Question:
If there really was a shortage of drivers, do you think the following would have happened?
1. US Xpress closes its driving school.
2. Swift raises its contract for free training to two years (at least in some parts of the country, haven't verified it for overall).
3. Schneider increases its contract to 2 years--at least according to a post in this forum.
Clearly this isn't a sign of a desperate industry for drivers.
Answer:
There's enough job hopping going on that companies have a constant source of new hires. I've seen posters on this forum jump from Schneider to Swift to JB Hunt. Some have even gone back to where they started after hopping around a bit. It's a never ending cycle.
As some one use to have in their signature, "There is not a shortage of drivers, just a shortage of good companies to drive for".

Answer:
Have the "government" subsidies been lowered or runout?
Answer:
Hmmm, good question. They've probably been rerouted after Katrina and because of the War.

Answer:
You don't suppose they smell a recession, do you? A lot of drivers are expecting a lot of good paying work, off of the Katrina rebuild. Looking at South Florida, I'm doubtful it will be as good, or as plentiful, as many expect.
To quote myself, from one of Max the Wife's threads:
http://roundtable.truck.net/viiewt.php?t=54836&highlight=
Government Ain't YO' Friend. Nor your Servant.
A Tax Reduces Incentive & Capacity. A Regulation is also a TAX.


Answer:

They are just trying to lock them in for a longer period of time.
Answer:

And this is the truth. I am one of those drivers who absolutely abhors spending even one night away from home in a truck. We have enough local work that the fleet manager COULD put me on dedicated local work. Instead he uses temporary day labor to do the locals and continues to send me out of town. The best runs (in my opinion) go to guys who AREN"T even employees of the company! I've had some discussions about this with him, but he refuses to budge. The more I WANT to be local the MORE he sends me out of town.

Answer:

They are just trying to lock them in for a longer period of time.
I know that locking them down for a longer period, will go a long ways in lowering their cost. At the same time, the extended commitment will lower the number of "doofusses" that will give the idea a second thought. And those that do give it a second thought, will be the most desperate for any kind of work.
I still think they smell a recession. It is a growing concern.Government Ain't YO' Friend. Nor your Servant.
A Tax Reduces Incentive & Capacity. A Regulation is also a TAX.


Answer:
There is no shortage of drivers.
Desperate Signs!!!
I'll tell you what 'is" desperate and why these types of trucking companies would want to expand their driver training contracts.
TO KEEP THE CHEAPEST LABOR THEY CAN FIND BEHIND THE WHEEL LONGER....And make higher profits. Fuel cost are starting are to eat into these companies profit margins.
One solution, keep the cheap labor longer.

Answer:
According to the "FAQ" section of Schneider National's own website, and from what I can gather from the most recent posts on pumpkindriver.com (a website devoted to Schneider drivers), Schneider still only requires a one year contract in exchange for training.
The part about US Express however, is absolutely true. They did close down their school. They do still hire newbies fresh out of trucking schools though.
-Truck-O-Matic

Answer:
As has been said before, if there were really a shortage of drivers, drivers would be able to demand any pay scale they wanted and rates would be a hell of a lot higher than they are now.
Answer:
Posted by highwayman:
"As has been said before, if there were really a shortage of drivers, drivers would be able to demand any pay scale they wanted and rates would be a hell of a lot higher than they are now."
Perhaps the term "driver shortage" should be reworded to "cheap driver labor shortage". There may be no shortage of drivers willing to work for a decent wage, but companies may have trouble filling truck seats with drivers who will sacrifice much more than most jobs require one to sacrifice, all for a laughable pay rate.
Driver shortage? Probably not.
Cheap driver shortage? Absolutely.
-Truck-O-Matic

Answer:

Not to worry. Ever notice those folks who can't speak inglés hanging out in front of your local Home Depot every morning? Why they're just itching to get out of those back-breaking landscaping jobs and into a big truck with adjustable captain's chair and conditioned air. So much so that even supertruckin' hiway heroes like Shuffler and his supposed Lt. Cmdr. Data-like productivity will be no match for guys who think .15 cpm and no bennies is like winning the Sweepstakes.
Answer:

This is one mentality I just can't sem to understand.
I understand that the illegals are making squat and so any crappy wage that any legal job pays would be a step up for them.
But I don't understand the mentality of people born and raised in this country, who think a $600 a week trucking job (working 100 hours) is good money.
Answer:

the coolie carriers buy androids with 286 chips