Question In My Research About Driver Shortage? And Load Delays...

Looking for next career after fire department retirement...( Not retiring this week...lol) See all over web... Driver shortage... Not a debate if it is real or why...seems to be plenty of driver job ads....

I have read many many comments or articles about.... Long dead heads, or having to wait 2 days or 15 to 20 hours to sit to off load, or get next load..... Basic question is... If driver shortage is a real thing..and seems to be.... What's with the waiting,sitting,? U would think if not enough drivers..there would be loads everywhere...just itching to be moved by the the first guy ready....

Am I missing something here?

Experienced Drivers that have proven to be SAFE AND EFFICIENT are in high demand. Companies are training drivers in hopes that they eventually get to be one of those drivers. Once you have about a years experience of safe driving you can pretty much write your own ticket to any company. All my experience is local, but I've lately been receiving phone calls for jobs I never applied to wanting to bring me in for an interview. I haven't posted a resume online or my phone number so its gotta be word of mouth. Im extremely happy where I'm at and don't see myself ever leaving. I only have about a year and a half experience.

A few members have talked about sitting forever on loads that are slaughterhouses. To help ensure the product is as fresh as possible they don't kill the animal until the driver is there. Most warehouses don't understand, or care, about drivers time as they're so accustomed to being paid hourly. One thing you'll notice with trucking is there is a lot if time that a driver isn't compensated for. Many companies offer detention time that gives you compensation after 2 hours but that amount is much smaller than if you were out there driving. Some companies also require that time to be logged ON DUTY which takes away from hours available to drive for the week.

The reason that there's so much talk about a driver shortage is there's so many drivers with unrealistic demands (couple threads yesterday and today mentioned not driving in snow), refusing to drive at night or other silly things. Companies want drivers who will do what it takes to legally and safely get a load delivered on time. Please stick around so you're much more prepared for when the time comes if you do get into trucking. How long do you have left until you'd realistically be getting into trucking?

Sorry,, never saw this reply.....

I have 6 years until I retire, I will be 60... but about to lose my #2 Job full-time ambulance.... they may be giving me a severance package that could pay for CDL school NOW, and I would like to try and find something local maybe part time, like the car plant/ supplier here to be my new second job.

I fear getting a CDL and still working FIRE,( not able to go OTR) might just get me a useless CDL