Trucks: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

Every time there's talk of a "shortage" of workers in an industry, it's because that industry treats its workers like garbage.

I'm not a trucker but the "independent contractor" problem extends to MANY other industries as well and probably warrants its own segment.

I never ever take the talk of "shortages" of workers seriously. Never. What it really means is, " We treat our workers terribly" and/or " We can't be bothered to train anyone". It always breaks down to those 2 things.

I have been a OTR truck driver for 22 years. In that time, I have spent 80% of my life living in a truck. I have never had a dispatcher that doesn't wish it was 95%. Lol You have to understand, these dispatchers have been office workers their entire adult lives. They have no idea what we have to do out here to survive.

As a truck driver of 15 years, this is the most accurate reporting of trucker life by far, thanks for educating and entertaining the public with this reporting John.

The answer to, “people won’t work” is almost always “pay them more”

It never ceases to amaze me how well this country gets away with pushing the consequences of shitty systems onto its poorest citizens.

My dad is a trucker, long haul. We're Canadian, and a lot of what he said applies to him too. It's madness. As my dad likes to say: if you bought it, a truck brought it. We need our truckers and we need to treat them better

There could be an entire episode on independent contractors. One of the biggest labor scams in the country

As someone who is in this industry. This is depressingly accurate.

Only if there was a way for a group of workers that perform the same job to get organized and protect themselves from unscrupulous employers

to quote Tennesse Ernest Ford: "You load 16 tons, what do you get? Another day older and deeper in debt St. Peter, don't you call me 'cause I can't go I owe my soul to the company store"

"independent contractors" really should be looked into. From WWE to truckers, it stops a lot of workers from getting what they deserve.

as a driver myself I must say it's spot on... But in the case with the exhausted driver, the keyword is "fatigued" if you tell your dispatch that you are fatigued and they still demand you to drive either call your safety department or the state police because it's illegal for them to force a fatigued driver to drive and the fines are rather steep for the company Problem is a lot of newer drivers don't know the rules or are afraid to stand up for themselves Pro tip for newer drivers: get yourself one of those small green books at a truck stop that has all the FMCSA rules in it and read it and don't be afraid to quit a company that breaks the law or wants you to do it

"...What is it, 10 degrees? That'll wake you right up..." Biology would like to speak to the manager...

I drove truck for 30 years , and freakin Loved it and miss it and I truly belive it was because I was a TEAMSTER DRIVER. DEREGULATION FUCKED TRUCKING UP ! And John is telling you why the industry scumbags can’t keep drivers ! Lol John nailed the dispatchers !

My husband is a trucker as well and after doing the math we realized he could be making just as much working at Starbucks and then at least he'd be home every night.

Sadly, there is no driver shortage, only a shortage of trucking jobs that pay a living wage.

Finally someone famous understands. The problems we drivers face will never go away thanks to the lobbyists who have the interests of the shipper, receiver and carriers in mind. That TV show would be entertaining though.

That lease thing just sounds like a modern day version of indentured servitude.