Impacts of Driver Shortage Detailed by ATA Chief Economist

ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, American Trucking Associations Chief Economist Bob Costello said fleets are adjusting to continued tightness in the driver market by increasing pay and hiring newer drivers.

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"While the driver shortage is generally confined to only certain segments of the trucking industry," Costello said here during the "All About the Driver" General Session, sponsored by Freightliner Trucks, "it is having real impacts in how fleets recruit and retain their drivers."

Costello was joined by Jeff Flackler, vice president of transportation, Wal-Mart Stores Inc.; Derek Leathers, president & COO of Werner Enterprises and Steve Gordon, COO of Gordon Trucking Inc. for a panel discussion on driver issues moderated by Dave Osiecki, ATA senior vice president of policy and regulatory affairs.

"Fleets in all segments of trucking have told us they are having a more difficult time finding qualified drivers than they were a year ago," Costello said. "As a result, more fleets are considering hiring drivers straight out of driver training programs and nearly three-quarters of those we surveyed plan to increase pay or have already done so."

The industry needs to find an average of roughly 96,000 new drivers annually to keep pace with demand. If freight demand grows as it is projected to, the driver shortage could balloon to nearly 240,000 drivers by 2022, according to ATA data.  

American Trucking Associations is the largest national trade association for the trucking industry. Through a federation of 50 affiliated state trucking associations and industry-related conferences and councils, ATA is the voice of the industry America depends on most to move our nation's freight. Follow ATA on Twitter or on Facebook. Good stuff. Trucks Bring It!

SOURCE American Trucking Associations