80,000 MORE DRIVERS? OR JUST 18 MINUTES? | Brake Check

Damon Jones (0:23)

Trucking doesn't need 80,000 more drivers. It needs to stop wasting the time of the damn ones we have already. Record fuel prices, flat rates, hours disappearing at the docks, drivers sitting unpaid, while somebody in Washington still looks into a camera and says, driver shortage. Really? Research says finding just another 18 more productive minutes per driver per day could theoretically erase that supposed 80,000 driver gap. That's right, 18 minutes. We've got professional drivers losing hours waiting for somebody to load or unload a damn truck. And somehow, the solution is always, we need more drivers.

See, maybe, stop recruiting our way around the problem. We created as an industry.

See, last week truckers put their bobtails on the National Mall and brought that reality straight to Washington. The FMCSA showed up. Good. Now what? Because the American trucker doesn't need another thank you speech, doesn't need another study, and damn sure doesn't need another committee.

They need to start being paid for all their time. Give them somewhere to park, reward the careers that reward the professional, reward the carriers that are doing it right, and get the hell out of the way from the people already moving America. Today, we've got the policy and the data. We're putting both on the table. This is Brake Check, and it's time to go full stop.

Up first, after our daily pile up, Ooida Executive Vice President, Lewie Pugh, is in the house. Fresh off the National Mall, 2.5 million safe miles and absolutely zero patience for anybody still selling a driver shortage narrative. Then David Correll from Telegraph, a data guy who looked at the 11-hour driving clock, found drivers actually using only about 6.5 of it, and brought the receipts to explain where the hell the rest went. One brings the fight from Washington, the other brings the math, and today we're putting both on trial. But first, we're going to go to a shout out from our sponsors over at Apex Capital Corp. They're the trusted name in factoring. They're based out of Fort Worth, Texas, specialize in fast, reliable invoice factoring for transportation and the industry beyond since 1995 Apex Capital, where you have better options, better solutions, and better service, check them out at apexcapitalcorp.com.

Now, if you're tired of all the trucking headlines that tell you nothing, well, then make sure to hit like, subscribe and follow right here on FreightWaves. We bring the people making the decisions, the numbers behind the noise and the questions that actually have teeth in this industry, right here on FreightWaves. And if you're really serious about it and you want to get off the screen and into the room, F3 is coming to Chattanooga. Use promo code BRAKECHECK. And that knocks almost 50% off today's current pricing. That's right, code BRAKECHECK. Save some money, get to Chattanooga, get in the room. But before we get to today's topic, it's time for today's Daily Pile Up.

That's right. And for today's pile up, well, sweet home Alabama is getting an upgrade. Check this out from Secretary Duff Meister himself.

Secretary Sean Duffy (3:51)

We have a choice to build bike paths or build bridges.

And I think bridges have a way bigger impact on your life than a bike path. This administration, we are investing in roads and bridges that move people and products that make our communities work, that make our families work. That's what we're investing in. That's what this project is.

SPEAKER_5 (4:12)

This has been approved by the best president that's ever been in this country, Donald Trump.

SPEAKER_6 (4:18)

This would not have happened without President Trump. Secretary Duffy, without your willingness to listen, we wouldn't be standing here today.

Secretary Sean Duffy (4:25)

Let's build a bridge, man. Let's do it.

Damon Jones (4:34)

Well, while they're getting their upgrades, this guy deserves a medal. Look at this.

All right, but seriously, let's see what's happening behind the desk now.

SPEAKER_7 (4:56)

My driver's on site. Yeah. No, no, no. He's checked in. He's getting loaded. I mean, well, there's a couple of trucks ahead of him, but he's going to be loaded here shortly. You need a POD? Check your email in about two minutes.

Listen, you know what I'm going to do for you, man? I just feel so terrible about this. I'm going to give you a discount on the next load. Okay? No, no, no, no, no, no. Alex is no longer with this company.

You have my word. Something like this will never happen again. This is an isolated incident. Trust me. All of our deliveries, I would say 99.9% of them go out on time with no issue. I'm sorry that it happened to you. It will never happen again. You have my word.