Too many truck drivers on the road?

My last trip to the Lake of the Ozarks took a little longer than usual. Several weekends a year I like to load up the car and head downstate to enjoy a slower pace and more scenic surroundings. And, like most people, after a high-paced work week, I’m anxious to get to my weekend destination – as are my friends and family traveling with me.

Well, midway through this last trip we found ourselves inching along I-70. Our car was sandwiched between two seemingly endless lines of tractor trailers. Frustrated with our progress, one of my friends said, “There are just too many truck drivers on the road!” I turned to him and said, “Actually, there aren’t enough.”

Of course my friend looked at me as if I was crazy, but those of us in the transportation industry know I speak the truth. There aren’t enough truck drivers and, in the not-so-distant future, we could find ourselves facing an acute truck driver shortage.

I tried to educate my frustrated passengers; I reminded them that everything we have came to us via a truck – and a truck driver. Clothes, food, even cars are delivered by trucks. In fact, I challenged them to think of something they own that did not spend some time on a truck. After quite a bit of thought, they could not think of a single thing. I have to say they were a bit surprised by the idea.

According to the American Trucking Association (ATA), the long-haul segment of the trucking industry has a national shortage of 20,000 drivers. Given current demographic trends, the ATA predicts the shortage will increase to 111,000 by 2014. I don’t have to tell you how this could affect the economy.

Why the shortage? For one, a favorable labor market finds potential drivers opting for jobs that keep them home. A construction job may be more attractive to someone with a young family. Additionally, according to an article on the ATA Web site, many truck drivers are aged 55 or older and the primary driver demographic, which is men, aged 35 to 54, will remain flat or even decline over the next several years.

But it’s not just about finding drivers. It’s about finding qualified drivers. And the industry has increased its security and safety standards, which means finding suitable driver applicants is even more challenging in a post 9/11 world.

The drivers are out there, the industry is just going to have to work harder to recruit them. How many young people do you know seeking a career in truck driving? We need to spread the word about the trucking industry and the vital role it plays in our economy. The ATA has a great public relations campaign slogan, “Good Stuff – Trucks Bring It.” I’d like to see more of this kind of messaging.

The industry will also have to recruit beyond its traditional demographic to tap women and minorities. According to the ATA, women currently represent 5% of truck drivers and African Americans and Hispanics represent 11.7% and 9.7% (respectively) of long-haul drivers.

Finally, the ‘what’s in it for me’ factor has to be there. Carriers will need to raise the bar in terms of driver salary, benefits and quality of life. Though the need for drivers has increased, driver pay scales have not kept pace with those in other industries where working conditions are often more desirable. However, some carriers are creating schedules that are move home-friendly and upgrading cabs to include comforts like satellite radio and Internet access so drivers can keep in touch with friends and family. But will it be enough?

As members of the transportation industry, it is our job to promote the important role truck drivers play in our economy. And next time you hear someone complaining about the number of trucks or truck drivers on the road, give them a quick education. Remember, “Good Stuff – Trucks Bring It.”