U.S. needs 51,000 more truck drivers: ATA

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) estimates that there is a severe shortage of truck drivers in the United States, with a need for about 51,000 more drivers to meet demand.

At the same time, the Coalition of Supply Chain Management Professionals (CSCMP) has identified the driver shortage as the main factor contributing to rising logistics costs in the United States.

To take even more into account: the ATA predicts that this will worsen in the coming years.

For its part, the Advisory Committee on Supply Chain Competitiveness (ACSCC) has identified this problem as critical to the supply chain industry.

The ACSCC provides the Secretary of Commerce with detailed advice on the elements of a comprehensive national freight infrastructure and transportation policy to support the supply chain and U.S. export competitiveness.

Truck Drivers

Motor carriers in the United States must comply with DOT safety and fitness regulations, including those related to controlled substances and alcohol, hours-of-service compliance, vehicle maintenance, hazardous materials compliance, driver fitness, unsafe driving, and minimum insurance requirements.

Also the weight and dimensions of equipment are subject to government regulations.

In addition, companies may be subject to new or more restrictive regulations related to emissions, driver hours of service, independent contractor eligibility requirements, on-board operations reporting, air cargo security and other matters affecting safety or operating methods.

Other agencies, such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), also regulate equipment and operations and drivers.

Finally, companies are subject to a variety of licensing and vehicle registration requirements in certain states and local jurisdictions where they operate.

In that context, according to XPO Logistics, increases in driver compensation and difficulties in attracting and retaining drivers could negatively affect their revenues and profitability.

Competition

XPO Logistics’ LTL services in North America and Europe and its full truckload services in Europe are primarily performed with employee drivers.

But, from XPO Logistics’ perspective, the transportation industry has periodically experienced and, in the future, may experience «intense competition for qualified drivers due to driver shortages.»

XPO Logistics’ foresight is that the availability of qualified drivers may be affected from time to time by changing workforce demographics, competition from other trucking companies and industries for employees, the availability and affordability of driver training schools, changes in industry regulations, and the demand for drivers in the labor market.