortunately, America can't seem to find enough people to fill the cabs of their 18-wheelers.
USA Today's Paul Davidson reports:
A worsening shortage of truck drivers is pushing up freight rates and delaying some deliveries, defying the weak economy, high unemployment and falling gasoline prices.
Davidson identifies a few reasons why we can't seem to higher enough truckers:
* training costs are high and typically lasts weeks
* minimum age is 21 years
* safety ratings are horrible, causing the screening process to be stringent
However, the shortage is causing pay in the industry to rise. According to a consultant in Davidson's story, the average drivers' annual salary has increased 5 percent year-over-year to $50,000.
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
On your farmer comment this year we didn’t have *any* Mexicans come by looking for work on the ranch and instead had some guys from Poland hire on. Each one of these Polish guys is ten times the worker of any of the Mexicans and we’re paying them $20 an hour now to keep them on all summer and because it’s still cheaper than hiring a bunch of Mexicans.
I’d do it but I get headaches and blurred vision at times which is not a good thing if you have to drive a lot.
Trucking is a great job in some ways and an awful job in some ways. If you can handle the sedentary nature, the isolation and the constant tension of knowing at any moment some idiot my jump their vehicle in front of yours leaving you no room to break or avoid collision, trucking may be for you.
I just use my TuneIn Radio app and stream Rush from my normal station. The pro version also allows you to set a timer for recording in case you can’t listen live.
Since I am not the one driving the truck, I can’t speak to all your points. However, I am fully aware of the team driving aspect and my guy’s company do not have that option.
The biggest issue he runs into regarding delivery time vs mandatory non-driving times, is the freakin unions!
Case in point, he has been sitting at a site ALL morning waiting to be unloaded, steel, when it’s his turn the union crew announce it’s lunch time and off they go.
The expected arrival time for his next appointment will not be met, so do tell, how does a driver accommodate this without monkeying with the books?!!
Interesting, I am a ‘boomer’ and assure you, barry does NOT represent me nor does he work towards my interests.
I’d say you are misreading the tea leaves - he has the youth (or had at least) vote in his hip pocket.
There is also a shortage of farmers, truck mechanics, welders, plumbers, electricians.
With the exception of farmers (only because I don’t know if any thing is needed) you have not seen the requirements for all of the above jobs have you?
Lets touch on electricians shall we..
In Minnesota you need a 3 year degree to be a “power limited” electrician. Basically this will cover low voltage items. Computer networks, cable tv, door bells, CCTV, alarm systems...
a 3 year degree. Just to hook up a door bell button.
(this is the field I am currently in. computer networking support and repair)
How long do you have to go to school or work in the field to become a master electrician? A long.. long.. damn time.
Even a truck mechanic. Just because you have a box of tools.. Do you know how to fix the truck? Off to school you go. 2-4 years.
When I first started off in the automotive field I was a oil change/tire boy... Still needed tools and if I remember right, I got a buck more than minimum wage. it was 6 years later I got my ASE Master Tech certification. I also went to 2 years of schooling.
Welding is a learned skill. You can go to school or learn the trade. You won’t get hired today with no skills.
Plumbers require just as much training as electricians.
You have to do much more than simply pee in a cup, show up on time and use your head to do these jobs.
if nothing is required to farm your still have to know what your doing. I doubt you can just plant a corn seed and wait a while to harvest it.
You actually also have to know what your doing.
I dealt with unions when I was in a truck. The worst of them. The auto workers..
I know the feeling.
Here is what I told dispatchers when the next drop was going to be late.
“your yelling at the wrong guy. Call the dock master. He’s the one holding up the show”
It’s not the drivers fault he got stuck at a drop because the union did this, or someone did that. It is DISPATCHES responsibility to take in to account delivery delays and route/plan accordingly.
But it’s much easier for them to just blame it on the driver. This I understand.
“Truckers also get abused by their employers who demand that they obey speed limits while giving them delivery deadlines that require both speeding and skipping breaks...”
You are 100 percent correct. This is the problem.
If I could back a trailer worth a darn...
All true and those steps are without a doubt what takes place.
It’s a chain reaction that begins with humans who don’t give a care - just my take on it - I hear this stuff daily!
But, without a doubt the rules have grown far tighter.
“You actually also have to know what your doing.”
Speaking to the choir. It’s a disaster for young folks. Everyone’s bagging on them, but they don’t know what it’s actually like.
The skills don’t matter - what does is restricting entry into the profession by piling on the requirements. Fewer people = less competition = higher wages. It might benefit the older folks who never had to jump through these hoops, but it destroys the younger folks.
I know master mechanics who build their own cars from scratch that actually make more money on their sideline of driving not from their mechanic skills. Why? Because they can’t get anyone to sponsor them and the school isn’t willing to take them unless they have a sponsor. For a course that would tell him what he’s known since he was 12.
Darn near every 18 wheeler on the road has an employment ad painted on the back of the trailer.
That pretty much tells you about the turnover rate.
I don’t think there’s another job with that level of turnover.
And neither do the occupy folks represent me. :)
“misreading the tea leaves”
Eh, no. If the entire electorate were composed of Boomers only, Obama would still have been elected.
Quite the claim there JC -
Blame the boomers if it works for you - I prefer to blame just outright ignorance regardless of ones age.
Thus there’s a huge turnover in the industry because not even immigrants are willing to work under such abusive conditions.
You answered your second statement with the first.
The "high turnover" is caused by drivers voting with their feet and going to better companies.
Drivers are in constant contact with their peers and seek the best pay-conditions-equipment they can get.
“Blame the boomers if it works for you - I prefer to blame just outright ignorance regardless of ones age.”
If boomers are going to tar the young folks with being the occupiers, I’m going to call out Obama, boomer president. Goose -> Gander.
That sounds an awful lot like capitalism. Is that allowed nowadays? ;)
It’s the American way.
I’m not following your lack of logic here -
Enjoy your anger, it accomplishes so very much.
I guess that’s why the trucking school here closed.
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