Driver Shortage No Match For Stevens Transport T
ruck drivers are often looked to as the glue that holds supply chains together. The ongoing driver shortage plaguing for-hire carriers and the transportation industry at large ranked first on the American Transportation Research Institute’s annual list of top Industry issues, which was revealed at the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference & Exhibition. ATRI, a not-for-profit research institute, noted that fleets’ difficulty in hiring is being exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, as the retirements of thousands of drivers, state motor vehicle departments’ inability to test and process new CDL applicants, and the market’s redistribution offreight are coalescing to further stress the pool of available drivers. “The year 2020 can unequivocally be described as the most chaotic and unpredictable time period in many decades,” the report states. “Despite the recession brought on by the pandemic in early 2020, freight demand is returning to pre-COVID levels and early indicators are showing that the shortage will soon return to the levels experienced in recent years.” This is the fourth consecutive year when industry executives, professional drivers, and fellow industry stakeholders have recognized the driver shortage as the top industry issue. Investing indriver retention, attracting new talent, and embracing technical advances in the industry are onlysome of the many accommodations that industry professionals have offered to solve this issue. Hours of service, which had ranked in the top three in recent years, fell to 10th place on ATRI’s list, replaced this year by truck parking, which is now third. Concerns about parking have worsened during the pandemic as drivers, especially in March, April and May, struggled to find hot food and a place to rest. Ranking fourth was the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability system, which for years has drawn the ire ofsome in trucking. Rounding out the top five issues for the overall list was the rising cost and availability of insurance. Although the shortage is hardly breaking news, Stevens Transport continues to hire and train with no stop in sight. Stevens has endless opportunities for drivers at every level. If you or someone you know would like more information about pursuing a professional driving career with Stevens Transport, please call our Recruiting Department at 800-333-8595 or visit our website at stevenstransport.com. Written by: Sidney Mireles
