Is There Jobs In The Trucking Industry?

I have to "recreate" a few old conversations from our very old forum and transfer them here, so just ignore this. It'll disappear in a few minutes.

From reading everywhere, I thought there were jobs in the Trucking Industry, I thought drivers were needed, and then I read that on another forum, and I`d like your thoughts about what this guy is saying (apparently he`s been a trucker for 35years...):
 
 
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FYI: these are the only negative posts I`ve seen, but still makes you wonder...

I've also visited TTR, and while there is a vast amount of good info/posters there, there is also a lot of whining/bad (mis)information. Without knowing the context of the quoted post, I can only assume it has to do with someone with unrealistic views of making it rich in trucking, but in any event, there's a lot of WTF in that post. Just looking at the trucking jobs section, there's scores of listings for drivers, and anecdotal evidence of experienced as well as inexperienced folks getting hired on. One just need visit any of the oilfield threads. First he says the only jobs available are for replacing the non-hackers, so it sounds like a moot point, if jobs are filled with people who cannot keep a job, or cannot handle the pressures, then it won't be long until it is filled by someone who wants to do it, and can do it. Fact is, in my limited opinion, there is no disputing the need for drivers be it due to growth, or keeping existing trucks moving. I could use this in context to my current job, where while people are quitting, we are growing, and seats need to be filled, one way or another. The last thing, is his complaint about 'bottom feeding' carriers. I can't see a problem with a company paying to train you, and only ask for about a year of service to repay it. I don't see it as being indentured, rather, I see it as, there ain't no such thing as a free lunch, and if you cannot stick it out, then that is your own problem, not the company's. I have seen it here, drilled over and over and over again, is one should stick it out for that 1 year, then start looking around once ya got the 1 year experience. If you go job to job to job, it's not just trucking that will frown on it, I'd say pretty much any employer, in any type of job would look at it the same way. This quoted post, may be trying to scare off people looking into trucking, or perhaps this post's author is in fear of possibly losing his position to one of us new guys, who knows. All I can say, is that I am not phased by it. I am leaving (God willing, I get my CDL first Grin) a company after 8 years of service to try something that may pay close to the same salary I get now, and require many more hours, in less than ideal working conditions to get it. I know the risks, I've done my homework, and if there's a drivers seat to take, then I'm gonna claim one too.

Regardless of what's going on with the economy, there is always high turnover in the trucking industry & there are always jobs available. Trucking is relatively easy to get into, but it's a difficult lifestyle (especially OTR) & it's not right for everybody. I don't know if jobs are being lost or not. I do know that if you work hard & get some experience (especially with no tickets or accidents), opportunities will always be there.

Thank you all for your responses, I look at many different places to get the most informations I can, and so far I like it here better than other places; more informations and a positive yet realistic attitude from everyone.

I still have some time before deciding for an Independent School or Company Training, so I'm still searching on informations before I decide which way I should go, can be confusing at times...

I used to think that too & it does seem to be true, at first. But I know many, many, many truck drivers who make good to excellent money...just not right away. But compared to other trades, it really doesn't take long before you can be making $50,000/year & up (sometimes way up), at least at smaller companies. Smiley I do believe that the trucking companies take advantage of trainees & new drivers (not everyone here agrees with me about that) by paying them too low. I also think that recruiters sign up WAY too many students, knowing full well that many of them won't (& shouldn't) make it as drivers...because they're sales people, that's how they make their living! But, hey, we're all adults & responsible to make good decisions so do you blame the companies or the people signing up? Look, if you're smart, do things right & are a little lucky (AND if you're willing to make some sacrifices), you're going to end up with a good job in trucking.

The problem with trucking is there is nothing to compare it to. You can't compare trucking to the construction industry. You can't compare it to office positions. You can't compare it to the military. It's totally unique. I mean, for starters, take a look at who truck drivers are. They are people who never completed high school and people who have doctorate degrees. For many, it's their last option. The last place to get a job. Then they experience the lifestyle, complain about it, quit, and add to the turnover rate figures. Have you ever seen a more diverse group of people in one industry before?

OTR is an insane lifestyle. Most other people go to work and still live the same lifestyle they are used to at home. Trucking isn't like that. To top it all off, those getting into the industry have a skewed image of what trucking is. They think about the open road, travel, and seeing the sites. Heck, grab the kids and the dog, it's like a big vacation! Unfortunately, reality begins to set in and they quit. Yes, they do see the open road, travel, and see the sites... But they didn't realize how lonely it would get. They didn't realize you don't have time to smell the roses while you travel. They didn't realize that it's dirty, smelly (at times), and loud with erratic schedules. They didn't realize how cramped it gets living out of a truck. And so, they get angry that trucking isn't the romantic image they had. Or if they were simply after the money, they figure out their "hourly wage" and quit. So many people get into this industry for the wrong reasons.

Who gets the blame? "The bottom feeder companies." You know, the guys that paid for 160 to 180hrs worth of education and training using their expensive equipment while paying for your transportation and lodging at school. Oh, and then they give you a job after that with paid training. The new drivers that go through the program then complain about everything under the sun, even after they are making 40k+ after just a couple years.

Want to know how much I made my first year and second years out of college? $32,000 and some change. This position required a 4-year degree. Want to know how much debt I went into for that degree so I could land that lovely job? I don't know the exact figure, but it's well over $50,000, and that's before the interest I'll be charged over the next 20 years trying to pay that debt off. So who's worse off? The guy who got free training at a "CDL Mill" and a job paying 40k+ after 2 years? Or the college grad making 30k with $50,000 of debt? I have a friend who is a teacher making "truck driver wages" and is literally more than 100k in debt from getting both her Bachelors and her Masters degrees. Is the school she works for a bottom feeder? Heck, they didn't even offer her paid training. She had to work for free for 9 months before they hired her. No joke.

I disagree with many things trucking companies do. I'm very vocal about leasing programs, for example. I think lease programs set people up for failure. It frustrates me that companies will try to make a buck off the backs of their own employees. So it's not like I'm always on the companies side. But in this case, people bash these "bottom feeder companies" like they are truly evil for providing free training in return for 1 year of paid employment. I mean, really? I personally see the company sponsored training to be a fantastic program allowing thousands of people every year to gain employment they otherwise wouldn't have been able to get into because they couldn't afford the training.

The turnover rate in OTR is and will always be exceedingly high. It's not a trucking company issue. It's a lifestyle issue. The job is tough and there's not much they can do to change that. Making a profit is a requirement for these trucking companies. And making a profit in a cut-throat, commodity based business is very difficult. There's only so much they can do to make a drivers life easier and they can only pay drivers so much money. Ask anyone on the street if they think they should be paid more than they currently make. What do you think they'll say? Everyone thinks they deserve more.

He said there's no opportunity available for those with no experience? I find that laughable. Absolutely laughable. Of all the industries in the entire country, this is one that has an amazing opportunity. If you have a clean background, you will get a job and you'll get free training on top of that. And the job is secure. It's not going anywhere. That's why so many people get into trucking out of desperation.

I don't care how much smaller electronics get. I don't care how things are packaged. I don't care if a new port is built or a new major railroad line is laid. I don't care if trucks are allowed to haul 800ft trailers. There will always be plenty of jobs available in the trucking industry. Far more jobs than most other industries.

It's funny, the exact same source he used to try and prove trucking is dying (BLS.gov) actually says the exact opposite. He took that chart completely out of context. The Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting a 13% increase in the demand for truckers through 2018. See? http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos246.htm#outlook

Trucking is here to stay, the demand for truckers is here to stay, and so companies will continue providing free training in order to fill that void. Trucking isn't going anywhere and either are the jobs.

Re: Is there jobs in the Trucking Industry? Reply #12 - Nov 26th, 2011, 4:07pm I am sorry. NO ONE can blame trucking companies for their own failure. Companies advertise. That is the way it is. They are selling a product. TRUCKING JOBS. Trucking is not for everyone BUT people needing a job run to trucking cause they thought it would be easy cause they can drive a car or pickup. Blaming trucking companies is like blaming a car dealer for selling you a Cadilac when you could not afford it. Or blaming the banks because YOU decided to take an ARM instead of a fixed rate mortgage.

People never seem to take the time to do their own research then cry because they listened to other people and were given the wrong advice.

People have no sense of time. They are told they will be out on the road for 4 to 6 weeks at a time then complain they never get home cause they only go home once a month. HUH!? 4 weeks is a month.

People are told they will make $800 to $1000 dollars a week on average. They do. But I guess they forget about taxes. You still have to pay taxes while driving a truck. Companies say you will make $400 dollars a week while in training. They do. OOP! I guess they forgot about taxes again.

New people get into trucking with no idea of what to expect and they sign paperwork saying they will agree to pay $3000 plus dollars for the training. Whose fault is that? Do your research people BEFORE getting into trucking. You go through ALL of this and find out that trucking is not for you BUT you knew nothing about trucking BEFORE entering it. It's no different than any other job. You get a new job and work there for a few weeks and quit because it was not for you. Same thing people. Except trucking cost a little in the beginning to learn how to drive the truck.

It comes down to PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. Take a little bit of it. There are jobs out there people. Sure they aren't the most glorious jobs out there. Digging ditches for minimum wage or working at McDonalds but there are jobs. And trucking is just a different type of job.