Did you know that 6.8 million people in the U.S. are employed within the Trucking Industry with nearly 3,500,000 truck drivers. That may seem like a lot but in reality the Trucking Industry is facing massive shortages in truck drivers. In fact, the shortage is estimated to be about 25,000 truck drivers in the U.S. There aren’t enough truck drivers to meet demand. As the economy flourishes, the need for experienced and reliable drivers is expected to increase. As a result, an increase in wages for our hard working truck drivers is also expected to increase.
According to the American Trucking Association report, there is a shortage because of the type of lifestyle the job demands. As we all know, being a truck driver is not only job – it’s a lifestyle. In fact, ATA has reported that the truck driver turnover rate is at %97. It is a strenuous career to take on. The lifestyle of a trucker has to accommodate the demands of the trucking job. These can range from irregular sleeping patterns to spending long periods of time away from home. ATA also reported that low wages and all of the state and government regulations play a big role in explaining the %97 turnover rate.
The industry and government should listen to our truck drivers needs because with out them we wouldn’t be able to purchase the things we need. Truck drivers supply our supermarkets, malls, and any other type of store you can think of.
Written by Yesenia Carrillo