Inside look at American truck driver challenges post-pandemic

Arnesha Barron is one of thousands of American truckers who have experienced the profession’s pandemic highs and post-pandemic lows. The single mother of three made a good living, even buying her own truck, before demand dropped and rates tumbled. NBC News’ Shannon Pettypiece joins Barron on the road to learn about the personal and industry-wide challenges she faces.
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#NBCNews #TruckDriver #PostPandemic

[@serg320]

God bless this lady for holding it down! This lady is the example of hard working American

[@user-du1mz5zx7s]

Exactly! May the lord follow these hard working folks in whatever and wherever they go✝️..

[@Julian-gh6fn]

Or pay her while she living ya love to mark people death a with blessing and leaving life to sky. 🔄🆓🚼🛃✝️

[@serg320]

@@Julian-gh6fn bet, how about u pay her? oh thats right u cant, cause u a broke bum

[@Zemohc]

Trucking isnt really hard work though. It's a grind for sure and that grind is respectable. But hard work? Roofing is hard work.

[@user-du1mz5zx7s]

@@Zemohc it test your stamina..

[@mikemichaud5578]

Bless her heart as a fellow truck driver I feel her pain and frustration.

[@Monicapierce-sl1wn]

Hello how are you doing. Can we be friends

[@Monicapierce-sl1wn]

@@TheTallMan50 Hello I'm really much impressed about your profile and personalities. I also admire your good sense of humor on here. I don't normally write in the comment section. but I think you deserve this complement. I would love to send you a request but I don't think is appropriate. Hope you don't mind send me a request so we can know more about our self thanks.

[@6feet6figures]

Why she chose this life

[@ArneshaCoCo35]

@@Monicapierce-sl1wnsure you can

[@ArneshaCoCo35]

@@6feet6figuresI didn’t exactly choose trucking.. but God placed me here and I’m glad that I was able to endure the trials and tribulations that comes along with this field

[@NewarkBrickCity1970]

She makes driving that 18-wheeler look so easy.

[@michaelrocker9000]

The report is spot on. During Covid the load rates were high. Now the rates in the Spot Market are about half as much or even less. It's not so much there is a shortage of loads but the brokers are taking money off the top. A typical load that may have been $2,500 lets say between Greenville SC to Orlando. Now that same run is going for around $1,000. Once again the price of diesel fuel as well as gas is going up. Meanwhile the brokers are driving $100,000 cars. You need to do an investigation on the brokers. like C H Robinson in Knoxville TN.

[@Monicapierce-sl1wn]

Hello how are you doing. Can we be friends

[@keepmoving2023-ku7nb]

I know a few people that already quit the trucking industry

[@Therealdeal_23]

You are yet another uneducated driver...Brokers will always take there part off the top...they are in business also. The companies are not going to pay those rates that they paid doing corvid when it's 1 million of you uneducated drivers waiting at the truck stop. it's simple supply and demand, seen this many times before. it's is to blame the brokers and agents but really you are the problem...to many of you corvid born so called drivers ...did you really think rates were going to stay at $5 plus ?

[@argjentjashari389]

I’d say investigate TQL as well!

[@killer2600]

I get the broker hate but brokers are a necessary evil unless every single owner-op wants to form 1-on-1 relationships with shippers in every city/state they drive to. And even if everyone of them did, shippers don't want to deal with dozens of drivers calling and saying "I'm in the area do you have anything going out?" Brokers are supposed to play the match maker part that drivers and shippers don't want to do themselves.

[@youtubelearning2990]

Thank you NBC for bringing this struggle to light.

[@kingcrusher5524]

Join the Trump 2024 train. And Help this woman get her business striving again😊

[@teebone2157]

Bless all truckers they deserve 100k a year after expenses

[@joshuaryantrucking7396]

Thank you

[@cadenceglass8809]

She's a nice lady

[@adamfrbs9259]

Never lease a truck. You can lease on to a company to haul their stuff under their DOT numbers. But don't lease the actual truck via payments direct to the company. They know the numbers, they know the loads, they set the payment amounts, they've crunched out almost all the profit and leave you enough for fuel and not much more, you'll drown at first major repair.

[@Monicapierce-sl1wn]

Hello how are you doing. Can we be friends

[@adamfrbs9259]

@Monicapierce-sl1wn no, no we cannot.

[@gregorysagegreene]

Still waitin' on all those la-de-dah steering-wheel holders to throw the towel in, and stop parking by the scales and in the driveways, and taking 20 minutes to pass me with a mile long parade of traffic behind. 🙄🤷‍♂️ 🚛💥💨

[@adamfrbs9259]

@gregorysagegreene284 well if boomers didn't stick around til age 77 we'd all have higher wages over 15 years ago. Greedy boomers retire already. Costing me money.

[@adamfrbs9259]

@jamessparks7650 it's an easy trick to fall into. I almost did. There was one really shady company in Alabama that would lease the truck, then on almost last payment they'd scheme up a reason to fire them. Keep the truck and all the years of payments, turn around and do it again.

[@Hillbilly-mgjwv]

Wow. You really “delved deep” into the industry on that one. So investigative.

[@Poppingtags167]

God bless her. She took a loss and bouncing back. I’m a male single parent also two teenagers and in the process of getting my own truck in Los Angeles trying to gain as mush knowledge before I walk the walk lol😂god bless

[@barryjohnson409]

Congratulations to this young lady ! 👌🏾💯

[@Monicapierce-sl1wn]

Hello how are you doing. Can we be friends

[@TBird89]

Wow what an amazing human being and definitely a great role model for her kids. Got get ‘‘em woman and If you love what your doin you’ll eventually catch that 🌈

[@kingcrusher5524]

Vote Trump 2024 to change thinks around back to normalcy, to help this poor lady get her trucking business back

[@TBird89]

@@kingcrusher5524 I’m from Australia and we love Trump.

[@samanthab1923]

And now Yellow is folding. Tons of out of work truckers now

[@martinbruning6312]

Not necessarily. Ltl carrier’s have to have a national network of terminals to cross dock and move individual parcels. Standard carriers haul full truckloads of the same product from point A to point B. They will see little windfall from yellows exit.

[@samanthab1923]

@@martinbruning6312 Thanks 👋

[@TheTallMan50]

​@@martinbruning6312The other LTL carriers will grab Yellow's customers and will need more drivers to handle the extra freight.

[@gregorysagegreene]

Endorsements work, ya'! 🙄 80% of YRC's customer base already migrated months before the collapse.

[@jitlv]

God bless our truck drivers! 🇺🇸

[@joshuaryantrucking7396]

Thank you

[@Ira06002]

I just said a prayer for this wonderful lady, Mom and trucker. God is on your side.

[@vicenteflores9711]

She’s a good hard working mom but just don’t know, Don’t ever lease a truck from a company it’s a scam, go out and buy your own under your credit, also it’s better to have your own authority and not lease on, keep 100% of profit.

[@tannerpaisley-ve6dq]

Too many drivers and too many trucks. Driver shortage is a lie

[@bishop51807]

It's not a shortage of drivers it's a shortage of people willing to put up with crap

[@gamingkanon7048]

It's what bishop said. I talked to a couple companies around here that cant find anyone. After receiving a job offer, I was told they were paying $14/hr and no overtime since they were exempt. They also required 60 hour work weeks. It's nutty...

[@UndergroundRailoadTVshowinChic]

Thanks from Chicago

[@jimminniehan2548]

God bless you dear lady.

[@edsullivan344]

good for you not giving up things will get better never give up on your dreams

[@joshuaryantrucking7396]

Im a truck driver and the post pandemic work is been terrible! We are struggling out here now on the road. Ive been driving 13 years and i believe this is the worse ive seen it

[@PrinceCity007]

You can do it girl!

[@PeterFnPorker]

WOOOOOOOW NBC ACTUALLY FOLLOW THE PERSPECTIVE OF A WORKER.... IMAGINE DOING YOUR JOB ONCE A YEAR AND THEN TELLING YOURSELF GOOD JOB

[@ebonyeyestoo]

Thanks for sharing

[@corinneanderson1273]

Such a positive thinker she is. Comtinuimg success to you Mam.

[@Monicapierce-sl1wn]

Hello how are you. Can we be friends

[@MrMathematics00va]

God bless you… keep striving sista💪🏾

[@theotheleo6830]

Good luck to her. I wish her well.

[@Monicapierce-sl1wn]

Hello how are you doing. Can we be friends

[@AboveAverage2215]

All i can say is...If it was that easy, everybody would do it💯

[@jamms2966]

root'n for this awesome gal!

[@JayP8732]

God bless her❤️💯

[@chaffysteam4128]

Here’s another issue about trucking. NOT ENOUGH TRUCK PARKING. There’s just not enough places to park an 18 wheeler. Truck drivers are in demand but where’s the parking

[@gamingkanon7048]

I was driving through Pennsylvania one time and it took me 3 hours to find a parking spot. I ended up at an abandoned restaurant in the middle of some small town with 5 minutes left on my clock. Anything outside of the midwest is miserable for parking. You can plan all you want, but sometimes plans fall through.

[@achaosg]

The amount of trucks today versus when I started 9 years ago has seemed to double. Its nuts out here. Even the amount of cars is insane.

[@secredeath]

I just started my new career as a truck drive this year

[@tannerpaisley-ve6dq]

Too many drivers and trucks. Driver shortage is a lie.. You will see you matter not to nobody

[@tannerpaisley-ve6dq]

You can easily be blklisted even if you did nothing wrong. Also too many people to rip you off

[@stacyjaye6350]

Join the Teamsters, ASAP

[@tannerpaisley-ve6dq]

@@stacyjaye6350 Teamsters can't do anything about a driver getting blklisted on cdlscan or other site that is not DAC.

[@alanh2820]

@@user-dd1bb4tw4rnice tip

[@philipbond4088]

Rainbow Chaser Trucking Ltd. She’s hard working and persistent. if the math works out with the rates soon,..I hope she gets her own truck again. Boss Lady!

[@itoldyouso2137]

If you get a rewards card at the major truckstops, it gives you a free shower for every 50+ gallons of fuel you get and the $18 for parking is mostly like RESERVED parking (imo)

[@najeefilms]

Yeah I went the delivery route. I'm not scared to touch freight. If I did travel. It would be short haul 250 miles and back.

[@maroon9273]

And even short box trucking.

[@Joseph-en7gx]

Proud of you woman.

[@chuckskinny1]

She jumped the gun on that new truck. Have to be more responsible.

[@bishop51807]

Easier said than done even used trucks can break down and be pretty expensive to fix

[@gregorysagegreene]

She went in on a second! Now that the freight collapse bit! 🙄🤷‍♂️

[@jtalonrider4769]

Good job very good example

[@Monicapierce-sl1wn]

Hello how are you doing. Can we be friends

[@oneone3983]

Most of these drivers that complaing are those who stole that ppp money and eidl loan and brought a truck during covid.

[@yeb7997]

Not worth being out there anymore

[@ontheroadwiththetrinitruck745]

Trucking is is no way I'm staying out

[@maroon9273]

Especially long haul trucking

[@leepialong]

single mom...but what happens to the father of her children?

[@mitmaks]

It's pathetic they'll send billions of dollars to fund wars overseas but won't help hard working Americans who are trying to raise family and put food on the table.

[@Mike-ki8rm]

As a truck driver I see this a lot 90 percent of trucker over spend eat out a lot drinking casino’s you name it then turn around and say I don’t make enough rule to any business keep your over head low and Don’t over borrow

[@amtrakfan5511]

What goes up must come down.

[@KevinG1994]

Everyone is saying it’s bad out there but freight is still moving. 🤔

[@MiniMausTruckerKee]

Freight is still moving….at a low rate.

[@KevinG1994]

@@MiniMausTruckerKee True but that means there is still money on the table to make because companies are still doing it. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@MiniMausTruckerKee]

@@KevinG1994 companies have direct shipper contracts so their rates aren’t the same as the load boards. I feel the load boards are scraps for O/O, while mega carriers get better freight and rates.

[@traceejohnson290]

Her son is away at college and who is keeping her other 2 children while on the road for 3 weeks?

[@mermaidreviews4693]

Probably her mom her a friend or there dad

[@ibiro868]

Their dad???

[@stephanhollinger64]

Here is a tip for you ma get your hazmat tanker endorsement you will forever be in high demand. And btw #FLYEAGLESFLY!

[@marcosthompson5753]

Yea another report that's what we truckers need.

[@maxpuppy96]

It is a tough racket.

[@LP-bt4jk]

Hard working woman right here 👏

[@kingcrusher5524]

Hard working men to 😊 💯😁

[@prancer4743]

What a set up 😮😀👍🙏 well done 👍

[@UnderUrs69]

Can you send a reporter next time that knows what fuel trucks run on. Thanks!

[@DanielHernandez-dp7hr]

And that's why truckers are getting into crazy amount of accidents. Should have higher standards to be a trucker

[@user-rx9rh1mq4o]

That reporter looked scared being in truck with that woman truck driver

[@user-hp5gt9tz7z]

😆

[@MrPapito1363]

Where is the truck shortage? That the media project now they contradict, they self

[@user-ov4el4vc3f]

Nice truck

[@eddieg6436]

Years ago, truckers we’re professionals. These days, I notice SO MANY truckers not even SIGNALING anymore!!! …..the world has gone to s**t.

[@marcelllegend8844]

Do you signal coming out of your driveway? a truckers home is the road lol

[@eddieg6436]

@@marcelllegend8844 No, I don’t signal leaving my driveway. But I DO signal changing lanes at 75 mph on the freeway……..these “younger” truckers should do the same thing, it’s called being a PROFESSIONAL. These days? They could care less!! Typical under 40 year old!!

[@alanh2820]

I’m the loser that signals coming out of my driveway… sigh

[@LP-bt4jk]

Driver’s are ghetto, little to no knowledge nowadays. It surprises me how they earn their CDL’s…

[@marcelllegend8844]

@@LP-bt4jk u answered your own question they earned it ...

[@Losttribesmen]

because we have no no mining no manufacturing

[@Sirhc-mj2cq]

You don't even wanna be a trucker anymore these days. Used to be it paid. Nowdays regulation and rising fuel cost has taken all that pay out of it and there's no incentive. I drive truck and I would never do over the road trucking. I stick with local farms and harvest trucking nowdays and only truck seasonal.

[@JasmineOfAllTrades]

Let’s start a go fund me for her!! ❤

[@richardspillers6282]

I live on the road. It's not sustainable.

[@cryrienacryho]

thx u truckers

[@NickDrinksWater]

nice lady

[@ed0078]

60 hours in a seven-day period or 70 hours in an eight-day period is the official legal limit therefore she is being hyperbolic with her statement. Also, to have this amount of time on the road every week is also hyperbolic.

[@bishop51807]

Are you a driver? how much experience do you have? Its very possible to work at or near the 70 hour limit as a trucker. Some companies will make you very much burn through those 70 hours and force you to take a reset. It's a 14-hour work day with 12 hours of driving 8 hours continuous, 30 minute break and the rest for PTI or unloading the truck if they have you do that.

[@oneone3983]

She lied u can on only drive 11 hrs a day

[@oneone3983]

@bishop51807 u can only drive 11 hrs a day with a 14hr work day in a 70hr week

[@vicenteflores9711]

That’s just the clocked driving time, not counting the unloading, loading, opening doors sweeping out trailer or taking to get wash out, sometimes dropping your trailer, fueling, checking in at receiver or shipper, sitting in truck waiting to be loaded or staging in a certain area to be moved to be loaded at a dock, counting every thing I do including dispatching myself I would work 90hrs or more sometimes, I did this for around 2 yrs traveling the country when the rates were ridiculously high with breaks every 10 to 15 days of several days 3 or 4 maybe 5, now rates are in the toilet and I don’t go father then 400 miles or work more than 50 hours a week that’s just the way trucking is, a cut throat market.

[@gamingkanon7048]

Hyperbolic? Local and regional drivers may not hit that 70 hours, but OTR drivers do. Sitting in the back of that cab with nothing to do with no pay sucks. Many of us keep the doors closed to keep the money coming.

[@ShawnCalay-hi6gy]

Were the heck is she parking? Only places I ever paid was newyork and California....even in California if you go to a mom and pops stop if you buy dinner they usually give you a spot for 24 hours....it's now august of 2023 and showers are 18.00 to 21.00.....i use Kwik trip when I can were it's 8.00....get a membership at a club / monthly pass and you can shower for 21.00 a month....there are so many ways around the higher cost.

[@killer2600]

Showers are $18 now? When I started they were $10 with a few small places charging even less. Also what fitness place has truck parking?

[@mac11daddy6]

If you’re considering getting into trucking I would say find another occupation. I’ve been doing this for 12 years now and It’s really not worth it in the long haul. No pun intended

[@DanielSanchez-mi7be]

PLEASE JUST STAY ON THE RIGHT LANE. THE CENTER LANE AND THE HAMMER LANE IS FOR PASSING AND GETTING DOWN THE ROAD QUICKLY AND EXPEDITIOUSLY. AND GET YOURSELF A C.B. RADIO TOO.

[@stayfocusedgirl1403]

This is sad

[@stayfocusedgirl1403]

Get rid of these brokers

[@danielhutchinson6604]

Creating Indentured Servants, by forcing them to remain on the road for Months, appears to be the aim of the Trucking Industry? A week run out and back assures the drivers can find good sources of food and services. The pressure to consume in overpriced Truck Stops, does little to insure healthy lifestyle or the ability to save a dime.

[@gregorysagegreene]

I don't start 'early'. 🤣🤣🤣 🚛💥💨🎇 And I n e v e r 'go home'. Every 'body' with two arms, two legs, and a head wants to be a 'businessman' at the top of a boom.

[@abdulrajaf6]

Earn an HONEST living n NOT Relying on Others is the BEST....(Honestly...Jobless People...Envy her coz she is CAPABLE...Of making n Honest...Living...)..

[@robertrockwell7581]

company's rig you into owner operator knowing you will fail and new drivers keep doing it and going bust. should be outlawed.

[@everythingvideos24]

Seen this once why post it again?

[@pinkchaos.]

It must be hard seeing a hard working black woman isn’t it 🤡 why comment this? 🤡

[@babyboomer198]

I still remember Andrew Yang campaign that truck drivers were going to be obsolete because self driving truck were going to take over. I wonder what happened to that or was it just his imagination.

[@NEMESISISDEAD]

teslas cant self drive without crashing and killing someone and now they know EVs arent sustainable long term environmentally not gonna happen

[@clos084]

Nobody drives 70 hours a week smh

[@elultimo102]

40 years ago, I knew drivers who kept two log books. Some actually drove more than 16 hours a day. The boss didn't care, since it brought in more cash for everybody. (I don't know if the system has changed since then, other than satellite trackers).

[@bishop51807]

Not 70 hours of driving, 70 hours of work that includes driving. Some people run their clocks all way down to the last few hours and then take a 34 reset.

[@princesativa8191]

❤

[@caboverbenny]

Thank the Politicians for selling out the Trucking industry too 3rd world Drivers and Brokers .

[@Losttribesmen]

If known her you go get ring 💍

[@MrMunoz-xp2ry]

She had it good when rates were high during COVID. Now that things have came back down it seems like she can’t cover expenses. Poor business planning honestly.

[@killer2600]

I can't speak to her business managing abilities but as it was said in the video, rates are so bad right now that owner-ops are parking their trucks and getting jobs driving company trucks - they make more money driving someone else's truck than they can driving the truck they already have.

[@MrMunoz-xp2ry]

@@killer2600 that’s because those companies most likely have contacts with other businesses.

[@44MHughes]

😂😂😂 Randy Timms handled this outstandingly well. He did everything he could to try to let you know you were producing a BS story without coming out and saying this was a lazy get rich quick schemer whose poorly laid plans had come back to bite her. 😂😂😂 You couldn’t pick up on any of the red flags? Really? Not even when she acted like real business owners “get a check” every week? Geez…

[@kepjames333]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@kepjames333]

33 years in trucking game

[@kevinrice7635]

Ain't no scale Master 🤪 gonna mess with her...... keep on Trucking Big Momma. .... You can definitely drive for me . Women drive safely not like cowboy 🤠 Men trucker's...... I'm seventy three drive till I'm a hundred.

[@JohnHallgren]

At 3:44, the list of costs shows that reporter and editors don’t know anything about trucking! It’s NOT gas, it’s DIESEL or FUEL! 😡

[@claytonfs]

Yeah, that and if you're a company driver you're not paying for fuel or maintenance. And if you're working for a decent company you get comped showers and you only pay for parking if you're a sucker or can't trip plan. The laundry is a gouge though.

[@JohnHallgren]

@@claytonfs or they can get showers/parking free by points by buying fuel in certain ways, like 60 gal twice instead of 120 once, etc. (Not a driver but friends with a couple)

[@gsp49]

The mechanics at the diesel shop call it gas. Slang term for diesel.

[@Monicapierce-sl1wn]

Hello how are you doing. Can we be friends

[@Monicapierce-sl1wn]

@@gsp49hello how are you doing. Can we be friends

[@rollickplays3579]

There is no rainbow it is going to take a long time before things get back to normal.

[@oneone3983]

She stole that ppp money and brought that truck

[@gregorysagegreene]

... when it could have gone into 5% T-Bills, and she could still be on the couch. 🤣

[@MrWaterbugdesign]

Way to find one of the 7% of long haul drivers who are female. Everything has to be woke 24/7.

[@Eli-lx2fq]

Thanks Biden 😂😂😂😂LGB❤

[@ADHD55]

So underpaid truckies and essential workers

[@truckercowboyed2638]

Perfect example of why you should not lease a truck unless you're absolutely prepared, for the good and bad times.....

[@TheyCallMeJTK]

Why doesn't your son get a job?

[@nicetomeetme5150]

More or less.. she single.. she has to do both roles. I would feel just as good or bad if it were a man supporting his wife and kids.

[@joshuapayne9811]

Trucking is finished

[@Novastar.SaberCombat]

If you ain't rich, you ain't sheet. End of story. No one cares about the 96%. Only the wealthy matter. It is what it is. Stay in your lane.

[@Prachka1]

smart driver looking not to stay with the stupid population. Driver, smart one at least, should not be earning less than $135k annually working 40hrs per week. Simple.

[@njclosetmonsters2048]

No one cares unfortunately. Brokers these days are people living in India.

[@shivanvlogs292]

Get women out of industry asap

[@1lorijb]

Bidens great economy, are your still voting for this😂😂😂😂😂

[@Losttribesmen]

Fine Woman up at 4 in morning

[@SB-ck9gq]

The rainbow will come in 2 years if we are lucky. Rates will go back up, but everyone was expecting a recession, and maybe a recession is still on the way.