CCJ

August 2014

Fleet Management News & Business Info | Commercial Carrier Journal

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COMMERCIAL CARRIER JOURNAL | AUGUST 2014 93 W hat do drivers want? It is the defi ning question in the trucking industry today. With the economy improv- ing and freight demand on the upswing, an already precarious driver supply situation now is reaching critical levels. Every single study done on the future of the U.S. transportation system indicates that this problem only will grow. Phil Byrd, chairman of the American Trucking Associa- tions, says that today it takes about 6 million truck drivers to move freight in the United States. If current hiring trends hold true, best-case predictions by ATA indicate a shortfall of 239,000 drivers by 2025. To fi nd out what is making it hard to attract drivers or forcing existing drivers out of the industry, Commercial Carrier Journal decided to ask drivers themselves about the frustrations, desires, dreams and nightmares of working in the trucking industry today. A total of 728 drivers responded, including 312 company drivers and 140 owner-operators. The majority of company drivers (53.2 percent) reported they worked in over-the-road long-haul jobs. Most log between 75,000 and 100,000 miles a year. The average annual mileage for all respondents was 100,967 miles a year. Mirroring industry concerns about the age of drivers today and the fact that mass retirements soon will drain an already-depleted employment pool, 38.8 percent of company drivers report they have been driving trucks for more than 20 years. Interestingly, the second-highest percentile, 15.1 percent, says they have been driving from 6 to 10 years. It is logical to assume this group will make up the core of the next generation of experienced drivers – whose thoughts on regulation, pay, safety and technology will defi ne how these new concepts and practices are accepted and implemented in years to come. Answers to the questions posed by CCJ varied wildly CCJ driver survey tells frustrations, desires, dreams and nightmares of working in the industry today BY JACK ROBERTS

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