(Quality) Driver Shortage

I have been reading about this for quite some time -- more than a year.  We need a lot more Over The Road (OTR) truck drivers.  I have never really 'got it', to be honest.  It seems like if someone TRULY wants to make money and is willing to make the effort (read 'attitude' here) then I have found OTR driving to be a fantastic way to see the USA while generating $$$.

Now, after more than two years with my own Motor Carrier Authority, I have experienced this 'driver shortage.'  I have more freight than I can move myself.  So I have added drivers, which quite often don't last.  A big part of the problem is me.  I know.  I have very high standards, very low patience and not too open to people who want to do it 'their way.'  But it's MY name on the side of the door and MY reputation (word) and MY signature on the bottom of the settlement checks.  I don't HAVE to be right.

But it seems to me a smart driver would look at the success that not only I personally have had but look at the growth STS has experienced over the past 2+ years and then follow the same path.  So often, I have leased on 'experienced' drivers -- thinking that was a good thing -- only to find out they are already so smart that they already know everything.  And in fact they don't.

I am a numbers guy.  I am always crunching numbers to make sure we are maxing out our dollar per mile income -- THE number that means the most, to me.  I know my cost of operating, my fixed costs, my anticipated maintenance costs --- I try and watch it all and am constantly re-calculating.  I have learned most owner-operators really don't have a clue.  They look at how much money is left in the checking account at the end of the day and then whine because there's not enough.  But they don't know EXACTLY where it went.

One of the most important things to me is attitude.  I have mentioned here before; there are three things you need to have to be successful at ANYTHING you do:  Skill, Knowledge and Attitude.  Skill is earned with time.  Knowledge is taught and also gained with time.  But Attitude is what YOU bring to the table.  If you don't have a positive, "can do" attitude, we are not going to get along.

I seem to have some difficulty identifying that trait.  Many times have I brought a driver on with skills and knowledge only to find out (sometimes within a day or two) that they are not driving a truck because they really WANT to.  OTR truck driving is a lifestyle, not a job.  It takes a special attitude and it starts with LIKING to drive.  Then I need someone who will trust me enough to follow the sequence of events we have in place; PROVEN success!


So, if you have a diesel pick-up truck and live within 100 miles of St. Louis and have (or will get) a CDL-A and are a 'Git 'R Done' type personality -- we should talk!!

Sunday Morning -- Rain Delay

I have been planning a trip back up to Belleville (St. Louis metro area) for just after Labor Day -- NOW!  I had hoped to travel last Thursday or Friday since those are usually my slowest business days and I'm traveling by motorcycle, so playing "Office Boy" will be difficult; still can't answer the phone will riding like my friend Calvin.

But a huge weather system thru St. Louis, along with the remnants of Isaac back off the FL coast, has made this a wet week from GA to St. Louis.  And I don't ride in the rain (by choice).  To much work cleaning up the bike afterwards, not to mention the danger of  'going down' are increased a bunch.  So here I sit on a beautifully lazy Sunday morning looking out my large picture window at my bike -- sitting in the rain (covered).

But the radar -- and forecasters -- are optimistic of a clearing later today.  I don't want to travel on Opening Weekend for the NFL.  As much as I love a 1,050 mile motorcycle trip, I would prefer watching football.  But I have drivers counting on me to find them work Monday so they can keep moving.  That makes it important to get some miles today; to better set me up tomorrow for work.

The bike is packed and loaded except for one last 'overnite' bag that gets strapped to the top.  Waiting for the rain line to move thru which looks to be another couple hours.  Then the roads have to dry some -- another 30-45 minutes.

Even if I get on the road by 1:00 or 2:00; my objective is to get past Atlanta before I stop for the night.  That's about 8 hours, depending on cruising altitude. I would rather deal with THAT traffic on a Sunday evening than a Monday morning.   And weather looks good just a couple hundred miles north of me.  But right now I'm grounded.  (What a beautiful place to be 'stuck.')

The rain has actually just stopped, here in my spot in paradise.  It's getting brighter to the west although I'm still seeing lots of yellow and red on the radar along I-75.  And I can hear the distant rumble of thunder.  But what a beautiful smell and 'feel' in the air there is after a cleansing rain. 

I love Sundays.  I love life.

I am going to drop a bit of a teaser here.  I have an announcement, of sorts.  (No, I'm NOT getting married).  I do not get into my personal life very often; or very deep.  But I will have something to say to the 'internet' AFTER I tell some friends.  Which is another reason for my trip north.  Stay tuned.

Weather Extremes

Crazy weather.  Hurricane Isaac passed by us here in west-central FL a week ago, now.  As you probably know, New Orleans got pounded -- on the anniversary of Katrina, ironically -- and then the storm moved into the Midwest bringing much need drought relief.  As the storm weakened it drifted east into OH and then back south down to the FL panhandle, where it sits today.  The worry now is that it will re-energize over the very-warm Gulf water .... then what?

We have had some really extreme weather over the past couple of years, all over the world, actually.  Extreme cold in Europe last winter -- and snow.  Extreme heat here in the Midwest this Summer.  Extreme wet and then extreme dry in many states all over.  Would you Republicans please explain to me again why Global Warming is NOT going on?

(Do NOT assume I am a Democrat.  My political views are way more complex than a simple tag like conservative or liberal or independent.  In fact, 95% of all politicians give the rest of them a bad name!  But, there is not one other single place on this earth I would rather live ... and I have been to several, FYI.  But politics is not my topic today.).

The weather is of great interest to me because I'm trying to get back to the St. Louis area; via motorcycle.  I prefer NOT riding in the rain.  Not so much because it's dangerous going 60+ MPH on two wheels but rather because it takes 4-6 hours to get my bike clean again after riding in the rain.  Ya, I know.  Dumb.  But consider this is the same guy that RIDES a motorcycle to begin with and ALSO loves baking in the sun for 5-6 hours on the beach.  No one is perfect.

So the remnants of Isaac are making north FL and southern GA wet for at least the next couple of days.  And there is a 50% chance of thunderstorms in the STL area Saturday.  Sunday is FOOTBALL!  (Finally)  Monday is the first dry travel day for me.  Looks like I will get another "Beach Day" or two.