Lydia Hu on truck driver shortage
A significant shortage of truck drivers across the U.S. is threatening delivery services nationwide, potentially leading to increased delivery costs for consumers.
According to an instructor at EZ Wheels Driving School in Secaucus, New Jersey, one major factor contributing to this shortage is the prolonged time needed for students to obtain a commercial driver’s license.
Before the pandemic, acquiring a license in New Jersey typically took about two months. Currently, as noted by Victor, a driving instructor at EZ Wheels speaking with FOX Business’ Lydia Hu, this period has extended to more than six months.
Industry experts indicate that this problem is being experienced across the country. However, the driver shortage had begun well before the pandemic; the American Trucking Association (ATA) estimated a need for 60,000 drivers at the close of 2018, a situation that has since deteriorated.
The trucking sector is responsible for transporting nearly 71% of all freight in the U.S. and is highly dependent on a large number of trained and certified drivers to maintain the supply chain, as highlighted by the Commercial Vehicle Training Association, the largest group of commercial truck driving schools in the nation.
Although the shortage “temporarily eased slightly in 2020,” officials indicate that it is set to worsen in the coming years, as many drivers retire and the demand for freight transportation rises.
To meet the growing demand, the trucking industry will need to recruit approximately 1.1 million new drivers over the next decade, averaging about 110,000 new hires annually, according to the ATA.
