RV Transport Drivers Are Getting Higher Wages After Shortage, But It May Be Temporary

[DriVer]

IN THE NEWS

The Elkhart Truth
RV Industry Page

Some companies are paying RV transport drivers more money, but it might just be a temporary increase

More than two weeks after recreational vehicle transport carriers gathered to discuss a driver shortage, some area manufacturers have increased their pay rates for drivers.

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association on April 15 called a meeting at the RV/MH Hall of Fame where they encouraged transport firms to place ads recruiting drivers on findtherightjob.com, a national employment website. The RVIA estimated there were 25,000 to 30,000 finished units sitting around the Elkhart area awaiting delivery to dealers around the country and said about 2,000 more drivers were needed to eliminate a four- to six-week backlog.

Continued ....
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[cwf]

Yes...but, still can't replace truck when worn out. Or so I have heard.

[94-Newmar]

This is a subject that I am pretty passionate about. The article linked above is carefully worded so as not to mention any specific numbers about pay, and instead mentions some wild number of 150,000/yr from a couple of unnamed transport drivers working 7 days a week - and further suggests that the entire issue is more about how the drivers are treated rather than what they're paid. Seriously? First, these drivers are subject to the same regulations that OTR truckers are regarding time on the road, insurance, licensing, etc which equals $$$. Second, the article mentions driver complaints about how long it takes dealerships to "check-in" inbound deliveries - true fact in many cases. If you look at the number of hours it takes to deliver from the manufacturer to whatever location the unit is going to, the drive time with either your toad or truck going back to get another unit, hotel/motel rooms, gas/diesel etc etc etc and divide all that by the factored mileage pay you will find that 99% of the drivers make less than minimum wage when it's settlement time.

They're responsible to bring your unit to the dealership in 1 piece in the exact same condition it left the factory. Rain, sleet, snow, road gators, rocks, idiotic drivers, if they're delivering motorhomes they have break-down issues constantly, the stress of knowing that if any non-fault damage occurs to the unit while delivering that they are responsible. Unlike OTR auto delivery companies, there is a much much larger risk factor. Imagine auto delivery companies having to drive each and every car to an auto dealership and the increased exposure for potential damages by doing so?

Ive heard over the years complaints about.. .well the delivery driver slept in my unit. The driver used the bathroom. The driver this.. the driver that. Seriously people? If it's late, perhaps inclement weather, you're really going to be upset with the driver sleeping on your couch or having to pull over somewhere to use the bathroom, perhaps in an emergency? Using your bathroom? Have you never used a public restroom before?

If it means that much to you then take your time off of work, go buy a $500.00 plane ticket, a motel room, a few more hundred dollars in gas/diesel and $1500.00 later you can pickup your own unit.

Delivery drivers, like OTR truck drivers have a thankless job that many people ever really even think about. Sorry for the rant, I am just very passionate about this subject... Im done! (/END RANT)

[Steve Ownby]

Originally Posted by 94-Newmar

This is a subject that I am pretty passionate about. The article linked above is carefully worded so as not to mention any specific numbers about pay, and instead mentions some wild number of 150,000/yr from a couple of unnamed transport drivers working 7 days a week - and further suggests that the entire issue is more about how the drivers are treated rather than what they're paid. Seriously? First, these drivers are subject to the same regulations that OTR truckers are regarding time on the road, insurance, licensing, etc which equals $$$. Second, the article mentions driver complaints about how long it takes dealerships to "check-in" inbound deliveries - true fact in many cases. If you look at the number of hours it takes to deliver from the manufacturer to whatever location the unit is going to, the drive time with either your toad or truck going back to get another unit, hotel/motel rooms, gas/diesel etc etc etc and divide all that by the factored mileage pay you will find that 99% of the drivers make less than minimum wage when it's settlement time.

They're responsible to bring your unit to the dealership in 1 piece in the exact same condition it left the factory. Rain, sleet, snow, road gators, rocks, idiotic drivers, if they're delivering motorhomes they have break-down issues constantly, the stress of knowing that if any non-fault damage occurs to the unit while delivering that they are responsible. Unlike OTR auto delivery companies, there is a much much larger risk factor. Imagine auto delivery companies having to drive each and every car to an auto dealership and the increased exposure for potential damages by doing so?

Ive heard over the years complaints about.. .well the delivery driver slept in my unit. The driver used the bathroom. The driver this.. the driver that. Seriously people? If it's late, perhaps inclement weather, you're really going to be upset with the driver sleeping on your couch or having to pull over somewhere to use the bathroom, perhaps in an emergency? Using your bathroom? Have you never used a public restroom before?

If it means that much to you then take your time off of work, go buy a $500.00 plane ticket, a motel room, a few more hundred dollars in gas/diesel and $1500.00 later you can pickup your own unit.

Delivery drivers, like OTR truck drivers have a thankless job that many people ever really even think about. Sorry for the rant, I am just very passionate about this subject... Im done! (/END RANT)

Excellent post sir!

X2


Steve Ownby
Full time since '07

[DriVer]

The working man never catches a break.


Sent from my iPhone using iRV2 - RV Forum

[palehorse89]

Originally Posted by 94-Newmar

This is a subject that I am pretty passionate about. The article linked above is carefully worded so as not to mention any specific numbers about pay, and instead mentions some wild number of 150,000/yr from a couple of unnamed transport drivers working 7 days a week - and further suggests that the entire issue is more about how the drivers are treated rather than what they're paid. Seriously? First, these drivers are subject to the same regulations that OTR truckers are regarding time on the road, insurance, licensing, etc which equals $$$. Second, the article mentions driver complaints about how long it takes dealerships to "check-in" inbound deliveries - true fact in many cases. If you look at the number of hours it takes to deliver from the manufacturer to whatever location the unit is going to, the drive time with either your toad or truck going back to get another unit, hotel/motel rooms, gas/diesel etc etc etc and divide all that by the factored mileage pay you will find that 99% of the drivers make less than minimum wage when it's settlement time.

They're responsible to bring your unit to the dealership in 1 piece in the exact same condition it left the factory. Rain, sleet, snow, road gators, rocks, idiotic drivers, if they're delivering motorhomes they have break-down issues constantly, the stress of knowing that if any non-fault damage occurs to the unit while delivering that they are responsible. Unlike OTR auto delivery companies, there is a much much larger risk factor. Imagine auto delivery companies having to drive each and every car to an auto dealership and the increased exposure for potential damages by doing so?

Ive heard over the years complaints about.. .well the delivery driver slept in my unit. The driver used the bathroom. The driver this.. the driver that. Seriously people? If it's late, perhaps inclement weather, you're really going to be upset with the driver sleeping on your couch or having to pull over somewhere to use the bathroom, perhaps in an emergency? Using your bathroom? Have you never used a public restroom before?

If it means that much to you then take your time off of work, go buy a $500.00 plane ticket, a motel room, a few more hundred dollars in gas/diesel and $1500.00 later you can pickup your own unit.

Delivery drivers, like OTR truck drivers have a thankless job that many people ever really even think about. Sorry for the rant, I am just very passionate about this subject... Im done! (/END RANT)

Nothing more to say........
One thing though........ your post was not a rant, it was the "spelled out" truth..... Thank you