On the other hand, trucking companies for the most part are lacking drivers. Turnover is rampant. Drivers will hop to another company for a better per-mile rate, or better scheduling, or newer equipment. Good, safe, dependable drivers are in demand.

And they don't want idle trucks any more than the driver does because if the truck is idle they aren't making money either.

Shadows of the constant "shortage of engineers" threads on HN. There are parallels if you look--the same dichotomy: Companies saying they lack employees, high turnover, job hopping, yet employees say they are dis-satisfied, have little power over their working conditions, their office situation, the terms of their employment, etc. because there's always someone willing to take their spot.

those arguments from both sides seems to be mutually exclusive. One of them must be wrong!

" Good, safe, dependable trucking companies are in demand."

You could also phrase it this way. Maybe drivers wouldn't jump if they got treated better,

We have had guys quit and leave a full truck on the side of the road. Then you have to fly someone out to get it and finish the route.

Could always form a union. Low skill jobs income has declined with the decline of unions representing them.

Long haul truckers are very often (usually?) owner-operators that own the truck themselves and pick up hauling contracts; they aren't employees.

Otherwise there are teamsters, which are very heavily unionized.

Is there anything in between? Small to med cooperatives of long-haul truckers?

Guild, then.

Nope. Look at trucks on interstates, most are from the South or Midwest right to work states on the east coast.