Chicago area city drivers are getting $.30 going from 24.40 to 24.70 a 1.25% raise
the road drivers are getting .0155 going from .60 to .6155 a 2.5% raise
I don't get why the road would get twice the percentage as the city.
Because they dont give a crap about the city.
I'll give FedEx credit on this one.
They have seen the writing on the wall. Contrary to what the ATA spews there is a shortage of qualified drivers, especially those willing to work nights.
The Comprehensive Safety Analysis (CSA)...financial liability...and any number of issues has dwindled the pool of drivers that meet the qualifications set forth by these companies.
The LTL industry is in trouble. The amount of people willing to do this job is far less now than just a few years ago. This due in part to a restructuring of the way the large OTR companies operate. Back in the day the OTR concerns hired drivers...sent them out for weeks at a time...with no guarantee of home time. Their turnover rate was astounding...burnout rates were always high.
They too have seen the writing on the wall. By their own admission they have had to change the way they operate to attract qualified talent. They are now basing their operations on dedicated freight...this allows them to set schedules...determine home times...appease potential candidates. They had to do this to survive. The OTRs are facing a shortage as well...or go out of business.
P&D peeps put up with a lot of crap...I did for almost a decade...will not do it again. Too much BS for the old Rat...as far as I am concerned it isn't worth the hassle. There are those willing to tolerate the idiocy of P&D for the benefit of being home nights with the family...seeing the kids grow...attending the functions associated with familial environs...sleeping in a bed during the night as opposed to hustling freight all night long.
These type of folks are not hard to find if qualified.
The inverse is a bit different.
There are not a lot of folks willing to be road drivers. Working nights...being away from the family...not being able to attend functions and get togethers as others do. It is hard on relationships...damn hard on marriages. Even worse on the children.
Nobody wants to do this. They tolerate it. But most would much rather have a real life if given the choice. I know I would. One day off a week...constantly tired due to being out of sync with your circadian rhythms...all the while being expected to be perky on your day off.
The new generation of driver is "all about me and what I want" or more accurately..."what can you do for me?"
These companies know this...they play the game of trying to eliminate benefit costs by being more than willing to terminate drivers with years of seniority so they can replace them with new hires at lower costs.
All the while teetering on the edge of being able to attract qualified replacement drivers. It is a dangerous game.
For the moment the numbers are in the favor of the companies...but that is rapidly changing. Nobody wants to be a road driver if given the choice.
Nobody wants to work the dock. Everybody wants meet and turns...hub turns...dock options.
And the writing on the wall says otherwise. There seems to be a concerted effort by this fine company to eliminate the aforementioned. Purchase trailer this...purchase trailer that.
In the end all that will be left is shuttle work.
They have seen the writing on the wall. There is little choice in the matter...pay your road drivers well...and do your best to attract the qualified talent they so desperately desire.
Time will tell.
Rat
