• Thank you for visiting HeavyEquipmentForums.com! Our objective is to provide industry professionals a place to gather to exchange questions, answers and ideas. We welcome you to register using the "Register" icon at the top of the page. We'd appreciate any help you can offer in spreading the word of our new site. The more members that join, the bigger resource for all to enjoy. Thank you!

Worker shortage

4x4ford

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2007
Messages
237
Location
Las Vegas Nevada
Occupation
aunts on the strip Currently drive a 1951 chevy pa
Reading all those reasons makes me feel really spoiled to be where I’m at versus over the road which is what I did before finding this job most of our stuff is just yard to yard and it’s all dedicated and home daily and we still have drivers who say it’s to hard and to much work
 

Tones

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 15, 2009
Messages
3,059
Location
Ubique
Occupation
Ex land clearing contractor, part-time retired
Reading the comments here there is one thing missing. Children are a product of their up bringing just are you were. Both the parents and the education system have a hand it this. I have turned one young bloke around who had dropped out of school without any qualification's and was going down a $hit shute. 14 years later his income is in the top 3 in Australia and pays more in tax than his teachers earn and out of work is a dam good citizen. Other branch's off the same tree are happy to flip burgers at Macca's (McDonalds).
If you can find the young people who have a hunger to get going with life and a spark in their guts and you turn that spark into a fire. Not my responsibility you say. Well if everybody does nothing they become a burden that everyone pays for.
 

Tyler d4c

Senior Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2016
Messages
1,750
Location
Salix Pa
Yep no one wants to do anything. But on the bright side I know a few people my age who are definitely go getters. I realized today I'm going on a week vacation next month and feel guilty that I'll be abandoning a few unfinished projects till I get back because there's no way I'll get it all done till.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Sadly there are fewer and fewer that will make the attempt t personal gratification of performing a job well and being at least praised for it while being paid for it. Has to be a breaking point and I dare say are past that breakover in working to get to the breaking point. Company I am working for has finally started seeing new hires/applicants, even has a 20y.o. just started going thru training on the machines we use expressly locally, once comfort zone expands some will be taken out to the clay piles for indoctrination on use of loaders and typical day in day out operations then get slipped the big one and sat into a dump truck as the one I am driving. Not many understand from Where stuff comes from, or How the materials on their Amazon or UPS delivery came to be nor do they want to know or be a part of that, only problem is if they do not become anything but consumers they will soon have nothing to consume or finances to purchase any consumables.

I do agree, is a talent in driving, operating HE, welding, mechanic any trade that is out there. Slight nuances to every manner of technical function that generally are either taught by training and hands on with a skilled person or learned the hard way with scars to prove it.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Actually went to the yard this morning, in the rain, got the machine I regularly drive out and washed it. On MY time using company equipment. Not been able to get past the Super Truckers that wash their own machines DAILY to clear bugs, clay and lime dust off the dump truck so just waited for today. Normally drivers come in of a Sat to do just as I and get around those that try to wash the paint off theirs to no avail, rain holds only the less than die hard off. Cost me a hour of my time, not a big deal to me.
 

Buckethead

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2007
Messages
1,055
Location
Waterfront
Occupation
Operator
I hope you know I wasn't picking on drivers! I just was frustrated with people who didn't know the difference between a dozer and a truck!



Fact is not everyone is cutout to be a brain surgeon or for that matter a mechanic or a truck driver. Some have to go through the steps only
to find out a particular job/lively hood isn't for them.
Driving truck over the road is only for a few and not many stay with it. #1 Very hard on ones health-bad food and little exorcise. #2 Very hard
to have any kind of life/family, rarely home on time for holidays, not around for the kids, usually ends up in divorce. #3 Most of the shippers/
receivers could care less about the driver all they want is their stuff. #4 I suppose it's a good job if a person likes getting lied to, dispatchers
tend to be paid a flat plus incentive. Dispatchers will lie their a$$ off to a driver and promise the moon that they will make the next load a good
one-very rarely happens. #5 A driver rarely sees the good side of a city, industrial areas, loading docks mainly the sleazy/and sometimes dangerous
parts of towns/cities. #6 A driver gets sick on the road he has to handle it, no one there he/she knows to help other than 911.
#7 Rate of pay-by the mile, few pay dock time. In some cases drivers can set up to 12 hrs and more waiting to bump the dock or bump the dock
and they take their sweet time unloading because they have no room and use the trailer as a short term warehouse/freezer. Some companies pay
dock time some don't. Loads are appointed load and unload times, even if things were out of drivers control he will go to the back of the line.
E-log and out of route miles to deal with, some companies only pay map miles/city limits-not actual address so driver gets shorted x amount of miles. #8 Traffic/Winter driving. If some dink isn't trying to
cut you off they are brake checking the truck. Chain up areas have become a risky place, trying to install
chains with water and sand dripping down your neck then the next thing you know there's a spin-out headed for you.

I could go on and on-But driving is a lonely tiresome job without much atta-boy's.
 

Tarhe Driver

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 16, 2015
Messages
241
Location
Savannah, GA
Occupation
Comm. Real Est Appraiser-Retired cargo/helo pilot
Marginal Utility – an economic concept that reflects a personal level where working for another dollar is not, to that person, worth the effort. Everybody’s marginal utility is different. Another way to say it is that everybody’s hunger level for another dollar is different. Some people are happy to make a minimum wage and wish for no more, and others making the minimum wage, are so hungry for another dollar that they’ll work another, or two more jobs to get those additional dollars. Of course, those willing to work two or three jobs are often the ones who are first promoted or may be the ones to seek further education in an attempt to make more dollars.
 

Randy88

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
2,149
Location
iowa
The whole concept is complex to say the least, I live in the midwest, very rural area and I know many industries and people around the area personally within those industries, both on the employee and employer side of the things.

Now I'm not sure where things went terribly wrong, but when a somewhat local huge name now global company hired 300 new workers this spring, but only 8 could pass the drug test, yes you read that right, only 8 out of the 300 passed, there is something terribly wrong in this country. Now the question remains is this, everyone knew up front, before they ever picked up an application, there was drug testing required in order to get the job, after those weeded out during the hiring process were reduced to only 300, and those 300 were told up to five times along the way, there was a pre hiring drug test and random drug testing, they still tried to slip through the cracks and actually showed up to be tested??

First this somewhat mystified me as to why they even attempt the test, then I was told by someone that I know personally who's in charge of hiring, the industry norm is only about 25 percent pass the first drug test to begin with, that stat also somewhat shocked me.

Now I've complained for decades about drug testing for a class A CDL and the hundreds of drug tests I've had to take and also pay for since I'm self employed and also hire some help, but to this day nobody has ever failed a single test while working for or around me. So you have to excuse me if the latest news is not only shocking but beyond scary to me.

Next step is fast food, not going to mention which one, but everyone knows it, a local company owns a series of them, again I know the person in charge of hiring, and as of two weeks ago, everyone single person in five stores failed their random drug test and had to be fired, all while four new stores are under construction and nobody can pass a drug test to even get hired, not even for the manager positions.................of the stores within that chain, most all have reduced hours open due to not enough drug free workers to keep enough staff on to be able to keep the stores open enough hours.

Now I'm not a rocket scientist, but when nobody can pass a drug test, whether it be for an assembly line worker, store manager or burger flipper, I'm not thinking wages, benefits or working conditions are the major issue at hand.
 

DMiller

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 21, 2010
Messages
16,425
Location
Hermann, Missouri
Occupation
Cheap "old" Geezer
Several applicants of note in the local trucking companies failed screens, one applied to my employer then declined to take a screen where walked away. Have heard the garbage "if you drink this or eat that will 'Flush' your system and can pass the screens" and is absolute nonsense. Two drivers for a company south of here failed screens, were given a second chance where one passed the other failed miserably, then the one pass got hit with a random and failed again, too stupid for words to describe. They KNOW are going to be more actively screened, KNOW if they use will be caught and then lose a decent money earning job. That Same money that buys the dope are using. The responses were 'Well it is Legal for Medical Use' but fail to connect the dots that use is no less than drinking and driving, states right in the Medical Use category warnings, Use of this product can impair cognitive abilities, do NOT Drive under the influence. Sis In Law in Co pulled that same rationale, lost her license until could pass a screen, and STILL smokes a doobie nearly everyday then waddles out to her car.

Is only going to get worse, sorry to say.
 

Randy88

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
2,149
Location
iowa
Its not just weed that fails a lot of them seeking much higher pay than a burger flipper, the higher the pay the harder the drugs it seems is what one who's in charge of hiring told me a couple weeks ago.

I'm not thinking legalizing drugs is the answer, its also given me a long pause as to where to buy food from and who to do business with. Quite a few companies are talking about dropping drug testing altogether in order to keep the doors open??

Yes wages in my area have sky rocketed, not due to anything but the lack of ability to pass a drug test, not lack of people to do the work, so in essence 75 percent plus can't pass a drug test and of those 25 percent that can, a percentage won't pass a random later down the road. I know that last round of hiring one company did, they screened over 3000 applicants and was told of those that they hired, none passed the drug test, so out of 3000, the percent was zero to hire. I wonder if wages were 10 times what they are today and benefits exceeded the pay could anyone pass the drug test to get and KEEP the job??

The question I have is this, what did everyone do while on quarantine, smoke pot, snort coke or shoot heroin, on top of the daily meth fix, then wash it down with some high dollar booze or cheap rubbing alcohol depending on your social status??
 

4x4ford

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 20, 2007
Messages
237
Location
Las Vegas Nevada
Occupation
aunts on the strip Currently drive a 1951 chevy pa
Sis in law is hr manager at a company here in Jackson and said they are no longer testing for mj I heard several years ago from a lady that was a chemical engineer for drugs tests that several large corporations were doing away with testing for it as they were losing to many higher ups
 

Coaldust

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
3,286
Location
North of the 60
Occupation
Cargo Tanks, ULSD, RUG, Methanol, LPG
A large fleet in my area recently stopped testing for MJ (non-DOT positions) to try and reduce turn-over in the wash-bay, dock and admin positions.
 

John C.

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Messages
12,865
Location
Northwest
Occupation
Machinery & Equipment Appraiser
So far I haven't heard of any response from the insurance industry on the matter. The testing was driven as much or more from their stand point rather than any outrage by the general public.

I do believe that making it legal without thinking through all potential ramifications was a big mistake. Someone high getting into a wreck and who pays? What if someone gets in a wreck and it isn't their fault but they get tested and fail? A bad test result and does it have to be reported to the insurance company? What if someone tests positive last month and gets into an accident this month? Will there be different provisions depending on the type of drug? I can go on but you get the idea.
 

Randy88

Senior Member
Joined
Feb 2, 2009
Messages
2,149
Location
iowa
Over the last few years, I've come full circle on the whole drug testing issue, first I hated it, it was beyond expensive for me, took a lot of time I considered as wasted with no gain or benefit to me what so ever and a complete hassle on the business side to say the least.

Today, after the 10's of thousands spent on testing over the years, I'm beginning to think maybe its money well spent. I have a very low view of those that do drugs, sit around and drink themselves to death, neither are ways to improve oneself in any way, myself I never had the time or money to do either, let alone the interest.

So today I hold a very dim view of those that can't keep or get a job based on the inability to pass a drug/alcohol test.

So when I pull up at a fast food place, or go into a restaurant to eat, or any place to buy anything, I personally would like to know the people I'm dealing with at least have the decency and self worth to think the same, along with the company or establishment they represent.

Locally I know the places talking about dropping drug testing as a requirement, higher ups with those companies have told me personally they are considering it. I've told them all, IF they do that, they are done doing business with me forever and its not a threat, but rather a promise and I told them why, which brought around a discussion about how to keep their doors open, so I asked them this simple question, Of those you do business with, what percentage can't pass a drug test? now how many of those that come through the doors would feel ok with whoever they meet at your business knowing they can't pass a drug test, you need to weigh how many would as upset as me, to those that don't care and do the math as to how much each group spends in your business. Those that asked got really quiet and stated they'd never given that a thought, as of yet those that asked have not withdrawn drug testing as a requirement. I'm sure this issue has far different reactions depending on where your located and what business your involved in.

Many blame the insurance companies, I'm not so sure they should take the blame as much as attorney's who encourage lawsuits, those are the one's who determine how and why things are done, insurance companies just react to those lawsuits more so than being proactive ahead of time. Just a different perspective and my two cents.
 

Coaldust

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2011
Messages
3,286
Location
North of the 60
Occupation
Cargo Tanks, ULSD, RUG, Methanol, LPG
I totally agree. Well written.

I’ll add a local phenomenon I experience. Many locals complain about out-of-state people or H1b workers taking their jobs. It’s because the locals can’t or won’t pass a wiz quiz. Our fuel terminal in Bethel had only one local employee. The balance worked two week rotations and resided elsewhere. It added a lot of extra direct expense to the bottom line with lodging and airfare.
 
Top