April 9, 2021

The truck driver shortage has plagued the transportation industry for years. For the fourth year in a row, the shortage of drivers was the main critical issue in the Trucking Industry survey conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), which indicates that the industry needs to find a solution to the problem now.  With trucks moving approximately 72.5% of the country’s freight and representing $791.7 billion in gross freight revenues, the truck driver situation must be remedied as soon as possible.

Reasons for the Truck Driver Shortage

At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, freight demand declined with state lockdowns but has now returned to pre-pandemic levels. With more consumers ordering items online, freight demand is only growing. This further highlights the driver shortage issue. While the problem has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the shortage was a serious issue well before the virus spread across the country.  Some of the reasons that this past year saw additional decreases in drivers are:

• Many Drivers Retired During Pandemic.  Drivers who were close to retiring decided to leave the industry before they had intended due to the virus outbreak. 
• Training Schools Closed.  Due to the pandemic, some training schools had to close, which means new drivers could not get certified. Those that are now open can only accommodate half as many students because of social distancing regulations.
• FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration)’s New Regulations.  The FMCSA instituted new drug and alcohol regulations that removed some drivers from eligibility. Of the 56,000 drug and alcohol violations, some 34,000 have not yet completed the return-to-work program.
• Driver Demographics. The driver demographics have remained unchanged for the most part, with the majority of drivers being males over the age of 45. After so many years on the road, many choose early retirement or leave the industry altogether.
• Driver Lifestyle.  Life on the road is rough, with many hours spent behind the wheel, weeks away from home, little sleep, and nutrition challenges. This may bring about health issues earlier and lead to leaving the position earlier than intended.

How Serious is the Shortage?

As a result of these reasons, thousands of drivers have left the industry. This only adds to the deficit of drivers that the industry was already experiencing. Many carriers are facing the worst driver shortage that they have ever experienced. Without potential drivers coming into the pipeline, due to the pandemic which has now been going on a year, carriers are concerned that it will take a while for the industry to bounce back from this.

According to Bob Costello, ATA chief economist, “We’re off 30-40% despite there being more than 12 ½ million people on unemployment.  That’s more than double where we were a year ago. There is no one silver bullet solution to this issue.”

Retain Truck Drivers with Company Culture

There certainly is no ‘quick fix’ to get new drivers into trucks. Addressing the driver shortage to reduce turnover benefits not only the truck drivers but is also cost-effective for the trucking company. Industry experts claim the average turnover rate per driver is $11,500. However, there are several things that the industry can do to facilitate a better company culture.

1. Improve the Working Conditions.  Carriers can make routes more desirable for drivers by shortening them. So instead of one driver making an impossibly long trip, one driver drops off a trailer and another driver picks it up.  Shorter routes enable drivers to be home more often. Regarding new hires, carriers need to check in to see how they are doing to create a strong working relationship and an environment that drivers want to work in, which leads to higher retention rates.
2. Better Time Management.  A common complaint among drivers is the wait times, whether it be at a warehouse for pick up, or on hold with managers to report an issue.  Technology such as ELD can be used to improve how a driver spends their time. Another example is a chatbot that can be used to provide important information and directives to drivers. This can save the driver valuable time to get home to their families faster.
3. Adjust the Pay.  The pay for truck drivers is notoriously low. Detours, bad weather, and traffic diminish their income if they are paid by the mile. Carriers need to up the ante by offering competitive pay, a signing and/or safety bonus, and restructuring their benefits packages to attract and retain drivers. 
4. Commitment to Safety.  Collision avoidance systems and other safety enhancements should be used on every vehicle in the fleet to protect both the driver and the freight.  Investments in safety enhancements go a long way in letting drivers know their safety is a top priority.
5. Better Communication. A great way to see how the job can be improved is to ask current drivers so they feel valued and respected. Micro-surveys are an effective way to accomplish this because they gather information at important points in the driver’s trip and can be completed on the driver’s phone or onboard device in less than 60 seconds. The data gathered can be used to gather feedback about equipment, management, shipper facilities, and the overall trip.  Supporting drivers with the proper communication tools and access to management will ensure that they feel that their voice is important.

The truck driver shortage, which has only been made worse by the COVID-19 pandemic, needs to be taken seriously by the transportation industry. Unless carriers improve the nature of the job by strengthening the culture, making pay adjustments, and improving time on the road for drivers, the shortage will only get worse.

However, retaining drivers and managing benefits, building culture, and fostering communications is easier said than done, especially when you have a busy trucking business to operate. That’s where TeamOne Logistics comes in. We offer your growing logistics company a workforce solution. We focus on hiring and taking care of permanent, professional drivers to drive your fleet. Then you focus on winning new business. Learn more about how our partnership can be your solution to the driver shortage.