Melton Trucking Orientation

Sorry, but I have experienced non-English speaking drivers. But I doubt they’ll run the rest of us off

I'm sure a few slip through the cracks. I'm sure many speak a little English, but not enough to talk in a conversation without translation.

If they were gonna run the rest of us off, that would have happened decades ago.

There are also people out here driving among us without a valid cdl. Neither are right or legal, but does happen. As with everything some folks ignore the rules, until they get caught. Then they disapear. It is what it is, I always pray when they screwup noone dies.

My apology for not reading more carefully.

In the context of a larger discussion about immigrants taking jobs, it is not likely to be non-English speaking immigrants, but I am not so sure English speaking immigrants couldn't adversely affect the labor market for driving jobs.

I'm glad my first post sparked a conversation. I am not racist and I believe that good people should have a chance to start over in America. It is undeniable that an immigrant work force coming into trucking will drive down wages. Living in South Florida for 25 years My largest pet peeve is people coming to this country and not making an effort to learn the language. I could not go to their country and survive without learning the language. I have been denied many job opportunities because I am not bilingual. That is the state of living and working in South Florida. I guarantee the trucking companies will look at ways to accommodate these people to lower wages. Enough of that rant, I have to go practice my duck walk.

I guarantee the trucking companies will look at ways to accommodate these people to lower wages.

The trucking companies operate under FMCSA rules and regulations. They are not free to "look at ways to accommodate these people." As a truck driver for many years, I've seen very few drivers who couldn't speak English. When I do encounter them, they are typically working for a very small trucking firm owned by immigrants. People have been blowing hot air about the illegal immigrants taking our trucking jobs for years. That's all it is. Ignorance and hot air.

While driving a truck, I made a six figure income this past year. I had a phone call from a manager last week telling me about the generous raise I'm getting as we start the new year. Trucking is all about performance. Productive people get rewarded for producing strong revenues to their employer. Drivers earn what they get. I have never seen my wages reduced. Reducing people's income sends them packing. That's not a likely scenario for any trucking company. They are most efficient when they have top talent out here meeting the challenging demands of a very tough industry.

Joseph, you may think you want to be a truck driver, but you may very well find it's a job more demanding than you care for. I see a good many Sikhs out here. Their religion teaches them the values of hard work. They are very industrious, but not always fluent in English. Trucking companies love them because they give 110%. If you want to do well at this job, you will prove it with your actions, not your tongue.

It is undeniable that an immigrant work force coming into trucking will drive down wages.

How so? Are you aware that a work visa cannot be issued for a trucking job? Are you aware that trucking companies are not allowed to "sponsor" an immigrant and provide them with work as a driver. Our government has tagged truck driving as "unskilled labor" for this very reason. That keeps immigrants from getting work visas for truck driving jobs.

I cannot even tell you how many times immigrants have begged us here at Trucking Truth to help them get into this career. They have considerable barriers. You will face your own barriers. Some of them you've already encountered. That duck walk thing should be the least of your worries. You're going to face a lot bigger challenges.