Ever growing shortage of drivers And ever shrinking load rates.
 

I just was on the ATA sight. They say we havs a shortage of 20,000 drivers. I think the drivers are out there but can't move due to the ever shrinking rates. In 1979 when I started fuel cost was $.20 a gal. I ran from North Caroilna to Washington for $2.25/mile and Alaska for $3.00/ mile. Fuel cost has steadily gone up and manufactures and shippers still make thier money. While Delivering thier product has has gone down. I for one still don't move for less than $2.00/mile as I have a life too. Insurance rates have went up 500% since I started. Taxes over 900%. For those of you don't understand the tax portion. There wasn't IFTA years ago. You paid you road taxes through the fuel you purchased where you were. NOT double taxed as we are today. Just wondering how we "dumb ole truck drivers" can educate the shippers and manufactures to add shipping cost correctly. WE carry the country and should be paid accordingly.

Ever heard about supply and demand law?

Today, with a few exceptions, you pay your road taxes through the fuel you purchase. How exactly are you double taxed?

By my calculations, you should have been able to retire years ago.

You are right. In 1979 there wasn't an "IFTA". :confused: :p
Instead.....You carried a "Bingo Card" and if you didn't have a stamp for the state you were fueling in, you weren't getting fuel.

Personally....I like the system the way it is. :thumbsup:

He forgot to mention about deregulation in 1980....

Don't forget the fuel sticker for each state and the different locations for each one, some went on the left, some on the right, some on both sides, (Ohio in the front windshield on the right) or the 7 or 8 different license plates you had to run, and the ton mile taxes in some states, (talk about double taxes) Oregon and New York come to mind there....................I like the IFTA system the way it is too....

It seems to me that fuel was about $0.75/gallon in 1979. Diesel started to jump up in price when GM introduced those diesel cars they converted from gas engines in the late 70's, as I recall. I wish we could buy fuel where we wanted and didn't have to worry about filing quarterly IFTA reports. It is much easier and simpler than the old Bingo Cards.

Funny thing about systems that work out great for one side...they tend not to be sustainable.

Govt motto: If it ain't broke...........fix it till it is

My thought too. If we have a driver shortage because of shrinking rates then isn't the market in the process of correcting itself?