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Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's some big mis-information by Otto. They quote: " It’s no surprise that trucking companies see over 90% of their drivers qui

Correct me if I'm wrong, but there's some big mis-information by Otto. They quote: " It’s no surprise that trucking companies see over 90% of their drivers quit every year in search of better opportunities. " That was in 2014, and it was due to (from the link they provide) “larger fleets raising pay, offering bonuses and attracting more and more drivers from smaller fleets to fill seats.” They were still truckers, just different companies. The Otto piece made it sound like they were leaving trucking all together. The whole tone of the article of "making lives better for truckers" just falls flat. Not sure why they're trying to suger-coat it.

themartorana 10y ago
It seems a dichotomous goal - make truckers' lives better while building tech to put truckers out of work.
- GauntletWizard 10y ago
  If Otto takes the 11-hour highway stints out of trucker's days, and instead they work shift-work in major hubs, it is entirely possible that they will do both. The winners will get predictable, stable hours, the losers out of a job.
  - biggc 10y ago
    > predictable, stable hours Probably with gradually reduced overall pay, because there will be a fraction of the jobs with the same number of potential truckers. I'm sure investors will see a solid return though.
    - thdespou 10y ago
      If I were a trucker I would look for a career change...
  - wavefunction 10y ago
    Wouldn't people who can put up with and perhaps even enjoy the truck-driving lifestyle be the people who are currently the primary demographic of truckers? I love how SV thinks everyone wants and needs their "help."
    - madgar 10y ago
      Large swaths of unemployed unskilled workers are already doing wonders for American politics so far, I can't wait to see what happens when 2.8 million more Americans play musical chairs/jobs.
      - wavefunction 10y ago
        They have every right to vote how they like. It's up to bright young stars like yourself to show them opportunities to better themselves.
byebyetech 10y ago
They are reframing as "making lives better for truckers" so that truckers don't resist the change and boycott their employer through their unions. Eventually plan IS to get rid of the truckers.
robotresearcher 10y ago
They're making life better for truckers the same way Thatcher made life better for coal miners [1]. If your job category is done there is no use fighting it. Just make sure your kids have another choice. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_miners%27_strike_(1984–85) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_miners%27_strike_(1984–85)

themartorana 10y ago

It seems a dichotomous goal - make truckers' lives better while building tech to put truckers out of work.

GauntletWizard 10y ago
If Otto takes the 11-hour highway stints out of trucker's days, and instead they work shift-work in major hubs, it is entirely possible that they will do both. The winners will get predictable, stable hours, the losers out of a job.
- biggc 10y ago
  > predictable, stable hours Probably with gradually reduced overall pay, because there will be a fraction of the jobs with the same number of potential truckers. I'm sure investors will see a solid return though.
  - thdespou 10y ago
    If I were a trucker I would look for a career change...
- wavefunction 10y ago
  Wouldn't people who can put up with and perhaps even enjoy the truck-driving lifestyle be the people who are currently the primary demographic of truckers? I love how SV thinks everyone wants and needs their "help."
  - madgar 10y ago
    Large swaths of unemployed unskilled workers are already doing wonders for American politics so far, I can't wait to see what happens when 2.8 million more Americans play musical chairs/jobs.
    - wavefunction 10y ago
      They have every right to vote how they like. It's up to bright young stars like yourself to show them opportunities to better themselves.

byebyetech 10y ago

They are reframing as "making lives better for truckers" so that truckers don't resist the change and boycott their employer through their unions. Eventually plan IS to get rid of the truckers.

robotresearcher 10y ago

They're making life better for truckers the same way Thatcher made life better for coal miners [1]. If your job category is done there is no use fighting it. Just make sure your kids have another choice. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_miners%27_strike_(1984–85) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UK_miners%27_strike_(1984–85)