Lack of Truckers Increases as Numbers Fell By 2,400 in March

Over the last few years, a serious lack of drivers has piled the pressure on the trucking industry and raised fears that more poorly qualified drivers could be behind the wheels of big rigs.

The bad news is the situation is not likely to get better any time soon. In fact, the latest figures show the trucking industry is continuing to lose jobs.

The number of employees on America’s for-hire trucking payrolls fell for the second straight month in March, plummeting by 2,400 workers, reported Supply and Demand Chain Executive.

The latest figures bring the total number of trucking jobs lost in February and March to 3,000. It’s another wake-up call to companies that are experiencing difficulty recruiting truck drivers that wages may have to go up again while shippers may be facing an end to the abundant trucking capacity they have enjoyed since the summer of 2015.

Last year I wrote about how the trucking industry needs as many as 48,000 additional drivers to meet its needs at a time when there has been a surge in demand for truckers.

The level of freight being transported around the United States is expected to increase by almost a third more by 2026.

Demand for Truckers Rises

Since the end of the recession, demand for truck freight has risen by 15 percent. The industry has struggled to meet this rise in demand, let alone a projected rise in demand of more than 30 percent in the next decade.

As an experienced Virginia trucking accident attorney, I am concerned about the lack of truck drivers. Trucking companies often cut corners to meet demand and may end up recruiting drivers with a poor record who are more likely to cause accidents.

When truckers cause serious wrecks, they are often found to be drowsy and suffering from a health condition such as sleep apnea or diabetes. There are also many truck drivers on the road who have had previous violations for speeding or possibly drunk driving.  When demand is driven by desperation, trucking companies often cut corners.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a big rig truck, you may have grounds to file a lawsuit against a driver and his or her trucking company.