“An important thing we learned in this analysis is that this isn’t strictly a numbers problem; it is a quality problem, too,” said Bob Costello, ATA chief economist. “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% of carriers said most applicants are not qualified.”
Other key findings of the report:
•Over the next decade, trucking will need to hire 890,000 new drivers, or an average of 89,000 per year.
•Roughly half, 45%, of demand for drivers comes from the need to replace retiring drivers; industry growth is the second-leading factor for new hiring, accounting for 33% of the need.
•ATA’s analysis does not include the impact of federal regulations—such as electronic logging—on the shortage.
“Our work shows the great and growing need for drivers,” said Costello, “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. Make no mistake, the driver shortage is a challenge, but it is not an insurmountable one.”
For a copy of ATA’s Driver Shortage Analysis paper, click here.
