OUR TAKE ON THE DRIVER SHORTAGE

In an economy where around 71% of our nation’s freight is moved by trucks, a driver shortage is a significant problem with far reaching effects. (American Trucking Association (“ATA”), 2016). While many companies are increasing signing bonuses and salaries for drivers, there is a need for tens of thousands of drivers to meet the shipping needs of a growing economy. While autonomous trucking is on the rise, its advancements aren’t nearly enough to make up for the shortage in the near future. In this blog, I wanted to take a look at some of the biggest issues involved in the truck driving shortage, and discuss a few potential solutions.

AGE AND GENDER ISSUES IN THE WORKFORCE

Currently, the average age of a truck driver is around 49 years old. (ATA’s Driver Shortage Report, 2017). While the retirement age is getting later, most people around this age are at least beginning to consider retirement. If the industry fails to attract younger drivers, the current shortage will worsen drastically when current truck drivers begin retiring.

There is also an extreme shortage of female drivers in trucking. While women make up about 47% of the US workforce, about only 6% of truck drivers are women. Women are an untapped potential source of drivers. It’s important to reach out to women and encourage them to consider truck driving as a career.

RETENTION

The trucking industry is not only facing a shortage of drivers, but a high turnover rate amongst fleets. The ATA estimates about 94% turnover for large carriers and about 73% turnover for smaller carriers. This turnover demonstrates just how high the demand for truck drivers is, and the constant turnover can make it difficult to effectively manage supply chains. Many freight carriers have increased their pay packages to fight turnover, which will hopefully attract more drivers to the field.

INDUSTRY CHANGES

Industries constantly must adjust to changes in technology and laws, and trucking is no exception. The Electronic Logging Device (ELD) mandate has been a hotly debated change. Some truck drivers feel this will contribute to the driver shortage, as independence is a benefit many drivers appreciate. On the other than, the truck driving lifestyle can be difficult on the friends and family of truck drivers. The forced maximum of hours may lead to a better work-life balance, attracting more drivers.

The driver shortage is an industry-wide problem we will all have to combat and work to solve; transportation is essential to the global economy and our very survival. Even with the truck driving shortage, Kingsgate is committed to making sure our clients get their product as safely and efficiently as possible. We will continue looking towards the future to ensure we continue providing the best logistics solutions possible.

All the Best,

Jeff Beckham