roadscholar88
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What would you say are the top causes for the driver shortage? What do you think should be done to help resolve it?
Man, that's the truth!!Somewhere along the way the HOS limits became the template for a typical workday. Even for local drivers, I can't think of any other job where you show up for work everyday hoping to go home after 8-10hrs but knowing full well you could be expected to work a full 14 if told to. Having the hours available doesn't mean you HAVE to make me work them.
People have looked at me cross-eyed after hearing the hours I work when making small talk. Normal people can't fathom working 14hrs/day 60-70hrs/wk.
Just because a company has 50 empty trucks doesn't mean there's a shortage. That company has too many trucks.
That is one part of the answer to the question I asked.And if that company paid better, and treated their greatest asset (the drivers) better those trucks would not be empty.
That is one part of the answer to the question I asked.
Guardrail
Instead of calling it a driver shortage, let's call it what it is, a driver enticement and retention problem.
Here's the solution.
1. Pay for experience. I'm not going to drive for you at .36 a mile when I have over 20 years behind the wheel.
2. Get the drivers involved with equipment selection. We know what makes our job easier to do. Don't buy a truck and then complain that I idle too much because you didn't want to buy a AUX AC unit. I'm not going to sleep in a 100° truck to save you money and meet some unrealistic idle goal.
3. Hire competent dispatch personnel. I can't drive your 64 mph truck 983 miles in 8 hours. I don't want to hear about so and so does it all the time. Set realistic goals and I'll meet or exceed them. Set unrealistic goals and I'll disappoint you every time.
4. Keep your equipment fixed. I don't make any money in the shop.
5. My time is worth something. If I am sitting because of no fault of my own, pay me.
6. Stop running your company by spread sheet. Get out from behind your desk, leave the yes men behind and mingle with the folks that do the work. You might be surprised at what you learn.
Guardrail
When my company went to e-logs they adopted the attitude, "If the computer says your legal you drive"...doesn't matter what time of day or how many days in a row...your legal you drive...so I bailed after 27 years in the industry...