Driver shortage trucking industry’s top concern
AUSTIN, Texas – The driver shortage has emerged as the trucking industry’s top concern for the second year in a row.
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) published its list of the top 10 critical issues facing the trucking industry, at the American Trucking Associations (ATA) Management Conference & Exhibition.
The driver shortage has been within the top three issues in 12 of the 14 years ATRI has conducted the survey.
The hours-of-service rules were the second biggest concern facing the trucking industry, while driver retention came in third, up two places from last year. Concerns over the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate have lessened, down from the number two spot to number four this year. The lack of available truck parking was the fifth biggest concern.
“I’ve spent the past year traveling the country as ATA chairman and everywhere I go, people talk about how we’ve got to resolve our workforce challenges if we’re going to keep this nation’s economy moving forward,” said Dave Manning, TCW, Inc. president. “ATRI’s annual analysis lays out the industry’s preferred strategies for not only addressing our workforce issues, but HOS, truck parking, and congestion as well.”
Have your say
This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.
One of the factors in Shortage of drivers is High insurance. I have got CDL 3 months ago and since been driven from Ontario to British Columbia. Most of the employers rejected me because of high insurance although I have passed the Road test, Schedule 1 and all kind of required tests, having legal status in Canada and have US Visa. Small companies and Owner Operators cheat in trip’s money and Big and established companies doesn’t pay well or they need 2 ~ 3 years experience although I challenged them for any kind of pre-employment test. they refused me on Insurance.
Well here we go again another survey or report telling us exactly what we already know and have done for decades! not wanting to knock theses reports they come well intended and from very professional companies. My point is however this is getting like a Monty Python sketch. If we dedicated just a small portion of the effort that goes into telling us there a driver shortage and here’s why ( most drivers will tell you that for free ask them!) channeled that money effort and resources into fixing the problem maybe just maybe things might start to improve. Instead the Politian’s do very little to effect real change. It would seem to me that they are reluctant to initiate change because in their view another decade and trucks will be automated and driver shortage will vanish. I do not think so when trucks do get automated you will still need a driver (freight manager) in the cab just in case and he/ she would need to be well trained and skill full and there is the new problem the new drivers will not have the experience and skill level because they do not drive on a regular basis. This needs to be an apprentice shipped trade the skill level of new drivers need to go up and recognition as a professional trade needs to come. Then hay who knows maybe young people might want to join its ranks just a thought.
Kudos to the OOIDA for producing the video. No such thing as a driver shortage. Its simply certain employers that keep complaining about the lack of cheaper drivers because they refuse to increase pay. An increase in pay directly increases both retention and recruitment. Free market economics!!
-
You are 100 percent right the O.TA. wants to bring in more cheap truck drivers.
I find it funny how the industry is crying about a driver shortage. I have an idea make it so drivers want to do the job. Between the D.O.T making life stressful on the road and shippers holding trucks and companies not paying drivers what they are worth not to mention being away from home. Who in there right mind would want to be in the industry?
The A.T.A
C.T.A. needs to change the pay and treatment of truck drivers before trying to bring in foreign truck drivers . I have 2 nephews with A Z truck licenses but both work at a power plant and one is a part-time fireman at $27.00 per hour.