Shortage of RV transporters.

[goducks10]

RV industry short 2000 drivers for transporting RV's. If it was more lucrative I bet they wouldn't be short drivers.

http://www.rvbusiness.com/2014/04/rvia-meeting-addresses-rv-transport-concerns-2/

[FLY_4_FUN]

My Coachman was built April 10 and arrived on May 28. Our dealers lot is starting to look empty as their factory orders and dealer stock just cant get there. I actually feel bad for them as no produce equals no sale. Imagine ordering now and getting your rv Sept 1

Daryll

[wirenutz]

like it was said before, if it was more profitable, more people would be doing it, including myself if I could clear a grand a week after fuel, food, maintenance on the truck, I wonder why more over the road truckers don't look into this as a way to pay for the return trip back home ?

[chevor]

Maybe the salesmen should stop selling trailers and go for a drive. Its only a 2 day trip.

[Camper_X]

My trailer has been sitting in Indiana for two weeks. They cannot get anyone to run my trailer out here to Colorado. The dealer told me that it has been taking 3 to 4 weeks to get delivery's. It sucks but I guess there is nothing I can do about it. My dealer has close to 30 trailers on order between the two stores. They can't get them delivered.

[Krease]

I don't want to burst your bubble, but usually in transportation you will barely cover your insurance and fuel if you do it part-time. The insurance rates are pretty expensive to haul for any reputable company, even if you have your own Authority. "part-time" and "transport" doesn't usually go in the same sentence.

Do I know everything? Certainly not. But I have my own operating Authority, and the insurance to be able to transport is pretty high.

[goducks10]

bikendan wrote:
i'm finding this thread very interesting, as i'm toying with the idea of possibly doing this after i retire this year.

i guess since i won't have to depend on it for living wages, it might be doable but i would need to really learn more about it.
definitely not something to make a living at.

My thoughts exactly. It would be real tough to make a living at it. But as a part time fill in job it does have possibilities. Being retired and having all day to do whatever is what retirements about IMO. With that being said I wouldn't mind a part time job. But most part time jobs aren't flexible enough. My wife still works and as such we plan our vacations and longer weekend camping trips around her schedule. It would be tough to just come and go in most part time jobs. I like my flexibility from being retired. I would have to give that up with a normal part time job. Lots of them are an on call type. Where you may get called anytime to fill in for someone.
That's the thing about RV transport that's intriguing in that it offers flexibility.

[bikendan]

i'm finding this thread very interesting, as i'm toying with the idea of possibly doing this after i retire this year.

i guess since i won't have to depend on it for living wages, it might be doable but i would need to really learn more about it.
definitely not something to make a living at.

[goducks10]

It's more than just wages. It's the overall treatment of the drivers that turns a lot off.

http://www.elkharttruth.com/news/business/rv-industry/2014/05/01/RV-transport-drivers-are-getting-hi...

[IndyCamp]

goducks10 wrote:

homedad wrote:
As long as individuals are willing to do jobs that pay very little there is no incentive to pay more. It's like any market, the supply of drivers must still be exceeding the demand or they would pay more and pass the cost on to the final consumer.

Sounds easy but not that simple.
http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/business/what-s-behind-rv-driver-shortage/article_36379d9a-c87a...

Huh?

From your linked article, it sounds like it just might be that simple...

He believes increasing pay for drivers and better cooperation from dealerships would help gain and retain drivers.

Pay is definitely an issue, according to DeMeyer

DeMeyer said better pay would likely help solve the problem, but ultimately, those costs would be passed on to the consumer.

[gmw_photos]

FLY 4 FUN wrote:
I considered the 7000km round trip....and decided to pay for shipping. Its just too far to be practical for us.

Daryll

And in all honesty, when I bought my camper 630 miles away, it was "practical" for me to go get it because, one, I turned it into a mini-trip-fun-vacation, and two, I'm retired and place little to no value on my time.
I am considering a Lazy Daze class C as a next RV, and they sell new direct from the factory in greater LA area ( no dealer network ). No doubt, if I buy one, I will simply fly out, buy it and take the really long way home.

[goducks10]

If I could clear $1000.00 for a trip to Elkhart, I'd probably do it every other month or so. One place will let you do one trip and have 90 days to do another. I'm retired and it would be a change of pace. But being in Oregon I'd have to go to Elkhart for the orientation and that means a few motel nights which would dig into profits. I wouldn't look at making money but more as a way to break things up from month to month. Wife still works so my days are pretty much mine.

One place has a headquarters in Pendleton Or, but you still have to go to Elkhart for orientation. If I could do the orientation in Pendleton I'd jump on it.

[Fordlover]

Pangaea Ron wrote:
I'm curious, what sort of compensation do they offer? Probably not $15/hour.

Wow... think ill keep my day job.

[FLY_4_FUN]

I considered the 7000km round trip....and decided to pay for shipping. Its just too far to be practical for us.

Daryll

[rhagfo]

gmw photos wrote:
For me personally, I would prefer to drive to the factory myself to pick up a new RV before I would wait for a month or more to get it.

That would be me for sure also, PDI at point of manufacture would be far better. Arrange for final Payment and be on your way.

[gmw_photos]

For me personally, I would prefer to drive to the factory myself to pick up a new RV before I would wait for a month or more to get it.