Why should you care about truck driver availability issues? For one, it directly affects how much you pay to ship your freight. The more truck drivers
available to transport loads across American roadways means more competition
for your load, more capacity available, and lower prices on freight
transportation. It also means that you have less of a headache trying to find
someone to take your freight to less desirable locations in the country.
Now that you know why you should care, we’ll take a look at
what is causing this issue, what steps are being taken to address this issue,
and how you can offset this problem for your company’s shipping operations
right now.
What is causing the
driver shortage?
- Age – One of the largest factors today is the average
age of the existing workforce which is 55 as compared with 42 for all US
workers. With an aging demographic of
labor, there aren’t enough newer generations looking for jobs in the trucking
industry. Coupled with the age gap,
the industry has struggled historically to attract enough qualified applicants
to drive a truck. Carriers need to be
highly selective when hiring drivers because they have made safety and
professionalism their main concern.
- Industry Growth – There is more freight on our
roadways today than ever and all signs point to that continuing to increase - with overall revenue in the trucking industry expected to rise 66% and tonnage
forecasted to increase 22% by 2022. More freight means the need for more drivers.
- Lifestyle – New generations are not exactly flocking
to the trucking industry, as the romance of the open road doesn’t seem to be
enough to entice drivers to spend significant amounts of time away from their
families.
- Gender – The majority of the workforce is
predominantly male. Females only
comprise of 6% all truck drivers which leads to a very large untapped portion
of the population.
- Job Market – With the job market improving over the
years there are more job opportunities available for would be potential truck
drivers.
- Federal Regulations – While normally in the interest
of safety, changes to Hours of Service (HOS) regulations, CSA and Electronic
Logging Devices continue to play a large role as they can reduce driver productivity
and ultimately earning potential.
How are driver
availability issues being addressed?
- Driver Pay – Perhaps the most important attractor to
truck driving is that pay is increasing for this profession. The average
annual pay is up about 28% since 2000 and that trend shows no signs of
changing. In an effort to attract quality candidates, sign-on bonuses are now very
common within the industry along with family-friendly work schedules.
- Working Conditions – Technology updates such as a
shift to automatic transmissions, new diagnostic tools, and digital
communication and tracking are being implemented to attract tech-savvy
generations to a traditionally un-technology focused industry. Secondly,
long-haul trucks are being made more comfortable with amenities like kitchenettes, pet accommodations, and more comfortable interiors that are taking the edge off
of long trips.
- Lowering the Driver Age – The minimum age for
interstate driving in the trucking industry is 21. By lowering the age limit to 18, the industry
will open up to those 18-20 year olds that may have already found another trade
by the time they are 21.
- Increasing the Labor Pool – Initiatives are being
created to help foster a positive
image of truck driving as a satisfying career. Carriers are also developing programs to help
with the training and development of their existing talent.
- Autonomous Trucks – New
technologies like driverless trucks might not be on the roads today, but it's a technology that is gaining steam and could be here sooner rather than later. Platoon driving might be
the first technology down the pike that, while still requiring equipment
operators, provides the opportunity to decrease driver involvement by using a
lead truck connected to others. The lead truck would then control the following
(linked) vehicles through controlled breaking and acceleration.
How can I offset
issues for my shipping operations due to current driver shortages?
The American Trucking
Associations (ATA) estimates that the U.S. is short 35,000-40,000 truck
drivers and has the potential to go much higher. And, as we mentioned before, less truck
drivers means less competition for your freight and, in turn, a higher price to
move your shipment. While there are steps being taken to correct 35,000 driver
gap, it definitely won’t happen overnight. It’s important to take corrective
steps now to realize present and future savings for your company.
The right price for your load is usually out there, you
just have to put in the time to find the rate. Working with a 3PL partner, someone
completely dedicated to finding you the right rate, is one way many companies
are offsetting the current time and price commitment reality in the trucking industry. A
good 3PL should put a great deal of effort into concentrating on the market,
developing solid relationships with carriers and drivers alike, and leveraging
that stability into savings and service for their customers.
Visit PartnerShip.com
if you would like to know more about truckload
services through PartnerShip, our carrier partners,
or to contact
us with questions.