The news is full of stories lamenting the nationwide shortage of commercial freight truckers. One has only to turn on the TV or pick up a newspaper to learn about the lack of truck drivers to transport vital goods all over the United States.
So, what exactly is going on? Is this an accurate portrayal of the situation? Furthermore, what are the origins of the trucker shortage?
The Shortage Is Real
It is indisputable that there is a shortage of able-bodied drivers with current CDLs who are ready and willing to haul freight. The COVID-19 pandemic led to fewer drivers willing to risk the chance of being infected by the virus while on a delivery run.
But there were problems in the industry long before the pandemic brought commerce in the United States to its knees.
Trouble in the Trucking Industry Has Been Brewing for Decades
Like many festering problems that didn’t arise overnight, there have been many indicators that the trucking industry had a looming problem on its hands.
The first cracks in the foundation began with the deregulation of the industry way back in the 80s. Politicians touted the capitalist approach of increased competition on the market for drivers and boasted of goods shipped at lower rates. Meanwhile, the influence of the once-strong unions was fading fast — and has never returned.
Wages Halved Over 4 Decades
If you were driving a truck back in 1980, you were sitting in pretty high cotton. The average trucker earned an annual salary of what would now roughly equal $100,000. That’s twice the amount that today’s truckers can expect to bring home.
Both lower wages and higher stress levels from more traffic clogging the roads contribute to higher turnover rates for commercial drivers. Competition between motor freight companies can get intense and also adds to the growing problem. For instance, it is common to see drivers frequently hopping from company to company to take advantage of sign-on bonuses.
Planned Obsolescence of Consumer Goods Plays Its Own Role
Back in the 1970s, if your TV broke, you took it to the repair shop and got it fixed. Today, consumers head out to the closest big box store for its replacement.The attitudes of our increasingly disposable society contribute to the need for a greater supply of truck drivers to haul more goods around the country to meet consumers’ demands.
For some truckers, this trend allows them to command higher rates per mile, as well as enjoy other perks that come with the job. Whatever the future holds, however, it is clear that there will be an ongoing need for more commercial truck drivers. on the road.
Sources: brainerddispatch.com, joc.com
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