TRANSFORMATIVE

Sand in the gears of global supply chains has been increasing since 2020, but it had been seeping in long before. Nowhere has it been more prevalent than in the trucking industry. While the challenges are far-reaching, they are centered on one, critical constituent: the drivers. It doesn’t take much to understand why.

SKY-HIGH TURNOVER

Between 1995 and 2017, the trucking industry averaged a 94% annual driver turnover rate.

Decreasing Pay

Adjusted for inflation, a truck driver’s median salary was $110K a year in 1980. By 2021, it had plummeted by more than 50%, to $48K a year.

Diminishing Union Jobs

In 1983, approximately 40% of truck drivers in the U.S. had jobs with a union contract. By 2020, the share had dropped to 10%.

Employees No More

Many trucking companies have abandoned employment models in favor of gig economy models, classifying today’s drivers as independent contractors and saddling many with debt as they struggle to cover the costs of their own equipment, gas, and more.

LONG HOURS, UNPAID TIME

Most truck drivers average 60 to 70 hours per week—not including wait times for the loading/ unloading of cargo, inspections, and cleaning —yet still aren’t paid overtime.