Delivery services throughout the U.S. are facing an extensive shortage of truck drivers. The short supply of truck drivers has been a problem for more than a decade. In 2005 the American Trucking Associations reported a shortfall of 20,000 drivers. By 2017, the number has increased to exactly double what it was before, with trucking and hauling companies looking to fill more than 50,700 vacancies.
"Texas company offering experienced truck drivers $14K a week. Officials with a Texas-based company believe that truck drivers are so valuable it is willing to pay $14,000 a week for experienced haulers who own theirs." [1]
$14,000 a week Offer!
Many newspapers and T.V. stations reported today that Sisu Energy, a "cutting-edge" trucking company from Fort Worth, northern Texas, is willing to pay experienced truck drivers with a commercial driver's license $14,000 a week.
Age & Experience is Taken into Consideration
Unfortunately, this offer is not for new drivers who are not yet 25 years old. The CEO of Sisu Energy, Jim Grundy, said that insurance companies only insure drivers over 25 and with a minimum of 2 years of experience during a T.V. interview.
60,800 Truck Drivers Are Needed Immediately!
Trucking is the most popular transport mode for commercial freighting, with almost three-quarters of goods and raw materials being trucked across the U.S. Reports indicate that 60,800 truck drivers are needed immediately, and by 2028, it will be more than 160,000.
Reasons Behind the Shortage
- Several factors are being discussed as a reason for this dearth of drivers. First of all, truckers are older on average than other workers. The median age around the country is 49 years for commercial truckers. Many of them are close to retirement and have hung up their keys for good.
- The second problem has been the global Covid pandemic which led to the temporary closure of state Motor Vehicle Departments and truck driver training schools. It slowed down the process of fresh truckers entering the workforce.
- Another reason for the lack of drivers is that commercial driver's licenses are taking longer to obtain. Before the pandemic getting the license would take about two months, but now it extends to six months or more.
Experienced Truck Drivers Are Now, Kings Of The Road!
But all is not lost; a new piece of legislation, the DRIVE-Safe Act, is on the cards. It hopes to "remedy the nation's growing scarcity of truck drivers. They are planning to promote this opportunity at the same time, enhancing safety training for the trucking workforce," according to the ATA.
President Joe Biden's fiscal stimulus, combined with the efficient pace of vaccination in the country, is already showing results. The economy is growing, as is the demand for goods. Economists predict the growth of higher and stronger freight volumes.
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