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Economy
How will the US deal with a shortage of 80,000 truckers?
2021-11-09
[BBC] The American Trucking Associations (ATA) estimates that the US is short 80,000 truckers - an all time high for the industry. And if nothing changes, the shortfall could reach 160,000 over the next decade.

The lack of drivers has made it hard to get products from ports to shop shelves and is driving up prices for a wide variety of products ahead of the winter holidays.
BLUF: Long hours and low pay in an industry where the average age is 49 and historical turnover is 90%. And of course the pettifogging rules in California have caused so many shipping containers to pile up awaiting the few drivers who meet the rules to take cargoes across the California border. Nonetheless, wait times for truck driver schools have tripled, a hopeful sign for the future.
Posted by:Skidmark

#6  Self-driving trucks are a thing.
So are Afghans, Haitians and Mexicans.
Posted by: Skidmark   2021-11-09 22:11  

#5  Self-driving trucks are a thing.
Posted by: ruprecht   2021-11-09 17:43  

#4  So start moving cargo containers by rail,
instead of by truck
Learn to be flexible....
Posted by: Phuth Thiger7411   2021-11-09 15:44  

#3  Oh, probably by doubling the price of diesel and further complicating machine and physical requirements to the point that those who can afford to remain in the business no longer enjoy the challenge no matter the benefits. Then chosen illegals, who are already immune to citizen laws, enter and take over the industry.
Posted by: swksvolFF   2021-11-09 12:16  

#2  When an injury sidelined me to a desk job I had an experience with some visitors to our small installation at the time. They were from a large trucking company in the region and looking for truckers. They had no idea about transportation and personnel management in the service, but they had the time to learn. There weren't many transportation people at our installation but they left with the means and skills to identify who, what, where, and how to take their search for employees. Given the 'jab or out', the trucking companies could be picking up a good number of trained personnel if they knew what they were doing. As 'challenging' trucking can be for drivers, they certainly don't deal with a lot of stuff the military piles on top of one's experience.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2021-11-09 07:57  

#1  They only want to drive. Someone else offloads.They claim shortages but they only want to hire perfections. Older truckers retire as soon as possible. Over regulation and fines companies make truck driver pay. One fine could be $10,000 dollars.I was in it for a while but in one day I was stopped three times. Why stopped again I asked, "they may have missed something". New tractor just purchased stopped and fined. They can always find something.
Posted by: Dale   2021-11-09 04:12  

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