I noticed at the end of the 2005 coming into 2006 there where many companies that either raised com pay by up to 3 cpm across the board or started to offer pratical miles . Where are all the across the board raises this year ? All these companies are claming there are a shortage of drivers and studies have said they need to start raising pay to where the average OTR company driver makes 65k a year . I don't see this happening when all your getting is your 1 cpm yearly raise that doesn't even cover inflation . Anyone else notice this ?

OTR Van/Reefer is dog eat dog perfect competition.

As long as the McMega Carriers can find fools who think that $600/week is ok to live on a tractor and work 80+ hrs week wages will remain low.

I suspect as housing prices decline and construction slows there will be less pressure for OTR wages. I know a lot of construcion workers have a CDL as their plan B for when it gets slow.

The local Tech school here where I live actually offers a combination CDL/Heavy Equipment Operator's class. 10 weeks of Operators training, followed by 10 weeks of CDL training. As long as my knee cooperates, Homey will be starting said class on April 9th.... :wink:

I don't believe there's a shortage of drivers. The low pay doesn't really support the theory. Companies make money by moving frieght. If they're short drivers they lose money with empty trucks. If there was a shortage companies would be competing with higher wages to attract and keep drivers. I don't see that happening today. A true shortage would be compensated for by better wages. I think it's the crappy companies that are claiming there's a shortage. Of course there will be a shortage of drivers willing to work for crap wages and conditions. I don't think there's a shortage of drivers willing to work for a good company. The decent companies will always have enough drivers.

They offer the same thing in my area too. Plus you can learn to be an aviation mechanic (Which is what the school is known for.