Truckie shortage

Is the object of the game to get people worthy of holding a position behind a steering wheel?
The ability to point that vehicle in an appropriate direction with a degree of professionalism would be a good benchmark?
There will always be a 'general' entry to a career.
Once that entry level is made, via some appropriate training, the applicant could then become more 'specialised', just as we have done in the past...
You can't belt a nail in until you have learned to hold a hammer..
There are many specialised fields within the Transport Industry, not many will ever get to experience them all and nor should they need to.

Making the game attractive is what is required..
Creating a never ending list of standards and grades for people to adhere to is part of what has created the shortages we have now.

Ask the people why the are not driving for a living any more.
Ask them what would it take to get them back behind the wheel.
There are plenty of more than willing and able people who have given the game away.

Those people are sufficiently trained, they are PROFESSIONAL OPERATORS....
But they have walked away...Parked em up, Sold em...whatever.

Listen to why they left and work out what it would take to get them back..
There are plenty of drivers out there, don't worry about that.

My Ol Man was sick of bangin his head against the wall in the early eighties..
Theres a whole lot more to contend with now, and blokes have walked away.

chocs

I think this is worth a look. It puts a new perspective on the truck driver situation. Australian Bureau of Statistics - probably a bit more authoritative than the opinion of a bloke selling Volvo Trucks

Points to note relevent to the current discussion.

High unemployment - not shortages.
Truckies earn above community average.
Projected high increase in jobs over next 3 years.

Lots of other interesting stuff.

joboutlook.gov.au/occupation.aspx?code=7331

Struth Choc's I agree with most of what you just bunged up there

But this trainning I hate it the idea of it the leaches suck the money out of us with made up BS courses man it really gives me the jimmy brits you've gotta do this you've gotta do that "NO I FLIPPIN WELL DONT TAKE YOUR MADE UP BS COURSES AND STICK THEM WERE THE SUN DONT SHINE"
And this is not just a truck driving thing the amount of extra rules and paper work I have to do to do the same job I have done for years because some clown has decided I need to, get stuffed stick your training stick your poxy tickets for a front end loader or a 4 wheeler bike or for me spray my cane or to operate a tractor or run a pump or any other crap they have thought

Think about it this way how rude is it for someone fresh out of uni to tell people how to do something they them selves have never done and then to test them its rude damb rude and its a disgrace that these made jobs and course are forced upon people there bull shit anyway they actually mean nothing
But no the spineless big business demand that all there contractors need to have these tickets and extra PPE gear and all the other bull because they are to scared they will get sued if something goes wrong

Training is not the answer never was never has been

How demoralizing is it for people to be told they are constantly not good enough and you need more training and you need more this and that because your just not good enough anymore because we have invented some new rule get stuffed

I think if any of us ever looked deep enough we would find the real reason behind why truck drivers are leaving and not coming back as Choc's says you gotta ask why and what could be changed to keep them drivers there and what would it need for them to come back
I will guarantee it isnt training or lack of tickets

But first they gotta pull there heads out of their bums and actually listen and not tell people

but what would I know Im only a farmer

Paul

Some indepth discussion in this thread but what I read in the Herald Suns 50/50 today worries me.

I quote what was written.

I am sick of truck drivers.
Whether it be running into Montague St bridge, breaking down in the Burnley tunnel or rolling over and spilling their load all over the Monash, I'm fed up with these cowboys who I have to share the Monash with for two plus hours every night . Pull your heads in.
Rolfie Koo Wee Rup

Wish I had a way with words so I could do justice to a reply, left school at 14 and learnt the rest from dad and the rest at the school of hard knocks ( wasnt in truckin )

There is one more driver short now because I came home 2 weeks ago and said in the office that THE TIME HAS COME , ........what are you retiring?,, ....
Thats it .

Over the last 8 years lossed 1 point, no light on the B trailer . The last 8 months have been casual .
Colin

PS Maybe a bit off topic

me thinx the ol n experienced truck driver got up n quit
cos of too much nit pick n n huge fines by the authorities
Misspelt town names .... can't quite add up the hours correctly in the right hand column.... bad writing in the log book ....... Iz it Wagga or Wagga Wagga...... Woy or Woy Woy .... Ballaarat or Ballarat ..... LOL

the biggest downer twaz in the earl eye 70's when everything was all go az in flatout plenty of work etc
the store man n packers union went on strike for a wage increase
n they got it .... more pay than a truck driver of the day n with less responsibility n home every night

cya

This has to be one of the best topics kicked around on this forum, at least since I have joined!
Both the wide spread of ideas and recomendations at least gives one some hope for the future! Certainly refreshing to think that a lot of deep thinkers have not only given this vexing question a lot of thought, but were willing to commit those thoughts to 'paper'.
Guys, you may be right in saying that a few of us who have retired out of the 'game' are quite literally dinosaurs, blinkered in our thinking, still hankering for the "good old days". And, you would most likely be pretty right in saying so.
Everywhere you look these days the world seems to be going at a breakneck speed, just take the advances in technology in the past twenty odd years. But I'm not telling you blokes anything you don't already know.
It would be quite easy to sit back and say something along the lines of," well, I'm out of it now, I've had my time.Leave it up to the new generation!" But there does seem to be a common thread in all the to-ing and fro-ing on this topic, and Blind Freddy can see that there is quite a lot of passion still involved along with an earnest desire to see the industry left in capable hands.
Me personally, I have no regrets about spending a huge chunk of my working life in the transport/earthmoving game, I will always be thankful that there was often someone older who could both show me a safer, or better way to do my job.(OR kick my ass when I did something stupid!) That would be my only regret for the future, that a lot of this handed down knowledge will be brushed aside, or at least not utilised. I hope not.
I leave you guys with it, certainly been entertaining and too vital a topic to die a lingering death. Keep it going, Cheers
Dave_64

....I'm very proud of my 26 year old son carving out a living driving for Delta Demolitions in their subcontractor semi tipper fleet.......he got busted driving while talking on the mobile phone...$426.00 ...all taken in his stride as part of the operational hazards of day to day transport operating...his fault no less,. A good bloke given half the chance to carve it out with a firm not as anal as the stupid, top heavy big ones will still find a way into the industry in the lesser known truck operations as Lang has mentioned.

Interesting how people are in the habit of taking free kicks against unions when the very Australian lifestyle which they long to return to was created by the union movement. The most jobsworth application of on site safety rules is in non unionised fifo places such as WA mines. In most unionised industries the board room gets a reality check by way of representation and ultimately it turns out to be worthy professional advice which pays dividends in terms of staff retention, and productivity. Sure sometimes the pendulum has swung too far.
Who would sign up for an industry where your fellow workers are only too glad for acknowledgement from pre-election polititions that they go on parade to campaign for LOWER wages and conditions. ( call a truckie a small business and he is your lap dog forever)
I'll get off my soapbox now.

Thought I'd copy this :
That's Truckin in 2016...

(Company Name Removed)

We are currently seeking expressions of interest from EXPERIENCED long distance driver candidates for full time upcoming work.
To be considered for employment you MUST meet ALL the following criteria..

-must hold a MC heavy vehicle license with a MINIMUM 5 years experience
-must be over 27 years of age
-willing to undertake pre-employment medical, drug & alcohol testing
-be able to supply a current national police check
-during employment undertake random drug & alcohol testing
-be well presented
-hold a high standard of housekeeping & vehicle presentation
-be able to provide a full driving history (Vicroads printout) both fines & convictions
-be willing to work weekends at notice

Successful applicants will be offered well maintained late model equipment, above award wages with incentives & uniforms supplied after a probation period.

If you feel that you fit this description please email your resume with a minimum of three checkable references to:
(email address removed)

What a fascinating discussion this has become! Here in NZ we have the same problem, as do many other countries worldwide apparently.

A couple of years ago the company I work for decided to help in a small way and employed a "transport apprentice", an 18 year old who had been working at McDonald's. His father was a truck driver at another company and the idea was that this guy would spend time going out with other drivers, working in our workshop, helping in our wash plant, transport office etc, and generally learning a bit about the transport industry. The company put him through his 12-tonne licence, his Dangerous Goods course, Hazardous Substances course, First Aid course and a number of other courses "necessary" in our business.

After 12 months he said "I'm leaving in 2 weeks, I've changed my mind and I'm going to be a chiropractor instead". He had been paid for 12 months, not a huge amount but much more than he was getting at McDonald's, obtained the first step for a truck licence and got numerous certificates all to no benefit whatsoever to the company and the boss said " Never again". I have heard on the grapevine that his becoming a chiropractor hasn't worked out either.

Obviously this is a one-off example and it could have worked out differently with another young guy, but they won't get the chance now.

I don't have an answer to the problem, but at 76 years old (77 in a couple of weeks) I am still driving a B-train about 3000kms a week all over NZ, still enjoying it after 60 years driving and trying to generally keep on the right side of the CVIU inspectors!

Cheers, Vic.