Say What?

Question: Do you think there’s a shortage of drivers?

Heath Evans, 35, New Market, IN
Professional driving experience: 12 years
“Yes, I do. Every company I know is advertising for more drivers. I’m not sure where they’re all supposed to come from, but everyone seems to be looking
for them.”

Jim Bridges, 65, Middletown, OH
Professional driving experience: 48 years
“There might be a shortage of quality drivers. The quality of the older drivers is pretty good, but I don’t know if the new guys coming in are getting the training they need. I wonder about some of these driving schools. I’ve been driving a truck since 1957, and I’m still learning things. The people who go through these schools think they know what
it’s like to be a truck driver after six weeks. They have no idea.”

Duane Slick, 42, Freeport, IL
Professional driving experience: 18 years
“I think there’s a shortage of good drivers. I think the drivers who are hopping around from job to job, creating a shortage, probably aren’t being honest with themselves. In general, the grass is the same color on both sides of the fence, but no one wants to believe that. Some drivers just get tired of hearing the same old song and dance, so they move on.”

Ray Dunn, 56, Huntingford, IN
Professional driving experience: 27 years
“I don’t know. If there is a driver shortage, it’s because drivers are moving from company to company so much. There might be a shortage for a company that loses a driver that week, but I don’t think there's an industry-wide shortage. It’s supply and demand.”

Kym Yeager, 40, Stoutsville, OH
Professional driving experience: 11 years
“As an owner-operator with other drivers leased on, I can say there’s a shortage of good drivers. There are lots of people behind the steering wheel who don’t realize that driving is a career. They just look at it as a moneymaker for that week. Clearly, there aren’t enough good, professional drivers.”