Driver shortage, HOS remain top industry issues

Two new issues land on ATRI list: Driver compensation, detention

By Al Muskewitz
 
SAN DIEGO – The driver shortage and hours-of-service rules – the two hottest-button topics in the trucking industry for years – pulled down the top two slots in annual top industry issues survey for the second year in a row.
 
The results of the study, conducted by the American Transportation Research Institute, were released Sunday at the American Trucking Associations’ Management Conference and Exhibition.
 
The driver shortage is No. 1 for the third year in a row. The HOS rules is on the list for the ninth consecutive year and No. 2 for the second year in a row; it was the No. 1 issue from 2013 through 2015.
 
The ATA estimates the industry has a shortage of 60,000 drivers with a potential shortfall of more than 100,000 over the next five years. The FMCSA has recently introduced flexible revisions to the hours-of-service rules and is entertaining public comment on the proposals through the end of the month.
 
Two new issues appeared on the list for the first time and pulled down the next two spots – driver compensation and detention/delay at customer facilities.
 
The driver compensation issue represents two sides of a complex issue, ATRI explained. Motor carriers have raised driver pay “significantly” over the past year in response to the driver shortage and drivers are concerned their pay isn’t keeping pace with inflation or adequate for non-driving duties.
 
The detention issue reflects concerns over delays that impacts hours-of-service compliance and the ability to find safe, available truck parking – the No. 5 issue on the list.
 
“While 2018 was an incredible year for trucking, we’ve seen some challenges in 2019 and certainly finding and retaining qualified drivers remains at the top of the list for our industry,” ATA chairman Barry Pottle said in a news release. “ATRI’s analysis reveals the interconnectedness of these top issues and provides a roadmap for how motor carriers and professional drivers believe we should move forward as an industry.”
 
The survey generated responses from more than 2,100 industry stakeholders, a 37 percent increase over the previous year. Motor carriers represented more than half of the respondents, with professional drivers making up 35 percent.
 
Overall Top 10 issues
Driver shortage
Hours-of-Service
Driver compensation
Detention/delay at customer
Truck parking
Driver retention
ELD mandate (the No. 1 issue in 2016)
Compliance, safety, accountability
Infrastructure
Economy
Emerging issues: Driver distraction, driver training standards, insurance cost/availability
 
Commercial Driver Top 10
Driver compensation
Hours-of-service
Truck parking
ELD mandate
Detention/delay
Speed limiters
Driver training standards
Driver distraction
Infrastructure
Autonomous truck technology
 
Motor Carriers Top 10
Driver shortage
Driver retention
Hours-of-service
Compliance, safety, accountability
Infrastructure
Detention/delay
Economy
ELD mandate
Insurance cost/availability
Tort reform
 
Al Muskewitz is editor-in-chief for Wright Media. He can be reached at musky@wrightmediacorp.com