The Source for Trucking News, Opinions and Trucking Jobs | Driver Shortage: My Fault!

In Sailors of the Concrete Sea,  Professor Belman concludes that the so-called driver shortage isn’t a shortage at all. It’s only perceived by the companies as a shortage because of all the job hopping drivers do. To let everyone know, I’m doing my part to keep that perception alive. We start driving for a different company in April. This was the longest I’ve been with one trucking company, almost made it three years.

If you’ve checked out my resume, you’ll notice I’ve had more than a few jobs and a couple of different careers. With all my talk about how drivers need to take advantage of this Capacity Crunch it’s time to put up or shut up. 

The office in Vegas shut down their Special Commodity division fired a bunch of employees and moved the drivers and equipment to the corporate office (after being offered straight household jobs which we declined). First I was pretty stunned, several friends were among the fired. It’s been six months and I’ve kept an open mind about working for the other office, but also have kept an eye out for something else.

The best jobs in trucking are often the ones not advertised. I started at Graebel with the help of a friend that knew the GM in Vegas and I was hired with no experience in household or pad wrap freight.

You will never see a Brand X advertisement in a magazine. After talking to a company driver and an owner operator of  Brand X while we were all getting loaded at the same place, they really loved working there and made more money than me for the same load. I’ve tried to talk to this company’s drivers every chance I get, but being a small company, it’s been tough. Everyone I have talked to has loved Brand X. The owner, the company, equipment, especially the pay, the whole nine yards.

After several months of talking, research and thinking (plus I was
giving the new Graebel office a chance) I filled out their app and even
stopped by the Brand X only terminal and headquarters and talked to
their staff. We were hired as soon as we walked in the door, literally.
They said we were hired and then we still talked for a bit about the
company and my experience.  I know recruiters lie, but this sounded
pretty good and confirmed things I had heard from other drivers.

I think we were hired so quickly because we were coming from a
company that dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s. Plus they have a
couple of Graebel drivers already and might get a couple more (besides
us). To make the good first impression we dressed nice and washed the
truck and trailer even though it was going to rain later that day.

I gave Graebel our notice and was told I was getting a new contract
in March and should wait. There’s nothing really wrong with Graebel and
certainly nothing we can’t live with, but from all indications we can
do better at Brand X. Waiting another month wasn’t going to make that
big of difference in the big picture.

In looking back, I should have finished the load we were on and started
right away with Brand X. Staying another month didn’t gain me anything,
but we were due and ready for some time off and I can put the truck in
shop. Finish the other appointment I have and be ready to go without
starting a new job and then saying, "Oh, by the way, we’ve got to be in
Vegas next week". This way we are ready for whatever they throw at as
without worrying about the truck or personal stuff.

During that time I checked out another company where a friend was
working that paid really, really well (hauling exotic cars).  They keep
the number of their drivers low and don’t have much turnover. They were
only going to hire a couple more than close hiring again. I think the
recruiter was speechless when I told him thanks for the opportunity,
but no thanks. I’m sure they don’t get too many people that turn them
down. But I honestly think we can do just as well where we are going
and not have to learn something knew or have any initial expense (for a
PTO) or a learning curve or possibility of claims. I don’t have to
worry about claims now and won’t at Brand X.  I’ve known household
guys that had a lot of claims and they can really eat your lunch.
Claims are part of the household and car business, but why put
ourselves in that situation if we don’t have to.

We are not employees building
seniority or vestment I told Graebel that regular freight companies are
getting close to the same price per mile when we haul the Spec Comm, plus some even
offered permits and other perks. We could go from dock to dock or even drop and hook and not
have to worry about blankets or decks or any of that crap. I don’t mind
doing it if we’re compensated, but why do the same work for less than someone else is willing to pay?? I’m all for company loyalty and all that. But closing the Vegas desk showed that this corporation has no loyalty, it’s all about the bottom line. It’s not personal, it’s business. That works both ways.

The household season will soon be upon us and that means more than the
usual money, but more work too. Our household experience consists of
taking the overflow or what the primary driver didn’t want to take.
It’s usually sitting on the dock of a Graebel warehouse waiting for us.
All we have to do is back up, load it and go. One or two or more of
those on a trailer to the destination warehouses to unload. At what I
thought was a really good rate per mile.

At Brand X we will get even more per mile plus more for labor if we
want to, labor is optional, most of the time we don’t mind and it’s
good money. At Graebel we don’t have to load or unload, but lately if
we want out of there in a timely manner, we do it ourselves and get
paid.

I like small companies. Graebel Las Vegas had the best of both. It’s
time to move on for number one, more money $$$ We need to take advantage of
this upswing in trucking as much as possible so we can be prepared for
the next downswing. Second, better equipment. I love the trailers at
Brand X - lift gates, fiberglass ramps, side doors and a few extra
lights.  I think it will be a good move. Loads will be better paying
and more interesting. We are already making plans to buy a trailer to
get a bigger piece of the line haul at Brand X. One thing at a time
though. We will keep you updated and check out our personal page at Adventure In Trucking.