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I deal with small to medium size trucking companies everyday. They all are trying to find drives and they all are adding trucks to their fleets. At $150K a pop(for a tractor), they do not do this without some forethought. The biggest problem they all tell me about is the inability to find qualified CDL drivers that can pass a drug test and therefore able to insure them. Starting pay for most of these companies is $45K/year.
In addition to my own personal experience, I have heard both McClain and Central Oregon Trucking commercials on the radio advertising for drivers and offering a signing bonus.
We are coming out of the recession. Housing starts and permits are steadily increasing. Existing home sales are steadily growing and inventories are 4 months or less. Unemployment is slowly going down.

We may not like Obama or his policies but I can assure you that all of the above statements are fact and point to an improving economy not the opposite.

I disagree with this industry analysis. I own and operate a transportation consulting firm as well as operate my own fleet. Yes, qualified drivers are in demand, but not because of the amount of available tonnage. The tonnage that is moving is not worth hauling, as it is barely covering expenses. My P&L makes this a fact.

Sure, we are continually bombarded by the $45k / first year with sign on bonus ads. Do a quick google search and find out about the performance and intents of the companies that are doing this advertising. PAM, Swift, Landstar, Prime and others all have the same racket. These sign on drivers rarely make $20k and quit before qualifying for their "bonus" - it's a numbers game, churn and burn.

I have reduced my fleet by 50% as well as seen a lot of my clients undertake actions that reduces their capacity. I'm within 2 miles of the largest trucking companies in the U.S., and the industry is in turmoil because of reduced demand.

I am sorry to hear that Robert. I can assure you the lumber and housing business is picking up substaintially. We see starts exceeding 1 million next year and climbing back to 1.4 million over the next few years. I do not deal with many of the nationwide companies you mentioned other than Swift. Again that is only for flatbeds.

However, all of the flatbed carriers that we deal with have seen an increase in business over the last couple years. My company ships about 900 trucks a month throughout the United States and Canada. Our business is increasing.

Maybe you should consider getting into flatbed shipments.