Why Is There Such A Shortage Of Cdl Drivers??

[wanttobetrucker]

Hi Evevrybody . Im Just Starting Out Into Checking Into Going To School At Votech In York Pa For My Cdl License . And I Was Wondering Why There Is Such A Shortage Of Cdl Truck Drivers Out There And Why There Are So Many Jobs Open T O Truck Drivers Al Lthe Time ? Is It Because Its Hard To Past The State Tests T O Get A Cdl License ? Or The Pay Is Not Good ? Or Because Yo U Have To Stay In A Truck Sitting For So Long ? What Is It ? Whats Your Opionion? Thank You . I Have Lots Of Questions. So I Cant Wait For Your Guys Feedback.

[SevenOfNine]

Originally Posted by wanttobetrucker

Hi Evevrybody . Im Just Starting Out Into Checking Into Going To School At Votech In York Pa For My Cdl License .

Best of luck to you

And I Was Wondering Why There Is Such A Shortage Of Cdl Truck Drivers Out There And Why There Are So Many Jobs Open T O Truck Drivers Al Lthe Time ?
No real shortage actually, too many CDL holders aren't trained worth a crap though. They end up in CDL mills that chuck these drivers out with poor and incomplete training.

Also low pay can create a large turnover in OTR drivers which looks like there is a driver shortage.

Is It Because Its Hard To Past The State Tests T O Get A Cdl License ?
Testing for the CDL is pretty much standardized

Or The Pay Is Not Good ?
The pay per mile needs to be better. Most large carriers do not pay their drivers enough,nor do they have decent benefits. Some of the smaller carriers will pay somewhat better.

Or Because Yo U Have To Stay In A Truck Sitting For So Long ?
Depending on the type of freight and where your unloading it too,detrimines a drivers wait time at the docks.

What Is It ? Whats Your Opionion? Thank You . I Have Lots Of Questions. So I Cant Wait For Your Guys Feedback.

Welcome to the boards! I am sure you will get many answers and advice. Just remember to take what you read here with a grain of salt and keep your sense of humor.

Many of our members are brutally honest and won't pull any punches or blow smoke up your behind.

The real drivers will be along soon to fill in what I couldn't.

[pro1driver]

Originally Posted by wanttobetrucker

Hi Evevrybody . Im Just Starting Out Into Checking Into Going To School At Votech In York Pa For My Cdl License . And I Was Wondering Why There Is Such A Shortage Of Cdl Truck Drivers Out There And Why There Are So Many Jobs Open T O Truck Drivers Al Lthe Time ?

first, hey back at ya......

second, the "shortage" as we know it to be, is that some companies report that they need drivers, so there is this "shortage"...............

third, there are so many jobs because drivers quit one company creating this "shortage" and go someplace else, either because of money or benefits, or equipment, or whatever other reasons they quit for.

Is It Because Its Hard To Past The State Tests T O Get A Cdl License ?

no, not as hard as passing the BAR exam for lawyers for instance, but if you screw up, you gotta repeat the tests all over again.

Or The Pay Is Not Good ?

pay isn't always a factor in a driver quitting his/her job. again, benefits, equipment, hours behind the wheel, and so on and so forth, i wouldn't be able to list every concievable reason here.

Or Because Yo U Have To Stay In A Truck Sitting For So Long ?

sitting is only a small part of the job. loading/unloading, construction delays, again, the list is so long, i'd need the library of congress for me to put it all here. and that's quite a long list.......

What Is It ? Whats Your Opionion? Thank You . I Have Lots Of Questions. So I Cant Wait For Your Guys Feedback.

see all of the above...............

[jimdowning]

I was going to answer, but Ppro1driver coverd most everything in a small space. Good job pro1driver.
I do not know your situation. If you can afford it I would look into working the dock for an LTL company ( abf, conway, roadway, usf, and of course estes among many others ) then working into a drivers position. Most of these companys like to promote good employees. I do not know the pay at these except I think we start out at 12$ an hour for dockworkers.

[Jeff]

Shortage of CDL drivers in the OTR sector because they don't pay well, not many people are going to drive a truck and be gone all the time when they can be a carpenter and make more money and sleep at home at night

You don't find that kind of shortage in the better LTL companies

[wanttobetrucker]

thank you everyone for your comments. so what are the good companys to startout working for without working the docks? what do most companys start paying you , what does it equal an hour ?