Part of it is generational. But anyone that gets up at 3 am to go to work every day has a decent work ethic. By far most of the drivers we have came from preload. I don't think that's a coincidence.
Now one of two things happens. They either see the trucks and figure it out or they run seasonal and figure it out.
Most of our drivers came from preload and still cover it. It's funny to see 60 year old men ripping 30 minute trailers while the young bucks are at an hour wondering who is this guy haha.
I'm in it for driver. Wake up at 12:30-1am everyday, walk a couple miles to work, load or unload, walk home and do it again.
Honestly though I think I'm the only person who has done a seasonal and has come back. Now that I think about it, when I started some guy I've never seen since said "you went through that and wanted to come back?".
I had stuff stacked out in the parking lot for 4 trucks this morning and the drivers were cool about it, I told them sorry it's the best I can do but no misloads, xyz is sorted in abc, etc. Told two of them it was worse than the peaks I've seen and it was like "oh wow this guy came back to this circus". Gave me 1200 packages for 4 cars and pushed our start time out.. that'll do nothing but make us work longer (not that I mind), but make drivers work later (which I do mind because that'll be me one day).
It ain't hard to do a job. Not everyone can be 9-5. I did that from 18 to 28 and did another office job at my university for 4 years. I was depressed just wanting to die. Then I picked up manual labor and it helps. I'm not the most able-bodied or of complete sound mind, but I can work until your average person falls to the floor in exhaustion and do it right and do it again and not care. It pays the bills. No sense letting it drive you mad.
