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Eyewitness News 11.com: Truck Driver Shortage Increases Prices — And Job Opportunities

Faced with a shortage of drivers, some trucking companies are charging more to move merchandise– costs passed onto you and me. The shortage is delivering a blow to the consumers, but a boon to people who are willing to make the long hauls.

The driver shortage is causing companies to offer better pay and benefits. Drivers can start at $35,000… eventually make $70,000 to $100,000 a year with overtime.

Anyone except for unions get overtime? I’m pretty sure that pay scale is union too. Nothing wrong with that, but it doesn’t reflect the rest of the industry.

I’m still seeing the same ads for the same crappy wages. Especially for people just starting out. Bonus’s that are spread out over a year or more. I’m just a lowly owner operator but I still keep an eye on wages that companies offer and the rates they offer to owner operators and they havent’ moved much in several years. I’m not impressed by what’s everyone is offering.

Worse, it’s still the same pennies per mile. How about a salary? How about hourly? How about all those hours sitting on the dock? How about more companies offering overtime? Driver shortage must not be that bad. They’re still trying to fix it with the same crap, they think different people are listening now and the rest of us are too stupid.

Small update – I have been hearing ads from a few companies that are advertising a raise in salaries. Salaries (including o/o’s) are beginning to inch up.

And check this out -

Truckload Profits Rise Despite Driver Issues

Many truckload carriers said profits pushed higher during the second quarter despite a lingering inability to find and retain drivers that prohibited fleet expansion in spite of high demand for freight-hauling services.

Of the 13 publicly traded carriers that posted earnings for the three months ended June 30, most reported strong gains and some said the high demand for their services allowed them to increase freight rates. Analysts and fleets said the current market trends should continue through this year, allowing carriers to trim less profitable lanes and customers.

“Freight demand and pricing continued to strengthen in the second quarter as truckload industry capacity struggled to keep up with an improving freight economy,” said Clarence Werner, chairman and chief executive officer of Werner Enterprises, in the company’s earnings statement.

They’re “struggling”, but doing okay, driver shortage and all. Must not be all that bad after all.

Originally posted 2008-11-26 04:00:00.