In the United States we have an acute shortage of qualified long-haul truck drivers to fill open positions. The American Trucking Associations estimate for positions open without a qualified applicant exceed 50,000 this year alone. The prognosis for future shortages of qualified truckers gets worse as time goes on.
In the next 10 years, the shortage could be as great as 200,000 open positions for long-haul truckers. Already, base pay and bonuses have been escalating for the positions able to be filled. It is not uncommon for recruiters and trucking companies to advertise on television and radio seeking truck drivers.
While pay has increased and drivers who work as employees for companies such as Walmart make a better total package of compensation then the typical long-haul trucker. While some drivers can make up to $100,000 the Labor Department indicates that the average truck driver pay is only $40,000.
Sign up bonuses have been reported up to $35,000 for new truck drivers but the average bonuses have been $2000 to $5000.
Some in the trucking industry suggest that the electronic logging device rule has made the problem worse regarding the shortage of drivers. The electronic logging device rule was enacted to circumvent drivers cheating on their logbooks and working way beyond the safe allowable hours.
Rates have increased due to the shortage of drivers. It is consumers that foot the bill for the driver shortage.
Positions driving the truck that allow the driver to be back in his own home each evening are much easier to fill than those requiring an open road lifestyle. Living in the back of a cab or a hotel room five or more days a week is not an attractive lifestyle to most younger drivers.
Some estimate the average age of a long-haul truck driver to be 54 years old and the younger generation are not excited about the social limitations of a long-haul driver lifestyle.
Recently, a bill was introduced into Congress allowing for drivers under 21 to drive across state lines to ameliorate the driver shortage in America. While the proposed bill is limited to those under the age of 21 trained in trucking or heavy equipment, maturity of age is important when handling an 80,000-pound vehicle.
Many truck accident attorneys feel the safety regulations that apply to motor carriers and truck drivers to be strengthened in the qualifications and training both initially and ongoing for truck drivers. Requiring more training, simply would make it more difficult to fill positions while it would make our highways safer for the public.
Balancing the competing interests between the cost of freight, safety considerations for the public and the need for new truck drivers is never an easy task. I hope the increase in pay will be significant enough to attract highly qualified drivers who will stay with the industry.
Increasing the hours or decreasing the qualifications of truck drivers should be the last resort for lawmakers.
Hi there! I’m Sethu, your go-to guy for all things tech, travel, internet, movies, and business tips. I love sharing insights and stories that make life more interesting. Let’s explore the world together, one article at a time!
