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.
Read the rest of this entry »

You’re kidding me right? Now? In this economy? I can’t stand it when I see a driver shortage story in the news. Like most of the truckers that have some kind of web site or presence online, I get a lot of questions from people wanting to get into driving and thanks to stories like this listed as news the object is to confuse and play on people’s desire for a job and adventure. Just because something like this is in a newspaper or anywhere else, listen closely, closer, get a notebook out to write this down, ready? IT’S A PRESS RELEASE! NOT A NEWS STORY!!!

Read the rest of this entry »

The “Driver Shortage” has been around for a long, long time. Freight always gets to where it’s supposed to be, but there’s always a shortage of drivers. What they really mean is there is a shortage of drivers that will work cheap. And even with all the raises, if there’s still a problem recruiting, raise the wages / rates more.

Usually these “news stories” are only press releases from major trucking companies looking for free advertising for new recruits, which this one is. But, at least this story has some truth in it.

Trucking industry always on the lookout for drivers
Sun News Report Article Launched: 09/21/2007 05:10:59 PM MDT
By Brook Stockberger Sun-News Business Editor
LAS CRUCES — Lori Rand and her husband both have college degrees but have recently taken some more classes. In fact, Rand and her husband, Mike Merriwether, plan to start their new career soon — as truck drivers. “We’re going to be a team,” she said. “We think this is a great way to make a living and see the country.”

That’s how we all start out.     Read the rest of this entry »

With all the talk about Mexican truck issue, something different -

Kiwi trucker busted in big US immigration scam
The trucking industry says a shortage of New Zealand drivers is being made worse by promises of a higher income overseas.

This comes after a Kiwi truck driver sunk a major immigration scam which officials say allowed hundreds of foreign truckers, mostly New Zealanders, to illegally enter the US.

The unnamed driver was caught sneaking across the Canadian border with an official letter saying he was waiting for a visa renewal to work for another firm.

But it was found to be on of at least 260 visas illegally supplied by a local politician.

I’ve always said the Mexican truck problem is minor compared to the immigration and visa problem we now have.

Trucker from New Zealand sneaking across the Canadian border. It doesn’t get any better!

Who’s the psychic on this one? 2020 is a long ways away.

Trucking industry anticipating a boom in business
Drew Brooks
July 22, 2007 - 10:47PM
SHELBY — A recent study by the U.S. Department of Transportation predicts massive growth in the trucking industry in the coming years.
According to the study, N.C. trucks will be hauling over 600 million tons of motor freight by 2020. That is almost double the little over 300 million N.C. trucks hauled in 1998.

Everyone knows trucking is cyclical. My first reaction to stories like these is if they are setting up more “driver shortage” hysteria. Oh, wait… here it is now (same article) -

Turner echoed the worry over drivers. He said “the driver problem is one problem everybody has,” and that many of the current drivers would be retired by the time 2020 rolled around.

Charles Dedmond, president of A.V. Dedmond Trucking at 800 Cherryville Road, said more truck driving schools were recruiting heavily, which would hopefully help stave off any massive shortage.

A massive shortage? If that isn’t setting up a massive h2b visa / guest worker program I don’t know what is.

The byline says Newsweek, but it’s really just a recruiting ad.

The Freewheelers: Boomers have discovered the joys of truckdriving
By Jemimah Noonoo
Newsweek

And, despite the grueling hours and physical demands, it can be a win-win situation. Cruz, who spent 20 years working in wind owless offices, has driven to nearly every state. He now spends his days singing along to Italian opera, with no one to complain when his notes are off-key.

Former IBM engineer Earl Gooch, 54, says the best part of his new job is that he can wear whatever he wants: “It’s easier to kick back in work boots and jeans.” Recruiters are also attracting couples like Jack and Eileen Murtaugh, who drive as a team and see truckdriving as an enjoyable bridge to retirement. “We can semi-retire in a semi truck,” says Jack, 52.

At least this one mentions the grueling hours and physical demands but doesn’t go into specifics. Grueling hours? I thought driving was regulated and you could only drive 11 hours behind the wheel? What most people don’t know and what rookies find out when it’s too late - driving is only part of the job.

Read the rest of this entry »