Life on the Road – Trucking News Blog

I know so many folks who are not only trying to get out of trucking, but in. I recall that scene from “Top Gun” where Tom Cruise and his RIO are standing outside of their “bosses” office after just having been ordered never to “buzz” the tower. Anthony Edwards, who plays Cruise’ aka Maverick’s “backseater” (radar intercept officer), asks if they would be better off going to that trucking school (“Acme”) on the back of “those” matchbook covers. That was back then, but it is all still very true now as the job market is still tight with good jobs hard to find and truck driving is all that is available.

Now I know one such “gent” that has just lost his job that might be interesting in trucking – General Stanley A. McChrystal. I believe after reading about this fellows personality and disdain for authority, he just might make a good candidate for one of the thousands of OTR big rig jobs. He might even be interested in one of those owner -operator “opportunities” with Land Star or Prime. With his contacts and security clearance, he could clean up handling high value military loads for FedEx Critical.

The possibilities are endless. He and his family are already used to his being away from home extended periods of time. They say he eats one meal a day. How perfect is that? He doesn’t sleep much – in fact, only 4 hours a night. That’s even better. He was special forces and a ranger. So overnight driving would not be a problem. McChrystal was reportedly known for saying and thinking what other soldiers are afraid to – that sounds just like the typical truck driver to me. And with all due respect to the General, take off the uniform and with those ears and a CAT ball cap, jeans and pair of T/A cowboy boots, he looks like the rest of us and would be good to go. Stop shaving and lose a couple of teeth and he’ll look like he’s been follow’n the white line for years.

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Before I talk trucking, I just want to briefly mention what I’m referring to as the mess after the mess. That is the BP oil rig explosion and ongoing pipe leak at 5000 ft. below the Gulf. As this prime example of corporate big business stupidity and irresponsibility continues, the “onsite” Federal crisis overseer, 4-Star Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, had this to say yesterday regarding the response and cleanup: “I think they’re adequate to the assumptions in the plans. I think you need to go back and question the assumptions.” This my LOTR readers is just unacceptable. When the President was sitting on a waterside porch down in Louisiana yesterday in front of the media doing one of his folksy “down home” no tie – no jacket cum by ya’s, he said “Thad” something bla bla bla. It was Bush/Brownie all over again. We’ve heard all this before. Same place, different face. Tonight the President will address the nation at 8pm. This better be good. Read the rest of this entry »

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.
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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!!!

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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.

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