Current Market Condition

So let’s see now. A recovery in 2025? Been waiting on this recovery since 2022.

 

So what you are saying is... a million jobs lost in the OTR world will be made up for with 250k more jobs in the local market?

 

I doubt it'll be a 3/1 ratio, but that's a valid point. Hopefully, most of the jobs lost will be those where companies simply don't replace an older driver after they retire. While automation will probably hit the linehaul side of LTL harder than other areas, OTR drivers will still be needed for irregular routes, and local/regional will probably gain jobs.

I think the cost of the technology, especially as it relates to ongoing maintenance, will create a barrier to how far automation can practically spread. Simply put, I don't think there will be enough people capable of fixing these trucks, the ones that are won't be spread out evenly around the country, and they'll be insanely expensive to hire.