The driver shortage has become a critical issue, impacting the efficiency and reliability of many industries. This persistent problem is not only a result of an aging workforce but also due to challenges in attracting new talent, stringent regulations, and evolving economic conditions. This blog explores the root causes and the innovative strategies being implemented to address the ongoing driver shortage crisis.
Many Incentives Are Offered to Combat Trucking and Driver Shortages Throughout the US
In 2019, a driver shortage of approximately 61,000 drivers was reported within the trucking industry. According to the American Trucking Association, this driver shortage number is likely to increase to 160,000 drivers by 2028, unless drastic measures are taken to overhaul the industry. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as supply and demand have increased, transportation companies across the country have ramped up efforts to help make their company more appealing to potential drivers.
2021 has experienced a major drop in drivers as the year has progressed. This decline can be attributed to many different factors, which we will discuss further in this article. However, due to supply and demand, the shortage of drivers has pushed many companies across the US to implement incentives that will entice drivers like you to come to work for them.
Thanks to Commercial Driving Academy, it’s now easier than ever to apply for and receive your CDL to help combat the current driver shortage we are facing in the United States and benefit from the incentives being offered.
Primary Reasons for Driver Shortage
As the world opened back up with the COVID-19 pandemic being more controlled, the demand for products that were placed on the back burner at the beginning of the pandemic. These include furniture and gasoline which have rapidly increased.
The large increase in demand for both durable and non-durable goods has led the nation to feel the weight of our current driver shortage even more so. Many lobbying groups attest to the current driver shortage for many things, which are listed below.
Retiring Truckers
According to the 2019 report published by the American Trucking Association, the average age of a truck driver in the United States is 46 years old, while the average age of new drivers entering the industry is 35 years old. Due to the older age of many when entering into the trucking industry, this means the amount of time they spend working within this field before retirement is significantly less than in many other industry fields.
Current Federal regulations state that at 21 years of age, US citizens can obtain a CDL and enter the trucking industry. However, these federal regulations make recruiting younger drivers difficult. The need for younger drivers to join the transportation sector is greater than ever.
Hence, many companies are initiating strong incentive programs and signing bonuses to try and attract a younger demographic. With the decline of drivers beginning in 2019, the FMCSA has initiated a pilot program “to assess the risks of allowing truckers as young as eighteen to cross state lines.”
Lack of Women in the Trucking Industry
Based on information gathered by the Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2019, Women’s labor force participation was at an all-time high of 57.4%, up from 57.1% in 2018. Men have always maintained a higher percentage of contribution to the American workforce, coming in at 69.2% in 2019. This gap is even greater within the trucking industry, with only 7.8% of reported truck drivers being female.
The continuous lack of women within the trucking industry is only feeding the nation’s largest shortage as the years go on. Many companies have recognized the value of appealing to women to join their teams, helping the 7.8% to be a .8% growth from the previous year.
As women are consistently joining the trucking industry and reaping the benefits that have been offered for a long time, they are finding it fulfilling to partner with companies that are even owned by women. If the trend from the last few years continues at this pace with women choosing to enter the trucking industry, a significant impact can be had on the current shortage the United States transportation sector is facing.
Loss of Labor Force Due to the Pandemic
While the trucking industry may not have been as heavily hit compared to some sectors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it definitely was not immune to some downfall. With brick-and-mortar stores closing or reducing their hours, aimless shopping coming to a halt, and the majority of shopping becoming direct to consumers, the trucking industry took a hit.
Professional truck driving continued to be an essential service throughout the pandemic. However, due to many hardships that were faced at home, the driver shortage grew larger. Some of these obstacles include children being schooled at home, many layoffs among other industries, and a rise in remote work opportunities.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the trucking industry lost 6% of its workforce over the course of the pandemic. While the driver shortage has drastically affected sectors across the nation, the trucking industry is continually playing a vital role throughout 2021 by transporting vaccines, medical supplies, and groceries all throughout the nation.
Why Should You Join the Trucking Industry Now?
To combat the nationwide shortage of drivers within the transportation industry, many companies are offering larger incentives than ever before to help get the nation back on its feet. Here are a few reasons why now may be the best time for you to enter into this new field:
Competitive Pay
Truck drivers have the benefit of enjoying some of the most competitive weekly pay rates within the US workforce. Many drivers earn upwards of $70,000 US Dollars annually, depending on the companies they choose to work with and the routes they choose to take.
Drivers who choose to take on long-haul routes across the nation or even across the border can find themselves falling at the higher end of the pay scale regularly. This also includes drivers who transport specialty cargo along shorter routes. To combat the current shortage, many companies are offering sign-on bonuses or weekly pay incentives such as food and lodging stipends on every haul.
Trucking Community
Truck drivers make up a large, global, yet family-minded community. Regardless if you’re partnered with a company as a team truck driver, are an owner-operator completing contract loads, or fulfilling another role within the industry such as a dispatcher, you are a valuable member of this family-minded community. Despite every setback and ounce of inconvenience the trucking industry faced throughout 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, truck drivers were consistently an essential part of the force that kept this country running. It showed just how valuable the backbone of this nation really is.
There are many family-oriented trucking companies out there that will make you feel welcome as an essential part of their company. Joining a company that has years of experience will allow you to develop a solid support system and community all around you. Thanks to the power of social media, you can easily learn about a company’s culture to see if it’s a good fit for you by examining their social pages.
Help Fight the Truck Driver Shortage with Commercial Driving Academy
According to the American Trucking Association, there will have to be 1.1 million new drivers employed over the next decade (roughly 110,000 per year) to combat the current shortage we are facing and the increased demand within the transportation industry. Many companies are incentivizing available positions. This means that now is the best time to enter into the trucking industry.
Commercial Driving Academy offers a four-week class to obtain a Class A commercial driver’s license with a HazMat Endorsement and a two-week class to obtain a Class B commercial driver’s license within South Carolina. With a simplified process that provides you with every ounce of knowledge and skill necessary for you to enter into the trucking industry, joining has never been easier.
At Commercial Driving Academy, we offer lifetime job placement services. With over 40 years of combined experience within the industry, the contacts throughout the industry available to you mean that we stand behind you! Many of these trucking companies will even cover your tuition at Commercial Driving Academy.
Whether you’re looking to enter into something new that offers consistent job security, or you’ve been in the industry before and are looking to re-enter, now is the time.
With flexible scheduling, financial assistance with tuition costs, job placement assistance, and acceptance of veteran education benefits, there are greater incentives and more positions available than ever before. This is the best time to reap the greatest reward by entering into the trucking industry. You can be a vital member of this community that is working to combat the current driver shortage we are facing now.