I was reading an article today about truck driver retention and how difficult it is becoming. Even in a weak economy, there are thousands of truck driving jobs going unfilled. I am one of a disappearing group. I am a transportation professional who has actually driven a truck over the road both long haul and locally so I know how poorly truck drivers are treated by many shippers. Truck drivers can be rough around the edges but a lot of it is from sheer loneliness with no one to talk to for hours. Then they arrive to pick-up or deliver and are treated very disrespectfully when just a modicum of courtesy would work wonders. Who would want to work in that environment for very long? If you don't think driver retention is YOUR problem, think again. Half way to its destination your shipment is left at some truck stop simply because the driver got fed up with his life and walked away. The straw that broke the camel's back might have been one of your own people in your shipping department who treated the driver badly when he was loading your freight. Capacity problems and service problems are just as much your problem as they are the trucking industry. You have the capacity to do something to help by making sure the drivers that come your way are treated like you would want to be treated. A little change that could work wonders for us all!!!