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Why is There a Shortage of Truck Drivers in 2021?

According to the American Trucking Association, a shortage of truck drivers will hit a record high of more than 80,000 by 2021. It may even reach as high as 160,000 within 10 years. In a media briefing held Oct. 25 in Nashville, Chief Economist Bob Costello explained that the shortage is driven by an overall shortage of qualified drivers. At the same time, the shortage of truck drivers may be exacerbated by an epidemic of COVID-19, which has led to a decline in truck driver training schools.

The shortage is not confined to the United States, however. Similar levels of freight are transported by trucks in Europe, China, and Eurasia. A survey conducted by the International Road Transport Union (IRT) found that nearly 20 percent of truck driver positions remained vacant in those countries. Analysts have long warned about the shortage, but the recent pandemic and surge in consumer demand have only made the situation worse.

Is There Really a Truck Driver Shortage?

The trucking industry once paid very well, but today’s wages are so low that the average trucker cannot afford the cost of living on the road. Trucking companies are forced to pay higher wages to compete for good drivers, which will put many out of business. But this situation is only a short-term solution. The industry needs to do more to solve its shortage of drivers. Trucking companies must recognize that they need to pay more, as well as improve their employee benefits and training programs.

The ATA first took a snapshot of the shortage in 2005. The industry had a turnover rate that was over 90% when the BLS began recording it. Economists also noted that the shortage was not due to pay increases alone. The trucking industry is raising pay five times faster than the national average and has an aging, male workforce. Those who are interested in joining the industry should apply to better jobs.

What is Causing the Shortage of Truck Drivers?

Many factors contribute to the shortage of truck drivers. One of the biggest reasons is the aging workforce. More drivers are retiring without replacing them. Other factors contribute to the shortage as well. Driver turnover rates are already high and will only continue to rise. Ultimately, trucking companies can only provide incentives for existing drivers to stay in the industry for a short period of time. This will not fix the problem in the long run.

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The trucking industry has a high turnover rate, which creates the illusion of a shortage. Poor working conditions leave truck drivers waiting for hours before being paid. A key step to retain drivers is to improve working conditions. According to David Correll, a research scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Center for Transportation and Logistics, this problem is a result of inefficient supply chains.

How Many Truckers Have Quit?

One of the biggest questions on the minds of aspiring long-haul truckers is “How Many truckers have quit in 2021?” According to the National Association of Dedicated Motor Carriers, the number of drivers quitting the long-haul trucking industry will increase by nearly 3 percent by 2021. The reasons for this high attrition rate include low wages, lack of benefits, and inadequate treatment. Drivers in the long-haul industry are not paid for downtime while they are at their shippers, which is the reason why they are quitting their jobs.

However, the good news is that there are new initiatives underway to combat the shortage. A White House initiative has increased the number of paid apprenticeships and tapped veterans to fill open truck driving jobs. Meanwhile, a truck driving school sits on a sloping asphalt lot behind a community college. Prospective truck drivers range in age from a young Freightliner driver in braces to a husband and wife team trying to pay off their $60000 in student loans.

at What Age Do Truck Drivers Retire?

For many people, the question of at What age do truck drivers retire? is daunting. After working thousands of miles around the United States, truckers are approaching retirement age. Retirement from trucking can be both stressful and rewarding, but it also requires significant planning ahead of time. A typical truck driver retirement age is 65. Here are a few tips to help you prepare for this important milestone. Listed below are some of the most important factors to consider when preparing for your retirement.

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A good way to get a handle on this topic is to start a retirement fund. Generally, truckers who are 50 years or older are allowed to contribute a maximum of $25,000 to their retirement account. This means you should aim to save at least two to three years of your projected salary. After that, you can increase your retirement fund by about 8% each year. However, it’s important to consult a financial advisor when it comes to determining how much you can afford to save.

Is Being a Truck Driver Worth It?

If you have a love of long road trips, you may be thinking of becoming a truck driver. Although many people aren’t aware of the benefits of becoming a truck driver, there are a number of reasons to do so. Truck driving is a highly in-demand career. Even if you have zero experience, you can still find a good job. The pay for this career is very good. It allows you to own your own truck and enjoy the open road lifestyle.

The job is very rewarding, but it is not without its challenges. While truck driving is challenging and stressful, it offers personal freedom and a steady paycheck. The lifestyle is also unpredictable, and it may not be a good fit for some people. The facts listed below can help you decide whether or not truck driving is a good choice for you. There are pros and cons to every career, but truck driving is the best choice for some people.

Why are the Truckers Boycotting?

A series of TikTok videos show lines of truckers refusing to enter Colorado. They claim to be protesting the sentencing of a Texas truck driver, Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, for killing four people in a fatal accident. Truckers have a long history of peaceful protests, but their current boycott is aimed at forcing officials to reconsider this sentence. Why? They cite a recent case where the trucker who slammed into two dozen cars was sentenced to 110 years in prison.

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Protesting trucks pulled over in Colorado, including one that is supposedly driven by a Cuban immigrant, were filmed. As the video has circulated, truckers have responded to the calls for a boycott by refusing to deliver their loads. The Denver Post reported that truck drivers were coordinating their boycott through social media. The boycott is a protest against the sentencing of the driver, Rogel Aguilera-Mederos, who was sentenced to 110 years in prison for the crash that killed four people and injured six others.

Why is Trucking Slow Right Now?

You may be wondering: Why is trucking slow right now? Historically, the industry has been booming for two years. But the war in Ukraine has exacerbated already high fuel prices, and the COVID outbreak in China has threatened to jack up commodities and cut into the flow of freight. That may be changing. But trucking economists don’t buy the hype, and they say demand levels will remain high in 2020 and beyond.

One of the factors affecting volumes is powerful weather, which wreaks havoc on carriers’ networks. Hurricanes last year closed highways and caused other dangerous conditions, causing truck capacity to tighten. The ELD mandate is another cause of the slowdown in freight volumes, as well as its impact on driver hours and driving time. Truckers working in these industries are preparing for tough times ahead. But in the meantime, rates are likely to remain elevated through 2022.

The lack of new trucks has also led to a spike in used truck prices. This is partly a consequence of the shortage of drivers. Another major contributing factor is the overbuying of used trucks. Most new truck operators are one-truck operations driving used trucks. Trucking has a cyclical nature, and a slow economy means fewer trucks available for hauling freight. And if the economy continues to contract, the trucking industry will be in trouble.

Learn More Here:

1.) History of Trucks

2.) Trucks – Wikipedia

3.) Best Trucks