New Blame Being Named For Driver Shortage

A new culprit has emerged in trucking-related news lately to blame for the truck driver shortage. Marijuana.

New blame being named for driver shortage

I agree. Speaking to numerous people about driving (young and old), the reason they won't get a CDL is because they're not willing to give up marijuana. As other employers are paying more to attract employees, they have other options and they don't have to worry about a failed drug test.

My thinking on this is fine, less trucks equals more freight to move, less waiting and higher rates. Nobody is forcing the marijuana users into fewer job possibilities due to their poor lifestyle choices. Trucking and drug use will never mix.

I personally think its BS. The current administration and all of its appointees are wonderful at assigning boogeymen to anything that isn't up to snuff. MJ is nothing more than an excuse that will buy them some time so fewer people see their failed and failing policies are the real boogeyman. JMHO of course but I'm 100% right.

I read an article that stated with the driver shortages companies continue to allow sexual harassment against women to keep women out of the industry. Everybody is selling something mostly BS.

There's no real shortage of drivers. If there were, the shelves in the grocery stores would be empty, no new houses would get built, new cars wouldn't be delivered to dealerships, and all of us would be getting pay raises to bring us back to 1970s-levels of trucker prosperity. The whole "driver shortage" story has a different purpose than highlighting an actual shortage of drivers.

There's no real shortage of drivers. If there were, the shelves in the grocery stores would be empty, no new houses would get built, new cars wouldn't be delivered to dealerships, and all of us would be getting pay raises to bring us back to 1970s-levels of trucker prosperity. The whole "driver shortage" story has a different purpose than highlighting an actual shortage of drivers.

Well said, good sir. From a seasoned member & driver. Thanks, Bud. So great to see you stop by....as always!

~ Anne & Tom ~

My thinking on this is fine, less trucks equals more freight to move, less waiting and higher rates. Nobody is forcing the marijuana users into fewer job possibilities due to their poor lifestyle choices. Trucking and drug use will never mix.

Exactly my thoughts. Ive got nothing against anyone getting baked all the time, theyre free to make the choices they make, but theyre not free from the consequences of their choices. Also, coming from Colorado, its brought traffic to a standstill there. Definitely not a driving performance enhancing substance.

We can know if a "secret purpose":

The whole "driver shortage" story has a different purpose than highlighting an actual shortage of drivers.

We can use our imagination:

less trucks equals more freight to move, less waiting and higher rates

I believe the shortage to be real. I regularly have recruiters come to my class to tell my students how great their company is. About the trucks with refrigerators, APUs , TVs and even SiriusXM included. Some recruiters are even offering hiring bonus to my recent grads! A few companies have just now bumped driver pay again.

Just imagine paying $500 to get a rookie driver on board! Who'da thot!

The need for drivers has been a real thing for years now.

APU:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

APUs:

Auxiliary Power Unit

On tractor trailers, and APU is a small diesel engine that powers a heat and air conditioning unit while charging the truck's main batteries at the same time. This allows the driver to remain comfortable in the cab and have access to electric power without running the main truck engine.

Having an APU helps save money in fuel costs and saves wear and tear on the main engine, though they tend to be expensive to install and maintain. Therefore only a very small percentage of the trucks on the road today come equipped with an APU.

I read an article that stated with the driver shortages companies continue to allow sexual harassment against women to keep women out of the industry. Everybody is selling something mostly BS.

What a crock of doggie do!! I haven't heard that one yet, but it doesn't surprise me that someone would come up with it. However, we know that's not true because of all the women getting hired and all the women out here. When I came out on the road in '88 there was an estimated 100,000 women in all facets of driving. If I saw one or two women driving long haul in a week, it was like old home week because you just didn't see us out there. Now I see a half dozen women a day!

Laura