Where Are All Of The Drivers?
Right now there is said to be a growing truck driver shortage in the US market. After a busy holiday shopping season recently, coupled with an overactive hurricane season, other weather worries, and more, it's allegedly caused hiring rates to surge for long-distance truck drivers.
Because of this shortage it's expected that pay rates are going to see some responding growth. It's expected that this then will trickle down into the pocket of the consumer, and add to shipping costs etc. And the pay increase might then entice some to come on board with a job prospect that they might never have imagined themselves doing before. Though, industry experts, such as Klaus Lysdal who is the VP of Sales and Operations for iContainers--which has been described as the Expedia for transporting freight internationally--have said that the situation is still likely to get worse.
Though, not everyone believes that there is a broad-based and growing truck driver shortage however. The chairman of the Transportation Intermediaries Association, Jeff Tucker, stated back in 2016 that he felt it was more of an issue for bigger trucking companies who might be having difficulties keeping drivers around.
Tucker insisted that there was no shortage of smaller fleets, but admitted to noticing that many drivers are unwilling to work for the larger trucking companies. He thinks that perhaps a growing number simply considered to go solo and start their own business, rather than opt to work for a big carrier.
Employment turnover for some of the biggest carriers in the US has been over 80 percent or more, at times more than 100 percent, but the same hasn't been seen for the smaller companies.
Depending on the cargo, truck driving has been previously rated as one of the top 10 most dangerous jobs in the world
Today, truck drivers are detrimental to market success and our standard of living that we experience, because they are the ones that get the goods to the shelves. And if it wasn't for all of the trains, shipping containers, and truck drivers involved, etc, then our store shelves would be empty when we went to buy the things that we need.
If big trucking companies find that they face difficulty in hiring and keeping drivers around, then we shouldn't be surprised if they turn to consider automation to try and solve their needs. And they already are.
Automated and driverless trucks have already made their way onto the roads. It might not be that long before self-driving trucks become much more prevalent on our streets.
However, those who have been working to make such a reality come about—companies like Uber—have said that there are still a variety of hurdles in their way. But they see many benefits in the endeavor. These self-driving trucks will be able to operate without any breaks, running through all hours of the night, and Uber has estimated that one truck could essentially carry out the work of two trucks on the road today, because of the increased efficiency.
And even though a myriad of projects might be seeking to get these self-driving trucks on the road, they still say that it could fuel the need for even more drivers. This, according to research by the Advanced Technologies Group with Uber, is because having the trucks spend more time on the road would in-turn reduce costs and also boost overall shipping efficiency.
Other reports however, have suggested that the automation could mean tens of thousands of truckers could be displaced within just a few years. And this is why many will be watching to see how the situation unfolds, seeing how automation is going to tackle the issue and what that will mean for drivers.
As far as issues with hiring truck drivers for the US market, it's a problem that has been going on for many years. Companies have been struggling and trying to entice people to come and fill their various positions, to meet the growing demand. It's estimated that the US market could be facing a truck driver shortage somewhere between 40,000 to 100,000 drivers. And it's been predicted that perhaps within only a few years time, by 2028, we could see thousands of self-driving trucks on the road.
Sources:
https://www.maritime-executive.com/features/worst-of-u-s-truck-driver-shortage-still-to-come#gs.TPY9Ivs
https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/07/icontainers-expedia-for-transporting-freight-internationally-raises-6-7-million/
https://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/us-trucking-firms-rethink-pay-recruit-drivers_20180220.html
https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/8xdxd4/truck-drivers-tell-us-the-weirdest-shit-theyve-encountered-on-the-road
https://www.vice.com/en_ca/article/ppv3a9/international-lorry-drivers-swiss-truck-stop-876
http://mtstandard.com/opinion/columnists/trucking-industry-will-tell-us-much-about-automation-and-jobs/article_401ef253-4e09-5c97-8c1e-4aa2f4c90872.html
https://www.joc.com/trucking-logistics/trucking-freight-brokers/no-shortage-small-fleets-drivers-tia-chair-tucker-says_20160408.html
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2018/02/uber-says-its-self-driving-trucks-will-be-good-for-truckers/551879/
http://www.tulsaworld.com/opinion/opinionfeatured/robert-j-samuelson-trucking-and-the-future-of-work/article_fe828ac0-698e-5948-a80c-50b6ef544d0f.html
Automated driving is a big step towards safe driving thanks to an intelligent network of assistance systems. In addition, reducing fuel consumption and creating a more homogenous traffic flow are very important aspects in the field of long-distance transport.
but the disadvantage is the reduction in the number of drivers wich is already weak..
I have very little interest in becoming a truck driver and I certainly wouldn't work for one of the big companies.
This is certainly a problem and I think automation is a potential solution. I'll be watching with interest to see what happens with cargo transportation in the next few years.
I think that's exactly it. Wages are crap, the job is dangerous and detrimental to physical health, long hours, difficult to be with family, steadily being displaced by technology. It makes sense, and it'll make for safer highways too. Lots of respect for truck drivers, but I wouldn't consider breaking their manacles to be a bad thing. A whole new sect of society to place into more useful careers than machine work.
Trucker's job is not only the most dangerous work is also very sacrificed, all drivers agree on the same, this all the time away and away from home, the solution may be self-driving, but it is very risky, the values of the charges can be very expensive, habara to see if the insurers of the loads are willing to ensure without a driver to care for them.
Thank you very much dear friend @doitvoluntarily for sharing this news
I wish you a wonderful evening
wow this will change everything. the truck drivers are like the cells in our bloodstream and get most products where they need to go, including most of our food...
not that i am partial to upholding the system. in fact, i think if this system did collapse due to lack of drivers, it would push us toward strengthening and supporting our local economies, which is where we need to move anyway.
i have hitchhiked with truck drivers and they're an impressive, yet rare bunch. i personally can't imagine being in a cab for days on end and being away from home driving a truck for a living. it's no wonder it's such a hard job to get drivers for....
hiii my friend @doitvoluntarily, nicely written article about the lack of drivers, you point out here a important issue. I agreed with your views and assessments. it is true that now new generation have no interest in driving and did not select it as a career job specially for heavy transport. Thanks for sharing this informative post here, My support and Appreciations always for you for your quality posting here.
I think that trucks are some of the most dangerous vehicles on the road:
I think automation presents an opportunity to address at least the first two points and could improve highway safety.
Good article!
@dcj
I have seen many of Allie Knight's truck driving videos, and she is hilarious to watch.
It seems that the trouble with large trucking companies is their lack of communication with their drivers.
And as far as the appeal of truck driving goes, it's obvious that most young people today aren't dreaming of that as a career for themselves,good luck
Self driving trucks is a very innovative thing for me and i am sure it would reduce the laborer as well which would ultimately benefit the country's economy as whole, great step indeed. A very well versed article with so much research, loved to read it @doitvoluntarily <3