Home > Forum > Hard To Find Good Drivers!!!!!!!!

Hard to find good drivers!!!!!!!!

Dec 11, 2019 at 07:50 PM CST
+ 16 - 3
So, just a little rant. I post an add and offer good pay for a driver. I get no reply’s. But people reply to others post that offer less money, weird. Then I post on Facebook. Find two drivers that are really interested. I even offered to get a bus ticket for one to come out. Guess what, after the initial talk they don’t respond back. This worlds work ethic and respect is gone. That is all.
Replied on Thu, Dec 12, 2019 at 10:08 AM CST
+ 1

You're lucky............those were NOT the drivers you want. The right driver will come along

Replied on Thu, Dec 12, 2019 at 10:08 AM CST
+ 2

Good Luck Jerry. Most employes anymore ane not drivers! They are government indoctrinated steering wheel holders that are afraid of any weather and need 14 hours of bunk time a day so that they can get a little sleep and do their social media BS.

Replied on Thu, Dec 12, 2019 at 12:26 PM CST
+ 1 - 1
You are right Sam! I’m lucky to get 7 hours of bunk time ha ha. Rarely do I hit I-80 but when I do I pass these guys with phones or tablets on their steering wheels scrolling through Facebook. And they want to be home every week. Hell, when they shut the roads down cause of snow I’m on back dirt roads plowing through snow to make my destination. This new generation sucks!!!
Replied on Fri, Dec 13, 2019 at 07:35 AM CST
+ 9 - 1

First off heres the problem you got. The 1 in 10,000 that is worth hiring is already employed by the big companies or is smart enough to buy their own truck. The big companies have all the benefits they need. Those companies can afford to pay higher wages. Easy drop and hook miles are unlimited. Ive got to the point of employees are not worth the little extra money you will make on them. Anymore drivers will destroy your truck and leave your equipment and cargo stranded. Even with the best references. Previous employers just want these guys off there unemployment.

Second the era of anyone wanting to work anymore is gone. They all want a check no matter if they worked or called in sick all week. Extra hours, you must be crazy. 30 hours per week will be the new standard soon. Our country is doomed. We may not see it but our grandchildren will. With the work ethic this country has now we are screwed unless something changes. Our goverment is mainly to blame. So many hand outs. If i dont go to work and find myself work everyday there is no one at the unemployment office going to give me a check. I starve. But if all these lazy so called employees dont want to work our government is right there to wipe their butt for them. My thoughts are take away food stamps, unemployment, housing assistance and these people either get a job and work or starve and freeze to death. In either case our country is better off. Thats my 2 cents.

Replied on Fri, Dec 13, 2019 at 09:02 AM CST
+ 2
I have no idea how you could have summed it up better. I am 62 and when I pay my back debts from the previous administration, I am done Maybe I should get me a 30 hour a week job and show up when the fish aren't biting or I just want to kill some time
Replied on Wed, Dec 18, 2019 at 01:32 PM CST
+ 4
It sounds like the drivers are better negotiators than the Carriers are, because they are not afraid to say no to the rates or working conditions being offered.
Replied on Thu, Dec 19, 2019 at 10:54 AM CST
+ 2
Hard to find good pay
Replied on Thu, Dec 19, 2019 at 12:44 PM CST
+ 4
Its not just you,it seems to be a trend.Drivers are hard to find well ones that want to work,and can pass a drug test,anyway.I dont really have any answers myself,but these younger guys really dont have the work ethic that previous generations did,their whole set of values are different.They expect $100,000 a year but,only want to work a maximum of 40 hours,be home every night,and employers to coddle them like children.It all stems from the philosophy that everybody gets a trophy,there are no winners or losers,so we dont keep score.This why socialism and communism have become so popular amongst this generation.
Replied on Thu, Dec 19, 2019 at 12:44 PM CST
+ 1
Impossible, the ELD fixed the pay problem, LOL
Replied on Thu, Dec 19, 2019 at 01:07 PM CST
+ 2
Quote: "Its not just you,it seems to be a trend.Drivers are hard to find well ones that want to work,and can pass a drug test,anyway.I dont really have any answers myself,but these younger guys really dont have the work ethic that previous generations did,their whole set of values are different.They expect $100,000 a year but,only want to work a maximum of 40 hours,be home every night,and employers to coddle them like children.It all stems from the philosophy that everybody gets a trophy,there are no winners or losers,so we dont keep score.This why socialism and communism have become so popular amongst this generation."

It sounds like you just described the corporate executives at the ATA’s top carriers list, LOL.
Replied on Thu, Dec 19, 2019 at 02:05 PM CST
+ 1
This new generation of meat in the seat turned I 80 in central PA into a junk yard yesterday and killed 1 person and sent 37 people to the hospital all over a 5 min long snow squall. They are all held to the eld gun at their heads and safety went out the window a few years ago. Anymore the feds are gonna soon replace us all with autonomous trucks since the current system isn't working. Actually your best hire would probably be a fellow that was in that demolition derby yesterday and he is probably looking for a new job.
Replied on Thu, Dec 19, 2019 at 02:44 PM CST
+ 2
Consider me a conspiracy theorist,but I kinda believe that the whole ELD thing was introduced to push the autonomous agenda,they knew these laws would decrease production and cause safety issues.Now all of the sudden the highways are unsafe,there is a driver shortage which is partly caused by the whole csa/psp crap,so we need these self driving trucks (according to the government and Super Mega Carrier)for safety reasons,and because we cant find drivers that will work cheap enough.Truth is they would rather spend money on the truck that does not need a driver,which by the way means the driver that is not there is not getting paid or contributing to the overall economy,meaning he cant afford to buy that new car,or house,or whatever else which affects other industries.Just a way to make us all dependant on the government,for even the basic needs of life.
Replied on Thu, Dec 19, 2019 at 02:44 PM CST
+ 1

It'll be interesting to see what the FMCSA comes out with in regards to their revisions for the HOS. They're very late as usual. One thing I'm glad about when it comes to the ELD is that all the safety flaws are magnified now. It shows with 100 percent clarity how bad the HOS are in their current form and how drivers will operate in a reckless manner in an attempt to beat the clock. The amount of steering wheel holders I see speeding through work zones has increased exponentially since the mandate took effect and the parking situation looks to be an absolute nightmare! When paper was the norm, a few minutes here and there wasn't a big deal but now there are huge penalties for a SINGLE minute. I feel bad for those guys. It can all be remedied by simply allowing the 14 hours to STOP when on lines 1 or 2. Otheriwse, no way I could run under that kind of pressure OTR.

Replied on Thu, Dec 19, 2019 at 03:46 PM CST
- 1
Quote: "This new generation of meat in the seat turned I 80 in central PA into a junk yard yesterday and killed 1 person and sent 37 people to the hospital all over a 5 min long snow squall. They are all held to the eld gun at their heads and safety went out the window a few years ago. Anymore the feds are gonna soon replace us all with autonomous trucks since the current system isn't working. Actually your best hire would probably be a fellow that was in that demolition derby yesterday and he is probably looking for a new job."

This is exactly why Mr. Martinez got out of town, he knew this kind of stuff would become a daily event, and the White House would need a fall guy, especially in a election year. Tragedy and lawyers are campaign gold.
Replied on Sat, Dec 21, 2019 at 01:23 PM CST
There’s a lot of talk about ELD and I’m not sure why. Running hopper bottom is still not required to run ELD. unless most on here don’t fall under agricultural goods. I even was asked for my log book the other day and told her I don’t have one. She never questioned me since I run hopper. The 150 air mike range starts each day around your pick up location, which is verified BTW by DOT.
Replied on Sun, Dec 22, 2019 at 04:17 PM CST
That accident on I-80 the other day is a good reason, what other trucks next to you, or around you do affects your safety when they slide out of control and hit you, because they were in a hurry trying to beat a clock, but beyond that this is a bulk load board, and there are a lot of loads that are not Ag exempt, such as loads of coal for example. Very few of my loads are Ag- exempt.
Replied on Sun, Dec 22, 2019 at 04:17 PM CST
- 1
Quote: "There’s a lot of talk about ELD and I’m not sure why. Running hopper bottom is still not required to run ELD. unless most on here don’t fall under agricultural goods. I even was asked for my log book the other day and told her I don’t have one. She never questioned me since I run hopper. The 150 air mike range starts each day around your pick up location, which is verified BTW by DOT."

If you are hauling a product for someone else, and your truck is 2000 model on up. You need ELD. Just remember. If you are hauling something for someone else and geeting paid. You are for hire..... FULL STOP. If the product is in its raw state. ie; out of the feild and has not gone through heat, crimped, crushed, or made into anything else. You may get away with it. But if it is not your grain, and you are hauling it for someone else. You have to log it. ELD or not. All it take is one person who knows it or interprets it differently for you to have a bad day.

Replied on Sun, Dec 22, 2019 at 04:17 PM CST
+ 1
Quote: "There’s a lot of talk about ELD and I’m not sure why. Running hopper bottom is still not required to run ELD. unless most on here don’t fall under agricultural goods. I even was asked for my log book the other day and told her I don’t have one. She never questioned me since I run hopper. The 150 air mike range starts each day around your pick up location, which is verified BTW by DOT."

You've misunderstood the exemption. Please see the link below for a better understanding. Many carriers still need to log their hours.

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/hours-service/elds/agriculture-exemption-diagrams

Replied on Wed, Dec 25, 2019 at 01:23 PM CST
+ 2
Quote: "If you are hauling a product for someone else, and your truck is 2000 model on up. You need ELD. Just remember. If you are hauling something for someone else and geeting paid. You are for hire..... FULL STOP. If the product is in its raw state. ie; out of the feild and has not gone through heat, crimped, crushed, or made into anything else. You may get away with it. But if it is not your grain, and you are hauling it for someone else. You have to log it. ELD or not. All it take is one person who knows it or interprets it differently for you to have a bad day."

This is not correct. I use the Ag Exemption heavily, if you are hauling to the first point of sale and the product is in bulk form it is AG exempt. I primarily haul bulk potatoes to potato chip plants from various farms and use the Agricultural exemption every time. I recently went through a DOT audit with almost every load being logged as AG exempt and they made zero issue about it.
Replied on Wed, Dec 25, 2019 at 01:23 PM CST
+ 1
Quote: "You've misunderstood the exemption. Please see the link below for a better understanding. Many carriers still need to log their hours. https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/hours-service/elds/agriculture-exemption-diagrams"

The podcast here on bulk loads about the ag exemption is probably the best explanation I've heard anywhere. Its pretty detailed. According to the fmcsa official I know, its spot on.
Replied on Wed, Dec 25, 2019 at 04:49 PM CST
+ 1
Micheal. Be careful. The ag exemption is different from state to state. Example, south dakota....you can not use it from December 31st to march 1st. Need an e log between there. Luckily the rules are too complicated for the dot to follow accurately
Replied on Wed, Dec 25, 2019 at 04:49 PM CST
Quote: "Micheal. Be careful. The ag exemption is different from state to state. Example, south dakota....you can not use it from December 31st to march 1st. Need an e log between there. Luckily the rules are too complicated for the dot to follow accurately "

I think I was wrong on that post. If I remember correctly, the exemption only excludes you from hours of service. I think your miles per year are what excludes you from the e log.
Replied on Thu, Dec 26, 2019 at 09:20 AM CST
+ 2
Quote: "I think I was wrong on that post. If I remember correctly, the exemption only excludes you from hours of service. I think your miles per year are what excludes you from the e log. "

My truck Is e log exempt because it is a glider, however you are exempt from logging all together under certain circumstances in the Ag exempt provision. I usually go off duty once inside the 150 mile radius and remain off duty for all activities performed within that radius. I usually will turn my ag exempt time into a full 10 hour reset even though I am technically working. Once I reach the outer limit of the ag exempt radius I stop, have dinner, fuel, take a shower and wait for my clock to hit 10 hours of ag exempt. Then I have a full set of hours available. If you are running hard during harvest this will at least save significant time on your 70.
Replied on Sat, Jan 04, 2020 at 07:54 AM CST
ELD Provider HOS4AG uses geofencing to keep everything legal. It’s been great for me.
Replied on Sat, Jan 04, 2020 at 02:34 PM CST

I agree that it is hard to find good drivers. I would also add that as a driver recuperating from cancer right now with 30+ year's experience, that as of late, it is also getting hard to find good employers.

I tried to get back into a truck after being laid up for about 7 months but the radiation treatments caused a fistula in a compromising area which made sitting impossible. I am told by my surgeon that in about two to three months I should be able to try it again.

I just want to get back out there again because laying around doesn't do me or any future employer any good.

I have seen over the years, that with the number of drivers getting into the profession, many of whom seem to have been born without common sense seem to have also misplaced their work ethic.

I wish I had a solution to help both sides of this puzzling equation, but if I could solve that problem, I probably would be rich enough where I'd never have to work again (I would still work, I just wouldn't have to).

Good luck to all of you in your endeavors to find good help and try to be the employer that drivers would line up outside your door trying to get in.

Replied on Sat, Jan 04, 2020 at 09:26 PM CST
Good luck with the treatment Kevin. I wish you the best.
Replied on Wed, Jan 08, 2020 at 10:03 AM CST
Quote: "Good luck with the treatment Kevin. I wish you the best."

Thank you, very much. I am trying my damnedest to get better. I would much rather drive a truck instead of my bed.

Replied on Sun, Jan 12, 2020 at 01:01 PM CST
Quote: "Thank you, very much. I am trying my damnedest to get better. I would much rather drive a truck instead of my bed."

Well, make sure you look me up when you get better Kevin.