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THE TRUCKDRIVER SHORTAGE: MOVING FORWARD
Add to that the pandemic, which has created massive shipping backlogs throughout the supply chain, and you have carriers scrambling to play catch-up. The result is an overwhelming demand for both trucks and drivers, and an inevitable capacity shortage. Virtually every business that relies on physical products has begun to feel the pain in one way or another. possible solution: lowering the minimum truck driving age nationwide. Although 49 states allow individuals to get their CDL and begin driving trucks at the age of 18, federal regulations prevent those drivers from crossing state lines until they turn 21. That restriction prevents a sizable population of job seekers from even considering interstate trucking as a career. By the time they turn 21, many of these potential recruits have found work in other industries. WH AT ’ S B E I N G D O N E A B O U T I T ? There’s been a long-standing debate about one For decades, groups such as the ATA have lobbied Congress to lower the minimum age to 18. And tucked into the $1 trillion infrastructure bill signed by Joe Biden on Nov. 15th, there’s a provision that moves these groups one step closer to their goal. The DRIVE Safe Act includes a three-year pilot program that would allow 3,000 18-year-old CDL holders a chance to participate in a rigorous training and apprenticeship course designed to help them master interstate driving. The apprentice drivers would be required to drive 240 hours under the direct supervision of a more experienced driver in a truck equipped with safety features like automatic brake systems and a 65-mile-per-hour speed governor. After completing this training, they’ll be free to drive cross- state routes. Supporters believe the pilot program will show that with proper training and safety technology, younger drivers can be as safe as older CDL drivers with more
Anyone who follows transportation news is already well aware that America is facing a shortage of commercial truck drivers. According to estimates from the American Trucking Associations, the United States currently needs more than 80,000 additional truck drivers – a number that could swell beyond 160,000 by 2030. Given that roughly 70% of all freight in America is transported by truck, those are obviously troubling numbers. But that’s not to say all hope is lost. Steps are being taken – both by government and private businesses – that seek to address this shortage before it becomes a full-blown crisis. H OW D I D WE G E T H E R E ? While some people may think that the shortage of truck drivers is purely the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the truth is that the issue has been developing for years. There have been many contributing factors, and the pandemic certainly aggravated the situation. But there’s one overriding issue that’s impossible to ignore: the problem of retiring drivers. The average age of an over-the-road driver is 48 years – and current drivers are retiring faster than new ones are signing on. Over time, this has steadily lowered the number of drivers who are available to haul freight. Combined with steady demand increases as industries struggle to recover from the impacts of COVID-19, the situation has only worsened in recent years. H OW I S I T I MPA C T I N G S H I P P E R S ? Over time, the driver shortage has a ripple effect. The lack of available drivers can lead to shipping delays and shortages at stores. These supply chain disruptions create scarcity, which puts upward pressure on prices. Lead times become extended and profit margins shrink.
experience. If the program is deemed a success, more rollouts will follow. Obviously, a pilot program for 3,000 people isn’t going to solve the driver shortage on its own. That’s why many private companies are finding their own ways of attracting and retaining more newcomers and veterans of the industry – in the form of wage increases, signing bonuses, and more. But competitive pay is only the beginning. MO R E R E A S O N S F O R H O P E Moving forward, we must all look for new solutions when devising ways to overcome the driver shortage. Tactics like lowering the federal minimum driving age are a step in that direction. The same is true with better incentive packages and driver benefits. Another potential opportunity stems from the fact that the industry is currently missing out on nearly half of the potential workforce population; women comprise over 47% of the nation’s workforce but account for only 6% of commercial truck drivers. As the industry works to overcome a “male only” perception, we must make it clear that women are both welcome and needed behind the wheel. There’s no single answer. Building and maintaining CONT. PG6
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