Vals...,
and you hit a big problem that has been in the industry forever.
When the economy is crappy, and there is no work, people are willing
to drive a truck. Except, there is usually less freight.
When every one is hiring, nobody wants to drive truck.
Dogcatcher
You are wrong about getting a trucking job.
If you can pee clean, have a good record and pass a physical, there are
companies that will either train you and pay lodging +food stipend.
Or tuition reimbursements for your driving school.
Schneider hired me at 21years and a month.
Contingent on getting through their school and passing CDL.
I had a 6 month commitment, or had to pay them $1k.
I think it's a year and $3k now.
Thing is schools charged thousand$ back then.
People would go through school take the test, and hand them a check.
Then go work where the want.
Much of this is payed for by job creation tax money.
That's a whole other big story, but in short the driver shortages
were intentional in the past.
Companies had their own schools, which got money for training drivers.
The companies got subsidies for the wages, which were pretty low
to begin with. Once drivers got up in the pay scale, it was financially
advantageous to drive them off. To be replaced by a new driver at a low,
subsidized wage.
Heck, the school I went to was at the Lancaster Vo-tech.
The state provided the classroom space, parking lot, fuel,
All teachers except the head teacher. Schneider provided the worn
out (but safe) trucks, head teacher, and maintenance.
It was only open for Pa residents. And a number of students were
ex-military on the GEAR program.
There was a huge lawsuit a few years ago involving SWIFT. And their
playing this game.
