driver shortage

Apprenticeship pilot program introducing interstate trucking to younger drivers

Do teenagers belong in a big rig? That’s the age-old debate. One side says yes, pointing to the driver shortage, while the other disagrees from a safety perspective.

But it appears that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is ready to put it to the test, giving those fresh out of high school a chance to prove they’re ready for interstate commerce.

Motor carriers on the yea side of the debate have the opportunity to take action through the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program (SDAP),...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/apprenticeship-pilot-program-introducing-interstate-trucking-to-younger-drivers

Companies must see drivers as human beings, not commodities

A truck driver

Most of the factors impacting the supply chain today – shortages, fuel prices, consumer expectations – are more or less uncontrollable. One of the industry’s most infamous ills, however, is somewhat less mysterious. 

Driver recruitment and retention issues plague companies across the transportation space, making it difficult to keep trucks outfitted with highly trained, experienced drivers. Organizations have rolled out hundreds of financial incentives to get drivers in seats, but the real...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/companies-must-see-drivers-as-human-beings-not-commodities

Building driver loyalty and engagement — Taking the Hire Road

With the logistics industry still seeing a driver shortage and low retention rates, driver satisfaction is more important than ever. Providing a top-of-the-line employee experience has become many companies’ newest priority. This can come in many forms, and some companies have turned to employee engagement, creating departments to improve company culture and ensure their employees are satisfied.

“Engagement is critical because most of us know what it’s like to hire — hiring is tough and it will...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/building-driver-loyalty-and-engagement-taking-the-hire-road

Carriers should invest in technology to attract Gen Z workers, experts say

With the U.S. workforce slowly undergoing a change from baby boomers to a labor pool full of Generation Z workers, attracting and retaining candidates can be challenging for employers, especially trucking companies.

Truck driving is a hard profession and is often a job of last resort for many workers, but leveraging technology to attract younger employees is something almost any company can do, said Jamison Craig, head of growth-North America at Quincus, a Singapore-based software-as-a-service...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/carriers-should-invest-in-technology-to-attract-gen-z-workers

Driver shortage problem can be solved by fixing driver utilization and trucking cost structure

The issue of driver shortage and retention has been widely discussed in the logistics industry over the past several years. However, according to Vorto CEO Priyesh Ranjan, retention challenges are just a symptom of the true issue plaguing the driver population: driver utilization inefficiency.

“On one side, the volume of shipments per shipper is extremely fragmented across all parts of America. On the other side, most fleets are extremely small and fragmented across America. Due to this...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/driver-shortage-problem-can-be-solved-by-fixing-driver-utilization-and-trucking-cost-structure

Automated trucks and buses projected to reach 1.2 million by 2032

TuSimple autonomous truck on highway

The number of automated trucks and buses is expected to grow from practically zero this year to 1.2 million by 2032, according to new market analysis by Guidehouse Insights.

The overall market share is projected to reach just over 19% by 2032. China will lead the way with a 38.5% share. North America and Europe are expected to reach 26% and 29% shares, respectively, according to the report authored by Sam Abuelsamid, a Guidehouse principal analyst.

The hockey-stick pattern of automated trucks — a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/automated-trucks-and-buses-projected-to-reach-12-million-by-2032

About that “driver shortage”

Driving is difficult work and there is a scarcity of experienced, good drivers. (Photo: Jim Allen/FreightWaves)

The most polarizing term in trucking is the “driver shortage.”

To drivers, the term often gets them fired up and angry – it makes them feel as if they are a commodity.

The trucking industry is one of the most cyclical industries on the planet; it goes through booms and busts.

Until just a few weeks ago, the industry was dealing with a significant capacity shortage. This occurs when there aren’t enough trucks available for dispatch to match all of the freight in the market. In 2021, there was a...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/about-that-driver-shortage

Brokerage companies bringing value to freight industry

In the market today, more and more companies in freight are turning to brokerage companies for help. Based in both the U.S. and Canada, Varstar Alliance is a freight brokerage company dedicated to keeping America rolling, even in the midst of truck and driver shortages across the industry.

“These [shortages] are issues that the trucking industry has been facing for quite a few years, and being on both sides of the border we get to see these issues on both sides. Luckily, this is where companies...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/brokerage-companies-bringing-value-to-freight-industry

Werner exempted from driver training provision

Werner Enterprises was granted more flexibility to seat drivers faster based on an exemption approved by federal regulators.

In a notice scheduled to be published on Thursday, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration ruled that Werner (NASDAQ: WERN) will not be required to have its commercial learner’s permit (CLP) holders accompanied by commercial driver’s license (CDL) holders in the passenger seat.

Werner requested the exemption to allow its driver trainees who passed the CDL skills...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/werner-exempted-from-driver-training-provision

Viewpoint: Truck parking remains key industry issue

Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) Chairman Jim Ward describes our nation’s roads and bridges as a truck driver’s office, and good parking as their home away from home. But with only one truck parking space for every 11 drivers, the trucking industry desperately needs more parking.

Truck drivers consistently rank parking availability as a top concern in annual surveys. When drivers cannot readily find parking, they are forced to park illegally or continue searching, often violating federal...

https://www.freightwaves.com/news/viewpoint-truck-parking-remains-key-industry-issue

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