Shortage of over the road drivers slowing down trucking industry. Despite the long hours and time away from home, overtheroad trucking has provided drivers with a good income in a job that helps power the american economy. Trucker shortage is raising prices, delaying deliveries. This means the trucking industry has been dealing with the growing problem of a driver shortage in particular, longhaul drivers for while. Bigrig truck driver shortage worsened by coronavirus marketplace.
Labor department analysis questions driver shortage. With a truck driving license and a little bit of experience, you could be well on your way to an overtheroad trucking job in florida. Weve all wondered if the adventure and challenges of life on the open road would suit us better than the ordinary day to day lives weve always known. Us truck driver shortage points to bigger problems. The ata saw a shortage of 50,000 over the road truck drivers in 2017.
Right now, the average age of an over the road driver is 46 years old, and almost as alarming is that the average. According to department of labor figures, the number of people who drive forhire tractortrailers and heavy trucks is 864,000. Trucking industry struggles with growing driver shortage. Report sounds alarm over truck driver shortage as job. The atas bob costello estimates only 500,000 of the cdl holders are over the road drivers. The forhire trucking market does not have a driver shortage problem. Truck driver shortage adds uncertainty to canadian supply chains. May 15, 2017 likely, autonomous vehicles will be implemented gradually, and will serve to increase a truck drivers productivity rather than replace the driver completely. Apr 08, 2018 us truck driver shortage points to bigger problems. No container or straight truck or trailer moves without, at some point, a truck driver. Jul 24, 2019 the shortage is most acute for longhaul drivers, where the average age is 46, and workers are on the road for weeks at a time. It may seem counterintuitive to recommend investing in autonomous trucking, but it would effectively help solve the trucker shortage. If these current trends hold, the shortage can increase to over 160,000 by 2028 if no changes are made. Canadas truck driver shortage will grow by half in less than a decade as the industry grapples with an aging workforce and difficulties recruiting.
Ata says overtheroad trucking ended 2018 short more than. As an otr driver, you may be able to drive all over florida, nearby states, and even other parts of the country. The driver shortage today is higher than ever beforebut its expected to remain stagnant through 2020 and even 2021. The organization estimates that the industry is currently short 60,000 drivers, and may face a shortfall of 100,000 in the next five years. The organization estimates that the industry is currently short 60,000 drivers, and may. Truck driver shortage and forecasts 2019 i am zeus. Jul 24, 2019 per ata, over the road fleets could be short just over 100,000 drivers in five years and 160,000 drivers in 2028. The american trucking associations has long said there s a severe driver shortage, driven by factors such as demographic changes and an overall tight. But that includes drivers like cement truck or dump truck drivers, and they arent part of the driver shortage. Logistics industry news impact of the driver shortage in. The trucking industry has faced a shortage of drivers for years, but the problem is compounded now with baby boomer retirements, increased freight demands and a high turnover rate.
The ata estimates that 160,000 driver positions will go unfilled in. Trucking companies have increased rates 6% to 10% in the contracts theyve signed with shippers over the past year to offset higher wages and take advantage of the strong demand and limited. Usa today published a series of articles documenting how port trucking companies in california forced their drivers into debt, pressured them to work up to 20 hours a day. Jan 17, 2020 in november of last year, the american trucking association ata listed truck driver shortage as the number one issue for the industry for the third year in a row. Trucking companies are not yet willing to share the wealth with theyre drivers, so the shortage keeps growing.
It is expected that over onethird of the trucks on the road in 2025 will be heavily automated, but complete autonomy is still in the distance future. While the driver shortage is not as acute in these sectors as it is in the over theroad truckload sector, the. It is expected that over onethird of the trucks on the road in 2025 will be heavily automated, but complete autonomy is still in. As truck drivers gain experience in the industry, they gain more flexibility to plan their own routes or deliver more locally. Trucking companies typically want drivers with 23 years of longhaul over the road trucking experience before they consider you for a local job. Is americas trucking industry facing a driver shortage. Trucking industry was short more than 60,000 drivers in. The overregulation has gotten so out of hand that doctors and sleep. While the driver shortage is not as acute in these sectors as it is in the over the road truckload sector, the high average age still affects the overall shortage. Truck driver shortage threatens supply chain trucking info. Over the course of about 15 years, the supply of truck drivers in the u. The average age of an over the road driver is 46 years old. The united states and colorado are facing a truck driver shortage, a daunting economic prospect as the vast majority of goods in the country are transported over the road.
The trucking industry needs to find ways to attract more and younger drivers, costello said. How the trucking industry is dealing with driver shortage. It plays well in truck driving schools and recruiting ads, but it creates more danger than good. Understanding the truck driver shortage to decrease turnover. Shortage of overtheroad drivers slowing down trucking. Montreal canadas truck driver shortage has reached new heights, with job vacancies more than doubling since 2016, a new report says. But costello said that does not consist solely of over the road drivers, where the problem lies. The present shortage of qualified truck drivers, the less than adequate driver wages, the long list of stringent rules and regulations, the implementation of electronic log books, combined with the overcrowded roadways on the major routes, truck driving in canada certainly is not as appealing as it once was, a few decades ago. Mar 11, 2020 montreal canadas truck driver shortage has reached new heights, with job vacancies more than doubling since 2016, a new report says. Many new drivers, aside from being barelytrained to drive, are illprepared for what the trucking lifestyle is really about. Feb 11, 2019 the trucking industry has faced a shortage of drivers for years, but the problem is compounded now with baby boomer retirements, increased freight demands and a high turnover rate.
The department of labor lists 864,000 drivers as forhire trucking heavy and tractor trailer drivers. And with the shortage increasing driver pay, it can have a significant impact on supplier costs and therefore consumer pricing. The driver shortage thats been plaguing overtheroad, forhire. Atas costello projects out the driver shortage, and its a. These problems contribute to the high driver turnover rates that are responsible for the truck driver shortage. What is causing the truck driver shortage and how can we fix. He estimates the shortage of otr driver to be about 50,000. Trucker shortage balloons to more than 60,000 driver jobs. What the trucking industry has done to help solve the driver shortage. In a briefing prepared for employment and social development canada esdc, the organization cites anecdotal reports of. A shortage of more than 20,000 drivers has hampered truck. Ata releases updated driver shortage report and forecast. Americas massive truck driver shortage may triple by 2026.
Usa today published a series of articles documenting how port trucking companies in california forced their drivers into debt, pressured them to. Atas costello projects out the driver shortage, and its. The average age of an overtheroad driver is 46 years old. A quick guide to the state of truck driving in canada. At truckingtruth well help you decide if trucking is right for you and help you get your career off to a great.
The driver shortage affects the entire economy, as over 68% of all freight is moved on u. The american trucking association says the united states needs 51,000 more drivers to fill the current deficit. Labor department analysis questions driver shortage drivers. In november of last year, the american trucking association ata listed truck driver shortage as the number one issue for the industry for the third year in a row. The truck driver shortage can be solved by paying drivers for. It will still be quite some time before human drivers are entirely replaced by selfdriving trucks, but thats where the future is headed and for the timebeing, autonomous trucks will still require a driver behind the wheel.
Oct 24, 2019 the present shortage of qualified truck drivers, the less than adequate driver wages, the long list of stringent rules and regulations, the implementation of electronic log books, combined with the overcrowded roadways on the major routes, truck driving in canada certainly is not as appealing as it once was, a few decades ago. A driver shortage tops implementation of the federal eld mandate as the biggest trucking industry issue, according to atri. The american trucking associations says the industry needs to hire. Shortage of drivers could probably more accurately read shortage of qualified drivers. Becoming a truck driver is a dream weve all pondered at some point in our lives. Approximately 60,000 drivers are needed to meet robust demand for trucking services, and that may be a conservative estimate. Shortage of overtheroad drivers slowing down trucking industry. Apply to truck driver, over the road truck driver, crew member and more. The road transport industry is the backbone of the economy and plays an essential role in peoples daily lives. The problem is that not all of them are overtheroad drivers. The problem is that not all of them are over the road drivers. Trucking drives americas economy, but a shortage of truck drivers is putting the future of the countrys economy in peril. Shortage of drivers causing a crisis in transportation. Mar 16, 2019 according to department of labor figures, the number of people who drive forhire tractortrailers and heavy trucks is 864,000.
Right now, the average age of an over the road driver is 46 years old, and almost as alarming is that the average age of a new driver being trained is 35 years old. What is causing the truck driver shortage and how can we. While the report covers the entire trucking industry, the bulk of the shortage is in the over the road forhire truckload market. The argument over whether america is facing a truck driver shortage has embroiled the trucking industry for years. The job pays a middleclass wage, yet few people want it. Jul 16, 2018 approximately 60,000 drivers are needed to meet robust demand for trucking services, and that may be a conservative estimate. The truck driver shortage can be solved by paying drivers. Despite faster job growth, the trucking industry has experienced unusually high turnover rates. By the end of 2019, there should be a slight decrease in the driver shortfall but not significant enough to fix the issue. Atas driver shortage report 2019 american trucking associations. Nearly every period of economic growth is accompanied by a driver shortage, including the recovery that began in 2009. Truck driver shortage is on course to double in a decade.
Shes extensively researched the labor market for truck drivers, and challenges claims that a shortage exists. Since then the trucking industry has continued to struggle with driver shortage. There will be layoffs during the economic downturn brought about by covid19, but trucking hr canada continues to sound the alarm about a truck driver shortage. Likely, autonomous vehicles will be implemented gradually, and will serve to increase a truck drivers productivity rather than replace the driver completely. Southern alberta trucking industry suffering from driver shortage. The industry has been offering attractive deals to retain drivers. Even so, trucking companies, especially truckload carriers, often have great difficulty finding, hiring and keeping drivers. Trucking industry was short more than 60,000 drivers. Even today, a lack of drivers is making goods more expensive and delaying orders. Jan 09, 2018 trucking industry struggles with growing driver shortage more than 70 percent of goods consumed in the u. Now theyve corrected that number and theyre saying shortages of over 200,000 drivers in north america by 2020.
Right now, the average age of an overtheroad driver is 46 years old, and almost as alarming is that the average age of a new driver being trained is 35 years old. The shortage is most acute for longhaul drivers, where the average age is 46, and workers are on the road for weeks at a time. Is there a truck driver shortage or a utilization crisis. An over the road driver has to adapt to living in a truck. While the shortage of over the road truckload drivers nationwide is. Apply to over the road truck driver, truck driver and more. But costello said that does not consist solely of overtheroad drivers, where the problem lies. Jul 24, 2019 the trucking industry needs to find ways to attract more and younger drivers, costello said. Canadas truck driver shortage has reached new heights, with job vacancies more than doubling since 2016, a new report says. Bureau of labor statistics data dont back up the trucking industrys claims about a shortage of. Facing a critical shortage of drivers, the trucking. The shortage could be upwards of 100,000 or more, seaport global.
Trucking companies typically want drivers with 23 years of longhaulovertheroad trucking experience before they consider you for a local job. Theres a shortage of bigrig truck drivers in the u. Shortage of overtheroad drivers leads to pay raise the. The rates have never been this good in over 20 years.
Canadian truck driver shortage sask trucking association. Other trucking sectors have an even higher average age, like lessthantruckload and private carriers. Arguments over driver shortage, compensation are actually pretty similar. Trucking is changing, however, with electronic logging, autonomous technology and a driver shortage grabbing headlines in recent years. Cta calls for new steps to ease driver shortage truck news. Trucking companies have had a tough time hiring drivers willing to hit the road for long hauls. While the shortage of overtheroad truckload drivers nationwide is. May 28, 2018 the rates have never been this good in over 20 years. Overall, however, the shortage will likely increase over the next decade in the trucking industry. An overtheroad driver has to adapt to living in a truck. Apr 26, 2018 trucking companies have increased rates 6% to 10% in the contracts theyve signed with shippers over the past year to offset higher wages and take advantage of the strong demand and limited. Throughout the past decade, the trucking industry has struggled with a shortage of truck drivers. Based on industry data and conversations with logistics professionals, we estimate that overtheroad.
Heavy and tractortrailer truck drivers usually have a high school diploma and attend a professional truck driving school. The over regulation has gotten so out of hand that doctors and sleep. Arguments over driver shortage, compensation are actually. Trucking industry struggles with growing driver shortage more than 70 percent of goods consumed in the u. An apparent shortage of drivers has been lurking in the industry news for a few years, now. The canadian truck driver shortage is the shortage of available truck drivers to keep the canadian economy moving. Canada is expected to be short 25,000 truck drivers as early as 2023, representing a 25% increase over the unfilled vacancies in 2019, trucking hr canada reports. Per ata, overtheroad fleets could be short just over 100,000 drivers in five years and 160,000 drivers in 2028. This is not a projected shortage, this is an actual shortage of 22,000 workers, said blackham. Truck drivers start off as over the road drivers otr, which means driving for vast distances and being away for weeks at a time. The trucking industry needed tens of thousands of drivers even before the coronavirus hit. The driver shortage thats been plaguing over the road, forhire. The impact of autonomous vehicles on the trucking industry. Mar 20, 2019 the american trucking associations has long said there s a severe driver shortage, driven by factors such as demographic changes and an overall tight work force.