Much of the problems that drivers have with their carrier are brought on by the drivers themselves. I didn't say "ALL" but much of the problems I hear drivers complain about could be alleviated by the driver. All too often a driver will leave a carrier on a whim because he didn't get his way about something. Rather than trying to work through a problem he will leave.

By the way, you keep talking about driver pay being too low. I would be interested in knowing what you think a carrier should pay you.

 

I just did a search, and every article about the ATA claiming a driver shortage was from 2005. Do you have access to some more recent documents where they are claiming a shortage?

My turnover rate is 0. I have, however, considered firing myself.

Just like the ghetto attracts a certain type of person to live there, OTR trucking attracts a certain type of person to do the job. If the industry wants to change that, they need to change the working environment and make the job harder to get into. If every Tom, Dick, and Harry couldn't just walk in off the street into a training company, then those companies wouldn't have to deal with those type of people anymore. They would, however, have to raise the working environment and compensation package to attract the elite group they are striving to get. That isn't likely to happen, though, because it would cost the carriers more money than they pay out due to turnover.

All the problems you listed though are caused by the carriers. If a carrier is actively seeking the type of person who would steal, fail to do their job, abandon their equipement, and quit, they certainly can't whine and complain that those things happen.

 

Rev you basically said what I was thinking and wouldnt say because I didnt want to offend anyone. :lol:
They set the wages where they can get people just below what they really need to do the job properly.
You get what you pay for.
Obviously this doesnt apply to all drivers and certainly no one on CAD!

(I debated a long time before hitting the submit button on this one!)

 

How can you say that GMAN after I just told you that my carrier had a 0% turnover rate? LeBron advised that his company added a couple of drivers. Want to try again? Let me do it for you.

ALL coolie carriers have a more than desired turnover rate.

That's better.

 

It would never happen but for me to do OTR i would have to make atlest 85,000. For all the hours and time you put in.

When i worked on tug boats (for 2 months) Off the street if i stuck with it i would make around 45k 1st year to work 6 months out of the year. 7 days on/ 7 days off. After so many hours at sea they bump you up to a able seaman and you can make 55k-60k for the samething. All food was paid for by the tugboat. It didnt cost you a dime. Only worked 12hrs a day. About 6 of them where in the boat looking at TV.

A captain made over 100k for 6 months. So to work all year long at OTR coolie trucking i would need atlest 85k.

I know Coolie OTR trucking and Tugboats are two diff. things but they both make you be away from home.

 

Correct Mackman. How anyone could ever disagree with you is way beyond me!

I have 2 brothers that are towboat captains on the Ohio River. They both earn in the area of $100,000 annually. 6 months a year. They wouldn't have it any other way. Great benefits, retirement etc.

Compare that to the coolie carrier, hobo servant. Home a couple of days a year. Treated like garbage. Minimal benefits. Work 80-100, log 70, paid for 50. Scammed for CPM pay. Sleep in a box for no money, etc.

I don't know why they do it.

 

lets do some numbers Gman. I say min wage is around 7.50/hr. OT after 40.

7.50x40= $296.00
11.25x30= $337.00

296+337= $633.00 a week gross.

633 x 52 weeks = 32,916

So a min wage fast food worker that puts in the same hours as a coolie OTR driver will gross 32,916.

I think my numbers are right but if they are not i know the all mighty REV will be by to let me know about it.

 

That has to be one of the most irresponsible, biased and uninformed statements that I have ever seen on CAD.

GMAN, there is really no need for me to question your credibility. You are handling that quite well for yourself.

 

Drivers are professionals and should be paid enough to live a comfortable life. A professional driver is not just another person on the road. We are responsible for our saftey, the saftey of everyone around us, and the cargo or people transported.

A person flipping hamburgers at McDonalds isn't responsible for a million dollars in cargo.

 

Very good point.Sad point,but true none the less.