The Source for Trucking News, Opinions and Trucking Jobs | Back on the Road

I know it’s been awhile, but I’m finally back on the road after a nagging transmission problem that I think is finally fixed (under warranty) but we still had a lot of downtime because of it. Between truck problems and training my new co-driver and honestly, seeing the same crap in the trucking news over and over, driver shortage and fuel prices. The economy’s booming, but the driver shortage, if only companies had drivers to deliver all this freight for Christmas. Every interview with a trucker about fuel prices is one giant whine fest. And frankly I’m about sick of it. I avoid it on the CB and in the truck stops.

You want to know why there’s a driver shortage, from my own personal experience?

My girlfriend went to CDL school (mill) and kept in contact with a classmate that went to drive for Covenant Transport. He’s not driving anymore. Quit after two months. First month with his trainer he describes as ‘hell on earth’. He was a complete jerk and treated him like crap. Then he has to ‘team’ with another rookie for a month. This ‘kid’ (his words), kept getting the truck into places he couldn’t get out of, among other things.

Covenant’s website advertises .27 cents a mile for 1 year. At 3000 miles a week, 50 weeks a year that’s about $37,000. On the surface, that’s not that bad, but you can’t get 3000 a week every single week. And how many hours does it take to get that (dispatched) 3000 miles. Between loading and unloading and everything else that keeps us off the road. I can’t believe Covenant makes their drivers stay out three weeks or more before they get a couple of days at home. Plus making their rookies team for peanuts while they rake in the dough and don’t give a rat’s butt about their people.

My Army buddy (from long, long time ago) started trucking because of the good luck I had with it and I don’t think he lasted six months. (I must have forgot to mention the hard work and all the b.s. I had to put up with to get to where I’m at. Sorry Ron!) He was so disgusted with it, he won’t even tell me what happened. And he was with a company that got him home every weekend.

I’m in the shop bugging the service writer about my truck when a Polish immigrant that drives for the local trash hauler asks about his company truck. I’ve noticed the ‘Drivers Wanted’ sign outside their building and I ask him how much they pay. He tells me $110 a day. I ask, "Is that for eight hours?" That’s for 6 trips. Sometimes it’s 8, sometimes it’s 10 or 12 depending on traffic. For eight hours, that’s not bad, but for 10 or 12 hours, THAT’S FREAKIN’ PITIFUL!!! ‘cuse me, was I yelling? But his response - at least he’s home everyday. Driving a trash trailer from the transfer station to the dump isn’t that exciting or demanding but that’s less then $10 an hour. But at least he’s home everyday. That’s sad.

Speaking of Polish immigrants, there seems to be more and more Polish truck drivers. I’m constantly getting stopped in truck stops and asked really stupid questions by drivers with east European accents. I’d like to know who’s bringing in all these immigrants and why and how much.

Today, I’m watching this truck back into a spot at the truck stop. Easy, plenty of room, curb on one side, empty space on the other. This guy backs over the curb and is half way down the parking space with half his trailer on top of the curb before he stops and pulls forward and tries again. Hello… How about keeping an eye on your trailer when your backing up? I’m constantly reminding Cindy about watching the trailer.

And then there’s this guy that doesn’t even see his trailer run over the bum he just gave a dollar to!

Truck Driver Gives Panhandler $1, Then Strikes and Kills Man as He Drives Away
The Associated Press
Published: Nov 19, 2004

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - A truck driver gave a panhandler $1, then struck and killed the man as he drove his rig away. Police said it was possible the driver didn’t know what happened.

Michael Burns, 43, who had no known address, was standing near an interstate ramp Thursday and holding a cardboard sign: "Homeless. Need Help. God Bless."

Witnesses and police said a trucker who was stopped for a red light gave a dollar to Burns. As the truck started making a left turn, its trailer knocked Burns down, and two sets of the truck’s tires ran over him.

The truck had no identifiable markings, and witnesses weren’t able to get a tag number.

Officer Randall Ward said it appears to be an accident.

"A dollar cost him his life," he said.

That’s just plain sad. Schools only teach enough to pass the test that they administer. Companies only train enough to let them loose on society and then wonder why no one wants to truck. All the whining about driver shortage is only going to allow them to import more immigrants (including Mexicans) at pitiful wages. It’s enough to make my head explode. I needed a break. But I’m back and recharged and ready to take on the stupidity of it all.