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The U.S. needs 50,000 truck drivers to avoid a shipping squeeze
MSN ^ | May 28, 2018 | Jaden Urbi, CNBC

Posted on 05/28/2018 12:38:19 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet

Retailers are facing a shipping squeeze, and the trucking industry just can't keep up.

According to the American Trucking Associations, there's a shortage of roughly 50,000 truck drivers across the country. And it's hitting both businesses and consumers in the wallet.

Companies are complaining about how the driver shortage is impacting their business. Meanwhile, the cost of convenient shipping is starting to catch up with consumers.

Amazon recently hiked its Prime membership to $119 a year from $99 a year. The retail giant said one of the reasons for the price jump was increased shipping costs.

But the driver shortage isn't just because of demand created by online shopping. There's a lot going on behind the scenes, according to Bob Costello, chief economist at American Trucking Associations.

"We have a demographics problem, demand is strong, trucks haul over 70 percent of the freight tonnage, our average age is very high, [and] we don't have enough females," said Costello.....

(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Travel
KEYWORDS: amazon; employment; foodsupply; helpwanted; jobs; shipping; shippingcosts; transportation; truckdrivers; trucking
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Obviously the ONLY answer to this problem is...High Speed Rail!

*SMIRK*


41 posted on 05/28/2018 1:34:21 PM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust Post-Apocalyptic skill set.)
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To: howlinhound

NTSB Report On Fatal Uber Crash In Tempe Arizona
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3658004/posts


42 posted on 05/28/2018 1:34:51 PM PDT by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Just gotta pay enough.

The same with agriculture or dishwashers in restaurants or whatever.

And that’s a lot of what the Trump admin is about.


43 posted on 05/28/2018 1:37:35 PM PDT by 9YearLurker
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Raise wages for driving, and I might take it up at 60. But my son tried it a few years ago & said the regulations made it slave wages.


44 posted on 05/28/2018 1:42:38 PM PDT by Mr Rogers (Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools)
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To: EC Washington

Bring in 100,000 more illegals to do the jobs Americans refuse.


45 posted on 05/28/2018 1:42:53 PM PDT by bgill (CDC site, "We don't know how people are infected with Ebola.")
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Fake News by Cheap Labor Globalists.

Globalist Republicans want to import more dangerous 3rd world drivers.

SHORTAGE of drivers - Republican Liars.

SCARCITY of resources - Correct Economic’s terminology.

AT WHAT PRICE?? Always ask that question.
Republicans are economically illiterate.


46 posted on 05/28/2018 1:48:30 PM PDT by TheNext
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

What about those coming out of the Armed forces?


47 posted on 05/28/2018 1:53:29 PM PDT by al baby (Hi Mom Hi Dad)
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To: 9YearLurker

I do remember an article right here that said the age limit for truck drivers should be lowered to 18. It’s now 21. We need more opportunities for our high school grads to go directly to work. Don’t know if I could trust them but Trump is the perfect messenger. Get the young black kids out there to see the countryside. Put a 24 hour satellite radio with it fixed on the rush channel.


48 posted on 05/28/2018 1:54:05 PM PDT by DIRTYSECRET (urope. Why do they put up with this.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

And, they keep cutting down the amount of hours the truckers can drive-i know a few who quit when they had to start using the e-logs.


49 posted on 05/28/2018 1:59:58 PM PDT by blu (The "B clique"...spreading humor since 1888. Not bossy enough for the A clique.)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

I’m confident that more regulation and taxes can solve this problem.


50 posted on 05/28/2018 2:01:34 PM PDT by Born to Conserve
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Some of our drivers are grossing $75K to $90K per year and we recently raised their subsistence from $30/nite to $45/nite. We haul hazmat and have a real hard time finding qualified applicants. I also think a lot of younger folks just don’t want all the hours involved.


51 posted on 05/28/2018 2:04:20 PM PDT by umgud
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To: DIRTYSECRET

21. Interesting. I have a daughter here 18 years old and is a SUPER driver. Hauls a horse trailer all over the county with no problems. She would be a great truck driver. I was thinking of suggesting this to her, but may have to wait a couple of years.


52 posted on 05/28/2018 2:05:04 PM PDT by Rio (I was deplorable when deplorable wasn't cool.)
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To: al baby
If you come out of the armed services with any kind of decent security clearance, you get get a 70K per year job minimum without any special training. The companies will train you because it's cheaper than paying for a security clearance for a new hire.

I'd recommend any young person to enlist and specialize in communications, languages, security, etc. and aim for a secret clearance at minimum. Keep your nose clean, and when you get out you can write your own ticket. All the three-letter agencies will compete for your services, not to mention a plethora of head hunters.
 

53 posted on 05/28/2018 2:07:11 PM PDT by Governor Dinwiddie (MAGA in the mornin', MAGA in the evenin', MAGA at suppertime . . .)
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To: a fool in paradise
Of course interstate shipments can always go back to using trains instead of a daisytrain of trucks all going the same route for several states.

They have been doing this to an increasing extent since the 1930s and especially the 1980s. It is called intermodal or stack trains. Changes in transport design have resulted in very few factories or warehouses having rail access.

Unfortunately due to turnaround times the Railroads are not interested in less than unit train shipments that travel less than 500 to 750 miles. Once you tack on the shift to load and unload the well cars at each end of the trip it is quicker dock to dock to just use a truck. Also you would still need a truck to get the container from the dock to the intermodal yard at the start and from the intermodal yard to the destination.

54 posted on 05/28/2018 2:09:44 PM PDT by Fraxinus (My opinion, worth what you paid.)
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To: umgud

to be frank I discouraged my son from going into trucking because of the ability of Mexican drivers to drive in the states.

also see my post above


55 posted on 05/28/2018 2:09:51 PM PDT by Chickensoup (Leftists today are speaking as if they plan to commence to commit genocide against conservatives.)
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

It will only get worse with more states legalizing weed. The main problem being that it stays in the blood up to a month, so drug tests tell nothing about whether the person is actually high at work.


56 posted on 05/28/2018 2:12:04 PM PDT by Hugin (Conservatism without Nationalism is a fraud.)
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To: Governor Dinwiddie

...or read English...


57 posted on 05/28/2018 2:12:59 PM PDT by Doogle (( USAF.68-73..8th TFW Ubon Thailand....never store a threat you should have eliminated)))
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Get rid of legalized pot so job candidates are drug free. Pay good.


58 posted on 05/28/2018 2:15:16 PM PDT by Reno89519 (No Amnesty! No Catch-and-Release! Just Say No to All Illegal Aliens! Arrest & Deport!)
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To: 2ndDivisionVet

Why are we not using trains for the distance hauls?


59 posted on 05/28/2018 2:15:56 PM PDT by Reno89519 (No Amnesty! No Catch-and-Release! Just Say No to All Illegal Aliens! Arrest & Deport!)
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To: Chickensoup

A whole nuther subject; Mexican advantage over US trucking.


60 posted on 05/28/2018 2:18:24 PM PDT by umgud
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