Without getting into the controversial why's, union is one you know
the other, drivers are way under paid in most cases.
Look at Wal-Mart. Their per mile isn't huge. But when you pay a
driver for all his time that you require, it adds up.
I know guys who drove in the 60s through 80s.
Guys who used to bring home $3-500/wk. Actual bring home.
When a new Camero was $3-4k and a nice home could be bought
for under $20k.
Those guys were wealthy. People envied truck drivers.
The truck has become way more comfortable and friendly,
The roads are better.
Pretty much every other part of the job has gotten worse.
As an earlier post, people are willing to drive, when they can't do
anything else. There really isn't much to attract people.
Even for the naive ones who are attracted to the pay,
The lifestyle and the uncomped hassels outweigh the money.
Plus there really is a status thing, many don't realize it or even deny it.
But it's there. It's become hard to be proud of a profession so
many look down on.
Ironically, they also would deny it. But listen to them talk,
watch them drive. Trucks are nothing but a problem for them.
