[...] Another is that the industry is suffering from a major lack of qualified drivers [...] we've heard tons of stories from our drivers about poor working conditions at other companies, and people quitting after only 3-4 months. [...]
Which one is it - shortage of drivers, or poor treatment of drivers? You can't have both, look at the software engineers for an example of actual shortage.
Starsky CEO here: surprisingly it's both. Truck drivers have limited productivity (freight rates set by the market, cant drive more than one truck at a time), but it's also a large fragmented industry where many players have a zero-sum mindset.
Shippers often take too long to load your truck, which costs you scarce driving time. Your carrier might stiff you on you last weeks pay, because driving is too hectic and they're too far away for you to chase them in small claims court.
There arent enough drivers, but the industry also has many bad actors who are mean to the drivers that there are.
Which one is it - shortage of drivers, or poor treatment of drivers? You can't have both, look at the software engineers for an example of actual shortage.