Is Logistics in trouble?
The Nationwide Truck Driver Shortage
Okay, so by now, you may have heard that there is a shortage of licensed CDL truck drivers nationwide. For more than a decade, the trucking industry has suffered a dramatic decrease in drivers. Many truckers on the road today are soon to be reaching the retirement age. As a result, a mass amount of employers nationwide are frantically trying to replace them. Since in the United States, nearly 70% of all goods are dependent on truck delivery this poses a problem.
There have been reports of at least 51,000 drivers that are needed to meet the basic demand. However, some are saying that the actual number is upwards of 100,000 drivers instead.
Problems Posed Due to the Shortage
The truck driver shortage is causing the salaries of current drivers to skyrocket and putting a strain on employers all across the country. Another result of this driver shortage is that it is leading to many delayed deliveries among stores nationwide. Also, it is causing a deficit of goods to be available for customers to purchase. Consumers are also realizing that this problem is leading to another…..one that affects their pockets.
It wasn’t just your imagination leading you to believe that everyday items such as toothpaste and milk have placed a bigger strain on your pockets. Due to the laws of supply and demand, the shortage is causing suppliers to increase their prices. This in turn impacts your bottom line.
Possible Solutions to the Truck Driver Shortage
In response to the problems with the truck driver shortages, those who are within the trucking industry are left trying to find solutions. They are looking for ways to increase the workforce and as a result, decrease shipping costs across the board. Some of the solutions include:
- Increasing the average pay for licensed truck drivers.
- Lowering the federal age for getting a commercial license.
- Decreasing the time a truck driver spends on the road.
These are just a few of the possible solutions that have been passed around lately. Increasing the average driver pay has already been largely instituted across the nation. It will encourage those who are thinking about a trucking career to finalize their decision.
Also, decreasing the amount of time a driver spends on the road is crucial. Many drivers are away from the family and friends for days, or even weeks at a time. This is often very draining and unnecessary too. Decreasing time on the road can be an incentive to place more well rested drivers on the road.
While it can be a good thing to recruit the younger professionals it can also be detrimental to safety as well. Those who are under 21 years of age are at higher risk for accidents. Trucking is one of the most dangerous industries in the world and a driver must be focused on safety at all times. As long as the young professional is trained extensively on the possible dangers that lie ahead and the ways to counteract them, then lowering the federal age may be seen as an acceptable solution as well.