Most industries that claim a labor shortage really have a lack of pay issue.  

I’d blame the airlines, who made checking bags so expensive that everyone packs a (too big for actual carry-on) carry-on bag. Then continue blaming them for not making sufficient space for all the carry-on bags they forced people to bring. 

Last Week Tonight covered trucking in their most recent episode. They showed an interview with a long haul driver who is married to another long haul driver. Their income for the previous year was, on paper, $150,000. But after factoring in the costs of fuel ($100k), a new engine in one of their trucks ($13k), and…

long haul trucking in the US is not going away any time soon. that would require massive investment in and expansion of the rail network (not gonna happen) and a willingness on the part of the public to wait more than 1 day for their shit to get delivered (also not gonna happen)

Infinitesimal cost cutting has been has been a corporate monomania since the 1960s and is embedded in at least three generations of leaders and the education programs that train them.

The weird thing is how little it would cost a load to just pay the truckers what they’re worth, it’s not that much compared to all the other costs involved, but it’s easier to cheapskate, scapegoat, and then suggest we pull a McDonalds and lowball it further to let kids who can’t even be trusted with alcohol drive a…

That’s a big hope, but there will be more truck drivers in 10 years, not less. The world will get increasingly globalized, and shit still needs to be moved from place to place. Maybe self driving trucks will do some of the driving, but it’s a fairy tale to think it’s going to be a revolution in the next decade. 

That’s government contract work. I’m sure Halliburton directs bills the government 2 or 3 times his rate to have him sit at those hotels. Good on him for finding his space, but that's government waste at it's finest. 

Definitely. I’m friends with three people who have Class 1 drivers licenses - legal to drive literally any road-vehicle with wheels. None of them drive trucks for a living - all have unrelated jobs. Why? Primarily, money. Why work incredibly long weeks and make $55k-60k/yr - in a sedentary, high-risk environment?…

Paying attention to all of the log truck and wood chip truck drivers on the road here in Alabama and Mississippi, I can honestly say this is true. These guys are paid by the number of loads delivered to the sawmills and paper mills, so driving top speed and beyond, to and from the mills and and loading sites, have…

So prices are going up, pay is stagnant, yet profits are at record highs. I wonder where all that extra profit is going...

And now we’re trying to get cheap labor out of younger and younger people. Just like in the old days!

A local spot has pb paired with kimchee and bacon. Too much stuff. All you taste is the kimchee.

The only way to find out on the solar is to try it out! I’m looking into potentially getting our own trailer, and that’s something I’d love to explore too. Seems to have worked for everyone putting them to use! (And less exhaust to breathe in at the campsite too...)

I only noticed a handful of solar panels, but I feel that’s a genius way to keep the lights on, instead of the dozens upon dozens of generators humming all day, everyday. We would run our generator on the RV when we needed it, like to cool down a bit, or use the stove...things like that.

We also didn’t use the…

That is a solid setup!

Entitlements?

Ah, Spring Hill... *wistful, teary-eyes Saturn nostalgia*

A lot of companies make $30k cars and sell them for $50k.  I feel like almost any new car that bases at $30k can be optioned to $50k without too much effort.

Neutral: How long before GM disappoints us?

It looks like an eye opening experience Lalita. Thank you for reporting and sharing.