The economy and the shipping industry are inversely connected due to the fact that trucking is the primary way of processing and moving goods across the United States. The trucking industry has seen a boom in capacity as a result of a strong economy; however, the shortage of truck drivers could reverse the economic success of our country.
In the United States, there is a shortage of nearly 52,000 truck drivers, according to Transport Topics. Approximately 71 percent of the country’s freight tonnage is transported via truck, and that percentage is projected to continue growing with the strong economy. In fact, experts believe that the shortage of drivers will quadruple by 2025 if current trends continue.
Although this crisis is due to consumer confidence in our strong economy, the lasting effects could result in serious economic damage if valuable shipments are not delivered efficiently. The solution to this crisis lies in the hands of the truck companies. A few trucking companies began offering signing bonuses for new drivers, and many companies have followed by example. Though truck drivers currently earn a salary higher than the national average, thousands of positions remain unfilled, according to CNBC. Raising awareness of the driver shortage could bring thousands of people out of unemployment and continue our economic prosperity.
SmartWay Transportation is a third-party logistics company based in Kansas City. To learn more about our shipping services, visit our website.
