December 1, 2006 4:45 PM, EST

Letter to the Editor: Free Interstates, Tolls, Driver Shortage

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b> Keep Interstates Free

I agree with American Trucking Associations President Bill Graves. We need to keep our interstate highway system free.

I think the largest problem is mismanagement of the current highway funds. Our government already has stolen so much from the Highway Fund — as it has from Social Security — for things other than highway building or repair.

The other problem is foreign governments or entities taking control of parts of our interstate systems, as has happened in Indiana.

I hope we can stop our government from going down this dead-end road.

Thomas Randall

i> Driver

rnold Transportation Services

alifax, Pa.

Tolls and Gridlock

I object to any consideration given to adding tolls to Interstates 95, 80 and 78, and the Pulaski Skyway. I also object that we are spending money on consultants for a study of such a conversion.

I can tell you right now that these roads would be parking lots. We already have considerable traffic and accidents occurring in higher numbers each week.

If you want to do a study, be on the road between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and again between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. It’s congested, with standing room only. Isn’t it enough that tolls on bridges that were to be temporary are permanent?

Marilyn Carlson

i> Basking Ridge, N.J.

Driver Shortage

The current driver shortage has been precipitated by the tremendous influx of goods being shipped over the past five years.

Coupled with the lack of new drivers entering the industry, the shortage will get progressively worse in the next 10 years unless the economy softens.

Attracting new blood is a dynamic problem with long range effects on the industry as a whole. We have to come up with new ideas for recruiting and newer ideas for retaining the drivers we currently employ. It’s not an easy task, but somehow, we must all put our heads together and come up with a plan.

As a former driver, I can attest to the reasons drivers are getting out of the industry. Many are retiring. Others just don’t like the type of work: i.e., long hours, time away from home, disgruntled dispatchers, low pay, etc. I moved into management for some of these very reasons. Now I can make a difference.

Today’s W-2s are better than 20 years ago, but the working conditions seem to have stayed the same. Until we devise some new structures in our dealings with drivers, there will be a driver shortage.

Leigh Cromleigh

i> General Manager

ommercial Lease Services, Ltd.

linton, Ohio.

These letters appear in the November 27 print edition of Transport Topics. Subscribe today.