Thread by @MuftarDigital

Driver “shortage”: Truth Behind the Employee Shortage in the Trucking Industry - Jenny Macleod

Thread 🧵 [1/14]

2/ The trucking industry acts as a backbone of the economy, transporting up to 70% of freight

3/ Global disruptions in the supply chain triggered by the pandemic followed through into 2021; with stock shortages and price inflation of goods leading to a potential international recession.

4/ In America, there is a proposed “shortage” of around 80,000 drivers in the industry. However, there are in fact plenty of qualified drivers; the real problem lies in low wages, long work hours, and an industry that supposedly treats employees poorly.

5/ According to Mike Doncaster, a trucking veteran who works as a driver trainer, stated that out of the drivers he has trained, only 1 in 5 of the drivers tend to stick in the industry, as they do not receive enough income for what the job entails.

6/ In November 2021, the ATA (American Trucking Association) @TRUCKINGdotORG

stated that in order to keep up with increasing demands, they will need to recruit approximately 1 million drivers.

7/ Drivers and trucking experts in America have expressed concern that the consistent pressure to deliver cheap goods has resulted in poor working conditions and pay rates that are so low that it steers drivers away from the industry.

8/ There is also a lot of work that drivers do that is unpaid as most companies pay the drivers’ mileage, which means they get no pay when entering traffic jams, construction zones, or any other delays they could encounter on their journey.

9/ A concern that derives from pay by mileage is also safety. Drivers are often pushed to stay on the roads even when they are too tired or need to rest, if they stop to rest then it could potentially lower their pay.

10/ Autonomous Trucks

Some drivers are unwilling to commit to a trucking lifestyle with the fear that their careers will be overtaken by self-driving trucks.

At this moment this technology is not big enough to pose any threats in the near future.

11/ Solutions

- Making the job more appealing with more rewards for the drivers, better training programs, and better apprentice programs.

- Recognizing that truck driving is an official skilled trade, it should be listed by governments as a skilled trade.

12/ More Solutions

- Better wages. Better health insurance and pension plans will bring in new drivers and old ones. The salary of this job needs to be worth the sacrifices that come along with this job.

- Rule out companies that take advantage of their drivers.

13/ Last Solutions

- Increasing freight rates, would in turn pay for the truck driver’s pay increase. It is important that the structure of pay for truck drivers is reviewed and updated to ensure that drivers are being compensated for risky work and hard work hours

14/ Read the Full Article Here!

medium.com/muftar-digital…

That's a wrap!

If you like this thread, retweet the first tweet and drop a like👍!

#trucking #technology #startup

Learn more about us at ➡️ muftar.com