US driver shortage to grow

A new report from the American Trucking Association (ATA) shows the US is currently experiencing a shortfall of 48,000 drivers, with the figure potentially blowing out to 175,000 drivers by 2024.

The analysis attributes the shortage to ongoing industry growth and the accelerating rate of retirement of older, experienced drivers.

The report, which represents the fourth such analysis conducted by the ATA in the last 10 years, found that 45 per cent of demand for new drivers can be attributed to the retirement of older drivers, while 33 per cent can be attributed to industry growth.

The number of new drivers required to meet the growing demand is also alarming – around 89,000 new drivers per year for the next decade, according to the ATA.

The American Trucking Association's President and CEO, Bill Graves, said the shortfall was a massive issue for the US truck industry.

"The ability to find enough qualified drivers is one of our industry's biggest challenges," he said.

"This latest report plainly lays out the problem – as well as some possible solutions – to the driver shortage.

The reports cites the average age of US truck drivers to be 49, versus 42 for all US workers. Gender diversity is also an issue; women make up 47 per cent of the US workforce but only account for six per cent of truck drivers. Finally, the improving US economy means more job opportunities are available in other industries.

ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said a lack of experience in the current US driver pool is also problematic.

"An important thing we learned in this analysis is that this isn't strictly a numbers problem, it is a quality problem too," he said.

"Fleets consistently report receiving applications for open positions, but that many of those candidates do not meet the criteria to be hired. According our research, 88 per cent of carriers said most applicants are not qualified."

Mr Costello cited several issues that needed to be addressed to encourage those considering a career as a truck driver – issues commonly raised in many truck industries around the globe, including here in Australia.

"Our work shows the great and growing need for drivers, but we also highlight several solutions including increasing driver pay, getting drivers more time at home, as well as improving the image of the driver and their treatment by all companies in the supply chain," he said.

"Make no mistake, the driver shortage is a challenge, but it is not an insurmountable one."

Certainly driver pay rates are on the increase – a recent Wall Street Journal report says driver remuneration has increased by around 17 per cent over the past two years.

Click here to view the ATA's Driver Shortage Analysis paper.