Will Shortage of Truck Drivers Make Roads More Dangerous?

Even in a recession, many trucking companies are finding it hard to hire drivers, according to a recent report.

The figures are surprising given the current economic climate and worry me as an experienced Virginia truck accident injury lawyer.

That’s because a shortage of truck drivers may mean the ones who are on the roads are forced into longer hours which means more driver fatigue and a greater risk of injury for other road users.

It could also mean unscrupulous truck companies compromise in their standards and hire drivers with a record including traffic offenses or alcohol and drug use.

The AP report said U.S. companies are expected to create in excess of 115,000 truck driver jobs per year through 2016.

It said the number of Americans trained for these jobs is barely 10 percent of total demand.

The shortage of truck drivers comes as average pay rises to $50,000.

“It’s getting harder to get drivers,” Mike Card, president of Combined Transport of Central Point, Ore., and incoming chairman of the American Trucking Associations told IndyStar.com. “I could hire 50 guys right now.”

As a Virginia truck accident injury lawyer, I see many serious accidents caused by big rigs in cities such as Norfolk, Portsmouth, Newport News and Virginia Beach, VA.

Our recent settlements include $3.5 million in a wrongful death case for the family of man who lost his life when his vehicle was rear-ended by a truck on I-64 in Norfolk.

The Virginia Beach. Norfolk and Hampton, VA truck accident injury law firm, Cooper Hurley, handles automobile, truck, and motorcycle injuries as well as other cases such as slip and fall cases, wrongful death and medical malpractice. John Cooper and Jim Hurley have over 40 years of combined experience in handling truck injury accident claims. Attorney John Cooper has been named to Virginia “Super Lawyers” since 2010.

Cooper Hurley represents people hurt in accidents in Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News and throughout VA, and always put the best interests of our clients first. Our motto is “Your Injury, Our Fight.” The firm is recognized by other lawyers as “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, a national attorney rating service, for our top level of legal skill and highest ethical standards.