Where have all of the drivers gone?

[prof fate]

Regulations, medical exams (diabetes is way up, drug testing), hours, big brother watching you, etc.

I suppose traffic issues are up too..I do my best ot avoid them. Had a work at home job for the most part for 15 years now..can't imagine driving a truck in a big city these days.

I did start school bus driving 2 years ago, a cheap way to get a CDL with thoughts of changing careers. Driving I like - the kids, I like (self loading/unloading cargo) but other cars at times is infuriating (what, you can't see a 40' bright yellow thing with flashing lights? or you CAN see it and pull out so as not to be stuck behind it) - but yeah, the bosses..the law and rules apply when it's to their benefit (do not speed!!) but when not.."you're late. pick up the pace'...well, which is it?

And big brother...had 2 first graders get into a scrap on the bus...principla, super intendent, 2 lawyers, my boss all reviwed the 'tapes' - 4 cameras, gps, speed, shock sensors for turns/bumps, accel, decel g forces, how many times I looked in the mirror...nuts. NOBODY wants to be watched that closely.

Then they added real time tracking and live video capablility...auto reporting on speed (based on location and gps) so best never speed.

Then you have the 'alone' factor which for truckers must be a lot worse. And the pay..not all that great - maybe make a living at it.

Shell is building a cracker plant and they need bus drivers to shuttle workers - 70 drivers - teamsters so 'good union jobs' pay $16 an hour, split shift so you get to drive to work twice a day. Most class b drivers here get paid less than that.

And to get class a work they demand 2 years experience which only a few places will hire a newbie for OTR work - home 3 days a month...nice if you what, 21, but Ihave a house, kids...can't do that sort work.

 

[rgr33]

Just a couple things to add,

When you’re driving a truck, of almost any size, you see the absolute worst side of the other drivers on the road.

Idiots will always be idiots, stupid people do stupid things, there is no way to stop them.

When you enter the back door of your favorite store, you will not be treated anything remotely like you are treated when you enter the front door. I could spend an hour citing examples of the horrid attitude of back room receiving clerks who hate their jobs. I once cut my hand badly on a dock plate that I was placing between dock and trailer, needed stitches, bled like crazy. The Albertson’s receiving clerk literally screamed at me for the noise made when I dropped the plate to the ground, then took his lunch break before signing for delivery. Try finding parking for a 53 ft trailer at the urgent care clinic, not fun.

Still for some reason, I did enjoy the job most of the time.

 

[MossRoad]

....
Still for some reason, I did enjoy the job most of the time.

Probably because you knew you weren't a receiving clerk..... :laughing:

 

[QRTRHRS]

"Then there is the dock manager that treats you like you have impregnated his wife or teenage daughter from the moment you stepped out of your truck."

That's not the best way to keep it civil. I personally treat the drivers that deliver to my site with honor and compassion and often with a meal. The dispatchers are pretty rough on them and what they do should be priced as a skill not a commodity. It's right up there with teaching for professions that are underpaid and under appreciated. Unionization might help.

Truth be told, some places do treat the drivers very well. I did some local where I may have bumped 20 docks more or less then switched to night shift line haul where I had three terminals plus home. As for the local, it was maybe 25%/75% with the 25% being butt heads. My own terminal manager had his favorites over those of us whom he would alter our clock in times in order to cheat. On the line haul run, I had one who would do things like ignore my presence making me late for the next terminal (which was in a very populated area and staffed by other than whites) whom went out of the their way to keep me moving.

 

[QRTRHRS]

LOL, I got to thinking about a drop at a college one day. I had a pallet of chairs and desks. I was directed to back up to this concrete pad about two feet lower than my trailer and I did not have a trailer with a lift that day. The man in charge sat cross armed just as I said as if I had violated him or his in some way with a demure looking female assistant.

After assessing the situation, I lifted the pallet with my jack and yanked it off the trailer in one fell swoop. Picked up my jack, put it back on the trailer and handed the sour puss the papers to sign. LOL on that one.

 

[check]

Regulations, medical exams (diabetes is way up, drug testing), hours, big brother watching you, etc.

I suppose traffic issues are up too..I do my best ot avoid them. Had a work at home job for the most part for 15 years now..can't imagine driving a truck in a big city these days.

I did start school bus driving 2 years ago, a cheap way to get a CDL with thoughts of changing careers. Driving I like - the kids, I like (self loading/unloading cargo) but other cars at times is infuriating (what, you can't see a 40' bright yellow thing with flashing lights? or you CAN see it and pull out so as not to be stuck behind it) - but yeah, the bosses..the law and rules apply when it's to their benefit (do not speed!!) but when not.."you're late. pick up the pace'...well, which is it?

And big brother...had 2 first graders get into a scrap on the bus...principla, super intendent, 2 lawyers, my boss all reviwed the 'tapes' - 4 cameras, gps, speed, shock sensors for turns/bumps, accel, decel g forces, how many times I looked in the mirror...nuts. NOBODY wants to be watched that closely.

Then they added real time tracking and live video capablility...auto reporting on speed (based on location and gps) so best never speed.

Then you have the 'alone' factor which for truckers must be a lot worse. And the pay..not all that great - maybe make a living at it.

Shell is building a cracker plant and they need bus drivers to shuttle workers - 70 drivers - teamsters so 'good union jobs' pay $16 an hour, split shift so you get to drive to work twice a day. Most class b drivers here get paid less than that.

And to get class a work they demand 2 years experience which only a few places will hire a newbie for OTR work - home 3 days a month...nice if you what, 21, but Ihave a house, kids...can't do that sort work.

Good God! $16 an hour?

 

[Stimw]

Here are some drivers (?) quitting their jobs-
24 IDIOT AMERICAN TRUCKERS ? USA TRUCKING FAILS 2018 - YouTube

 

[Dftodd]

We get lots of truck drivers through our yard hauling equipment in and out. I've seen all sorts.

I try to treat everyone with respect, but at the same time I expect it back. I also understand traffic, break downs, and DOT stops. I deal with the same stuff as a they do and have to follow the same regulations.

Had one driver back into a gate post (no reason to back up) and damage the building. Swore it was like that when he got there. Which was the stupidest comment he could make. I opened the gate for him so he could enter the yard.

Had some that all they wanted to do was drive. Expected us to chain down the equipment he was hauling out of there. I'm sorry, I chain and bind down my loads since I'm the driver. I have the same expectations for anyone hauling for us. I went back into the office after loading him and waited till he was done to close up for the day. He came in throwing the mother of all hissy fits. I simply pointed out that he either secure his own load which was his responsibility, or I would be more then happy unloading him and he could explain to his dispatcher why he didn't take the load.

Had another one throw a hissy fit because they had to unchain there load and put there chains up. Guy kicked some 10" round stainless steel hoses off the trailer. Then ran over them causing $6k in damages. Not sure he was driving for that company after that. I know the dispatcher was hot when they found out they owed us for the hoses.

Now I have had some great drivers come in as well. Fast, efficient and very professional. But the majority are hot head premadonna's that b@@ch and complain about every tiny little thing.

 

[joeu235]

I'm the operations manager for a 105K sq foot warehouse. I say hello to every driver I walk buy. Their face lights up every time. I also instruct my team to be aware that time waiting to be loaded or unloaded is time they are not making money.

Guess someone being civil is not what they are used to.

 

[aczlan]

I'm the operations manager for a 105K sq foot warehouse. I say hello and to every driver I walk buy. Their face lights up every time. I also instruct my team to be aware that time waiting to be loaded or unloaded is time they are not making money.

Guess someone being civil is not what they are used to.

We have a similar policy at work, we try to get drivers in and out as quick as possible. The drivers notice and many of them prefer to come here vs going to one of the other warehouses in the area as they can often unload, get back, reload and get unloaded again while someone at some of the other warehouses is still waiting to get unloaded.

Aaron Z