‘This used to be a great job’: US truckers driven down by long hours and low pay

Industry bosses complain they can't hire drivers but workers say they're underpaid and treated like trash'

Tim Clemons has driven nearly 3m miles around the US in his 30 years as a truck driver. This used to be a great job," said Clemons. I provide a valuable service to this country. It would be nice if we weren't looked down upon like trash."

While the industry says there is a national shortage of drivers and complains regulation is holding back hiring, Florida-based Clemons has another theory: working conditions have deteriorated since he started driving, he said. It's more difficult to find parking and access to bathrooms. Dispatchers and brokers are pushing harder to deliver loads in a certain amount of time or else drivers face fines or deductions. Drivers earn less.