Photo: Transervice
Driver In Cab Transervice
Driver In Cab Transervice
Driver In Cab Transervice
Driver In Cab Transervice
Driver In Cab Transervice

No surprise that driver shortage is No. 1 industry concern

Nov. 10, 2020
Fleets need to focus extra attention on their recruiting and hiring process. Drivers have a lot of options to choose from and first impressions of a fleet become paramount in their attitude towards your company.

It probably won't surprise too many people that the driver shortage ended up in the number one spot of the American Transportation Research Institute’s Critical Issues In The Trucking Industry — 2020 list. The driver shortage has held this spot for the past four years, although those of us who have been in the trucking industry for any length of time know that finding qualified drivers is a perennial issue. Maybe it is not the number one issue in a given year, but it always is in the top 10 list of things fleets worry about.

I was speaking to Kari Beeson, Transervice’s senior director of recruitment, about the issue and she believes that from a recruitment standpoint the driver shortage is going to continue to grow. Here’s her take on things, “Social distancing and limited hours at [licensing facilities] have inconvenienced newly trained truck drivers seeking to obtain licenses and therefore we will see fewer new truck drivers coming into the workforce than normal.”

She believes this will have an impact down the road as demand continues to grow, increasing the driver shortage. Capacity also will be impacted for those seasoned drivers deciding on a career change due to the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse, COVID-19 and retirement.   

John Walker, our senior vice president of logistics, knows firsthand how the driver shortage impacts our customers. He says today it is harder than ever to find quality drivers. “Many candidates have a long history of job hopping or poor driving records which are both red flags.”

Fleets that can get their drivers home every day have an advantage over those with routes that require drivers to be way from home for long stretches of time and those fleets that operate seven days a week and need to work weekends. 

The impact of the driver shortage goes beyond not having enough people to deliver freight. Terry Lutz, our vice president of risk management, believes the driver shortage will continue to negatively impact the auto liability insurance market. “If you can represent you have experienced drivers the insurance carriers are more comfortable in underwriting your coverage. That said, the ultimate premium more than likely will be based on the fleet's loss experience. Statistically speaking a more experienced driver will have less losses.” The driver shortage is making it difficult to acquire and retain experienced drivers.

Fleets need to focus extra attention on their recruiting and hiring process. Drivers have a lot of options to choose from and first impressions of a fleet become paramount in their attitude towards your company.

Unfortunately, I foresee the driver shortage continuing to rank as the Number One concern for companies as we continue to move forward in this new decade. It will be more important than ever that companies provide drivers with a great onboarding and work experience when joining a company. 

______________________________

Joseph Evangelist joined Transervice in 2007 and currently serves as executive vice president of sales, operations and staff responsibilities. Heavily involved in new business development and account management, his day-to-day focus consists of post-acquisition assimilation planning to maximize new growth and business combination opportunities. 

About the Author

Joseph Evangelist

Joseph is a seasoned transportation executive with domestic and international experience in sales, operations, mergers and acquisition with heavy emphasis on post-acquisition assimilation planning to maximize new growth and business combination opportunities.

He joined Transervice in 2007 and currently serves as executive vice president with sales, operations and staff responsibilities. He is also heavily involved in new business development and account management.

Previously he was president of LLT International, Inc., an international transportation consulting firm with operations in the U.S. and the Far East. He oversaw the maintenance and fleet management of a 2,000-vehicle cement distribution fleet in Indonesia.

Joseph was also president and CEO of Lend Lease Trucks Inc., a truck rental, leasing and dedicated carriage firm with operations throughout the U.S.

He also was vice president/general manager of The Hertz Corporation – Truck Division, a subsidiary of The Hertz Corp. While there he participated in the acquisition and successful integration of the Canadian licensee operations.

Sponsored Recommendations

Tackling the Tech Shortage: Lessons in Recruiting Talent and Reducing Turnover

Discover innovative strategies for recruiting and retaining tech talent in the trucking industry at our April 16th webinar, where experts will share insights on competitive pay...

Stop Sweating Temperature Excursions

Advanced chemical indicators give you the peace of mind that comes from reliable insights into your supply chains. Compromised shipments can be identified the moment they arrive...

Stop Sweating Temperature Excursions

Advanced chemical indicators give you the peace of mind that comes from reliable insights into your supply chains. Compromised shipments can be identified the moment they arrive...

How Electric Vehicles Help You Prolong the Life of Your Fleet

Before adopting electric vehicles for commercial/government fleets, prioritize cost inquiries. Maintenance is essential; understand the upkeep of EV fleets. Here’s what you need...

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of FleetOwner, create an account today!