Trucker Shortage Essay

2075 Words5 Pages

Old Dominion University

The Trucker Shortage

Group 2
James Scott
Jonathan Schultz
Sihang Li
Tianqi Pan

MSCM 472

Professor Valentine Executive Summary:

The trucker shortage in the United States is a concerning issue and has become increasingly intense and widespread due to many issues. The three most recognized factors that have contributed to sway people away from the trucking industry is the compensation paid to truckers, the price to ship the freight, and the increasingly strict regulation system (Rafter). Truckers are paid a median wage of $19.37 an hour but usually required to work long hours away from home (Ferro). Also as the supply chain industry has become more lean and competitive and the prices to ship …show more content…

As mentioned earlier, seventy-five percent of truck drivers are above the age of 35 with majority of them being in their fifties (Rafter). This makes it difficult for the young truck drivers to match the wisdom and seasoned driving experience of veteran drivers. The government should recognize the truck driving profession as an official skilled trade and companies should help train new generations of recruits for their trucking business. Furthermore, building a partnership with driving schools is viewed as a good initiative for hiring and recruitment of new truck drivers (Husley). Many companies in the transportation industry should employ this strategy as a solution for the truck driver shortage, where they can easily recruit newly licensed truck drivers for employment. By partnering up with accredited driving schools, companies are guaranteed that their new recruits underwent thorough and appropriate training from a reputable driving school. This can also help prevent this problem from happening again in the …show more content…

The three most recognized factors that have contributed to sway people away from the trucking industry is the compensation paid to truckers, the price to ship the freight, and the increasingly strict regulation system (Rafter). It is a complex issue and no solution is going to fix it overnight. However, given the ever-increasing amount of freight that is expected to be shipped on trucks well into the future, it is an issue that needs to be addressed. The most likely path to achieve success is through a combination of solutions. These include raising the trucker pay, building driver loyalty within companies, improving training programs to hire new younger drivers, and recognizing the trucking profession for the vital role that is plays in the supply

Open Document