So, 2020 saw the world experience the Coronavirus pandemic. And what did that entail? Well, a lot of Americans were given money by the government, which is unprecedented, right? Usually the government demands its people give them more and more money. But in 2020 and 2021, suddenly the government is giving people $600 here and $1400 there. Interesting.
Have you noticed all the “help wanted” signs up everywhere? Have you seen the news reports that many industries “can’t find anyone to work?” Before the coronavirus pandemic hit, the trucking industry was already having a hard time finding enough workers to meet demands. Today? It’s worse… much worse. There’s basically a big shortage of drivers in the U.S.A.
The Impact of the Driver Shortage
How are things like gas and food supposed to get delivered if there aren’t enough drivers to drive them where they need to go? One of the reasons the cost of goods is going up is the lack of truck drivers. The industry could use, say, 100,000 more qualified, trained drivers right now. Another reason is the rise in gas prices. Under President Trump, gas was relatively cheap. Under President Biden, gas is more expensive. Also, under President Biden, the cost of equipment and insurance has risen, too.
As the trucking industry deals with a lack of drivers and rising costs “all around,” that means you can expect goods and services to cost more. So, when you go to your local Wal-Mart and those dozen eggs are $3.50 instead of $1.50, now you know some of the reasons why… That is… if the grocery stores even have eggs to sell. Have you noticed how many stores have bare shelves these days?
The trucking industry is trying to recruit more workers. They’re trying to “increase wages” to lure younger workers, too. We shall see how this all plays out.
If you a trucking company worried about finding reliable drivers, learn how Platinum Drivers can help.