18WT 063: So many people see trucking as a great opportunity. So they go and get trained either paying themselves for a trucking school, or going through a company and having them pay. Then they get their money back through a 2 year contract typically.

Then a few months after training and into their very first otr job, they find out just how difficult truck driving is. Mentally, physically, and emotionally especially if they have family at home. Let’s be honest, kids just don’t understand the parent being gone for weeks on end. And that is how you make the money.

Then there is the point of view of the trucking company. These big companies are willing to train the new people to drive, but people wonder why they pay so low to being with. The reason seems to be that so many new drivers’ leave after 6 months of being on their own behind the wheel and being gone from home and learning more about driving and breakdowns, hours of service, split sleeper, and find out that driving is a hard job.

They go find jobs driving locally for smaller companies and places like Amazon and UPS. Then that typically leaves the big company out in the cold with a driver they paid to train, that left the company. And yes they no doubt send a bill for the schooling. I bet that is difficult to collect.

On the other side you have a few really great companies that pay extremely well and have great benefits. However, you do not walk into those jobs straight out of school. You have to do your “time” as they say and pay your dues until you have enough experience to get into those companies.

So, after speaking to drivers we have found that not much has changed with truck driving in one aspect, but really if you think about it, so much really has changed. Since trucks started hauling goods.

Full podcast show notes available here: https://www.18wheeltalk.com/e63

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