Why America is facing a shortage of truck drivers

More than 70 percent of the goods we consume are carried by truck drivers on the nation's highways. A new report says the industry needs to hire roughly 90,000 new truckers each year to keep up with demand. As part of our continuing series, Work in Progress, Kris Van Cleave reports on why so many of those jobs are unfilled and how it could drive up costs for Americans.

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[Vitallyjames]

Here's why there's a lack of drivers

1. Money sucks for being away from the family for 30 days at a time.

2. Companies have no respect for drivers.

3. We need more than 4 days off ever 30 days.

4. Over taxation and excess regulations.

5. Every DOT officer and state trooper will do anything and everything in their power to take away several weeks of paychecks with multiple frivolous citations.

The list could go on for days...

[chrismorgan]

Greedy trucking companies making $3.00 plus per mile and then paying the driver 43 cents per mile. Corporate greed

[joeduece]

There are no lack of drivers. Just a lack of pay.

[Landrar]

There isn't a shortage of people willing to drive a truck.

There's a shortage of people willing to drive a truck for the low pay and terrible treatment.

In 1980, truck drivers were making 37k per year, according to OOIDA. When you account for inflation, that's 110k on 2018 dollars.

The average truck driving job in 2018 earn around 55k. A significant decrease in driver pay.

Add on being constantly lied to, forced into long, unpaid sitting hours at warehouses, increased regulations which result in even lower pay, and you've created this driver shortage.

[theamchairphilosopher]

The "shortage" exist, because of:
1. Pay is low for the work required. Pay stagnates quickly.
2. Time away from home
3. Lack of benefits
4. Being overworked and stressed.

[jgamble]

Been driving since 2005 can't remember the last time Truckers got a real increase in pay...Only an increase in disrespect!

[livinthelife]

The American truck driver is leaving this field because of rules and pay....get the DOT out of the picture and pay the damn guys and you would have drivers.

[mudpuddle]

I find it funny how truck drivers are referred to as professional drivers, but are afforded no respect or any other privileges that their experience and dedication should allow.

[sleepycobra]

After taxes, gas, maintenance & citations You have peanuts left to show to your spouse
No wonder they leave

[vegas_the_trucker]

The shortage isn't a driver shortage its a pay shortage.

[MyWatchIsEnded]

•Overregulation
•underpaid for the time put in and away from family
•harassment from police, sheriff's, federal agencies, etc.
•discrimination by cities and states against truck drivers for simply parking within their city boundaries and sometimes on deserted state off ramps
•massively lacking parking spaces for the millions of truck drivers
•abusive behaviors by trucking carriers and scheming to deprive their employees of their earned wages for any and every reason
•shippers and receivers who do not value truck drivers work schedule and the unstoppable 14 hour clock and so they sit and wait as our work time is wasted away for free on their facility, and if you try to leave they call the police.

[IVSTUDIOZ]

I feel bad for the drivers.Im a manager of a receiving at my store and I unload the semis everyday full of product.Its sad to hear how companies treat the drivers, I always save the drivers good food and drinks when they come to my store.I always tell them it’s on the house and I unload the truck for them while they get to take a nap for 30mins to an hour.

[averagebloke]

Truck drivers really should be making at least $90, 000 a year hands down. There job is way more important than some other stupid jobs that make that. Our society is messed up.

[madogllewellyn]

Cute how they don't talk about the over regulations put on the trucking industry which has driven people away as well.... But that would be too much facts.

[jorgearmenta]

As a truck driver your life can dramatically change from one day or another. You could get in a terrible accident and go to jail for man slaughter. Is it worth your 50k a year being away from home a month and getting 4 days off? Driving for 11 hours and once you sign off 10 hours later again for another 11 hours? No life no time to be on the phone. Truck drivers deserve a raise. This job can mentally break you.

[danjones]

I love driving a truck. Police harassment, road rage car drivers, heaviest traffic ever on the roads, months away from home, waiting hours or even days to be unloaded, camping weekends in truck stops or rest areas, being dirty and dirty laundry make it a life not worth living. To do this for low pay and a country that looks at you as just someone in their way isn’t worth it. I wouldn’t recommend long haul driving to anyone.

[workinalday]

Truckers and the majority of delivery drivers are being ripped off daily! That is the problem. There is tons of money in freight and there are a ton of parasites steeling that money from the drivers. Hence you have decline in drivers!

[jasonhochheiser]

the money is dogshit compared to the sacrifice made by the people driving. this should easily be a 6 figure job. it's also one of the most dangerous jobs. if you want people to be loners and not have a life away from work, you have to pay them substantially more than theyre making

[danielhaupt]

We're over-regulated and undercompensated

[davekrukraft]

You want sober safe people putting 50 to 70 hours a week, it's gonna cost you.