Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

It amazes and disgusts me at the same time to see how disconnected and stupid the government really is.

Trucking in general is in tough times, everyone agrees on that. Companies and owners are going under on a daily basis. The drivers that were employed by those companies and small fleets are now unemployed and are looking to drive for someone else.

Trucking bankruptcies ease shortage of drivers
Legions of drivers are out of work as a result of high diesel costs and the dismal economy.By Richard Richtmyer
Associated Press
As head of recruiting at trucking company Gypsum Express, for years Lingyak had to take what he could get when it came to long-haul drivers amid a shortage of workers qualified to handle the big rigs and willing to spend weeks on the road.

But, as the cost of diesel fuel soars and the economy slows, hundreds of small to mid-sized trucking outfits are folding – leaving legions of trained drivers looking for work.

Sad, but no surprise to most of us. It goes on saying the same thing and some numbers thrown in. Like the 935 companies that filed for bankruptcy this year and 2% of the nations long haul fleet was idle during the first quarter.

And from the blockheads in the government -

FMCSA awards $1 million in grants to 9 driver training programs

Driver shortage isn’t mentioned in the article, but why are schools training drivers when there are plenty of experienced drivers looking for work. Rookies get paid less than experienced drivers? I’m sure that has nothing to do with it.

How about sending that $1 million to drivers that are already working and trying to survive? I’d put grant money to good use. How about tax breaks? I’m not looking for a handout, but I don’t think my tax money should be spent on new drivers that may take jobs from experienced drivers that need the jobs.

Maybe I could turn my truck into a school and sign up my dog as a student?