Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
They have to count their pennies. Some of these trucking companies like Swift Transportation are traded on the NYSE, they have shareholders that want profits and there going to stick it to the drivers. Let's face it, and no offense to truck drivers, but you could flop out of high school and as long as you have a clean record, (driving or criminal), and a pulse + some training....your hired.
You forgot one very important thing... They would actually have to show some interest in the job and apply for it. But obviously this isn't happening or there would be no shortage of drivers.
You forgot one very important thing... They would actually have to show some interest in the job and apply for it. But obviously this isn't happening or there would be no shortage of drivers.
There's not a shortage of drivers, but trucking companies are always going to say there is. They have an interest in getting prospects through either their own CDL schools or the CDL mills. The trick is get you to sign a loan for $3000 to $6000 to school you. Either way, company school or CDL mill, once you get your license they're going to offer to pay back the loan at a rate of say $100 a week off your check, but you must work for them for a year. You go with a trainer for 6 weeks driving the 48 states. Now they give you .26 a mile and the trainer gets and extra .07 cents on top of his .30 cent base rate. After 6 weeks they could care care less if you quit or not, because now your on the hook for a $2400-$5400 for the loan anyway and guess what? They just doubled the amount of drivable hours the truck is capable of to cover double the miles and they did it cheaper than it would take to pay 2 dedicated team drivers and they'll get their loan money and have a fresh body in the seat the next day to start the 6 week shell game all over again. They're clever.
Last edited by Sgt. Buzzcut; 07-28-2012 at 12:42 AM..
Reason: states
You are all assuming that all CDL jobs are for trucking companies. In all honesty, half of them are for small employers that have local and regional delivery of their products to businesses or consumers. My company owns a semi and we deliver our products around the US. We have that one truck that requires a CDL. We are obviously not a trucking company.
^^^^ The article itself shows an 18 wheeler in the picture and mentions,Werner, Shneider, J.B Hunt, Swift...some pretty big heavyweights in the industry..
Last edited by Sgt. Buzzcut; 07-28-2012 at 08:46 AM..
There's not a shortage of drivers, but trucking companies are always going to say there is. They have an interest in getting prospects through either their own CDL schools or the CDL mills. The trick is get you to sign a loan for $3000 to $6000 to school you. Either way, company school or CDL mill, once you get your license they're going to offer to pay back the loan at a rate of say $100 a week off your check, but you must work for them for a year. You go with a trainer for 6 weeks driving the 48 states. Now they give you .26 a mile and the trainer gets and extra .07 cents on top of his .30 cent base rate. After 6 weeks they could care care less if you quit or not, because now your on the hook for a $2400-$5400 for the loan anyway and guess what? They just doubled the amount of drivable hours the truck is capable of to cover double the miles and they did it cheaper than it would take to pay 2 dedicated team drivers and they'll get their loan money and have a fresh body in the seat the next day to start the 6 week shell game all over again. They're clever.
This is EXACTLY what happened to my cousin. Not only did he end up bailing on the company/entire industry, he stuck his student loan bill with my grandparents who co-signed for him hoping it'd help lift off his career.
There's not a shortage of drivers, but trucking companies are always going to say there is. They have an interest in getting prospects through either their own CDL schools or the CDL mills. The trick is get you to sign a loan for $3000 to $6000 to school you. Either way, company school or CDL mill, once you get your license they're going to offer to pay back the loan at a rate of say $100 a week off your check, but you must work for them for a year. You go with a trainer for 6 weeks driving the 48 states. Now they give you .26 a mile and the trainer gets and extra .07 cents on top of his .30 cent base rate. After 6 weeks they could care care less if you quit or not, because now your on the hook for a $2400-$5400 for the loan anyway and guess what? They just doubled the amount of drivable hours the truck is capable of to cover double the miles and they did it cheaper than it would take to pay 2 dedicated team drivers and they'll get their loan money and have a fresh body in the seat the next day to start the 6 week shell game all over again. They're clever.
It makes perfect sense. Flood the industry with qualified drivers and drive wages down.
It makes perfect sense. Flood the industry with qualified drivers and drive wages down.
This is a similar tactic in all industries, from "everyone should go into medical coding, billing, nursing!" to "we need more STEM professionals!"
No, what we need are more JOBS for people! With jobs, especially long-term, stable ones, the professionals in the fields will follow once they see there is a future in that industry. Supply-side job-creation via running people through diploma mills or college programs is about as much of a failure as supply-side economics. Doubling the number of engineering graduates doesn't double the number of engineering jobs, for example.
There's not a shortage of drivers, but trucking companies are always going to say there is. They have an interest in getting prospects through either their own CDL schools or the CDL mills. The trick is get you to sign a loan for $3000 to $6000 to school you. Either way, company school or CDL mill, once you get your license they're going to offer to pay back the loan at a rate of say $100 a week off your check, but you must work for them for a year. You go with a trainer for 6 weeks driving the 48 states. Now they give you .26 a mile and the trainer gets and extra .07 cents on top of his .30 cent base rate. After 6 weeks they could care care less if you quit or not, because now your on the hook for a $2400-$5400 for the loan anyway and guess what? They just doubled the amount of drivable hours the truck is capable of to cover double the miles and they did it cheaper than it would take to pay 2 dedicated team drivers and they'll get their loan money and have a fresh body in the seat the next day to start the 6 week shell game all over again. They're clever.
This pretty much sums it up.
These mega carriers start CDL training weekly, and most have multiple training facilities throughout the country! This not only covers their 100 percent turnover rate, they are making tens of millions per year in these "learn to drive a big rig" programs. If the student stays the year, which is usually what the contract requires; then the company has 12 months of indentured servitude, if the student leaves, he/she is on the hook for $6K.
The companies tries to keep the newbies out for as long as possible, all while making poverty wages. Next thing you know - back home, their electricity is shut off, house is about to be foreclosed on; wife is banging the neighbor, etc. This happens more often then you think, there is a trucking forum with thousands of these stories.
This is EXACTLY what happened to my cousin. Not only did he end up bailing on the company/entire industry, he stuck his student loan bill with my grandparents who co-signed for him hoping it'd help lift off his career.
That guy is lazy and cares nothing
for his grandparents who he stole the money from ! ! !
He does not deserve a job or help ! ! !
.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
