Before the pandemic, the issue of hiring and retaining drivers was real, but when the pandemic started, businesses all over the U.S. really started to feel the impact. Dan Forsythe who owns Minnesota Valley Transport, an all-refrigerated transport company based in New Ulm says, “It’s going to get much worse before it gets better,” reported by Fox 9 News . According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics the truck transportation industry lost 6 percent of its pre-pandemic labor force, which is over one and a half million workers, reported by Fox 9 News.
However, there has been some positive signs that truck transportation jobs would improve. According to Freightwaves total truck transportation jobs on a seasonally adjusted basis rose by 2,500 jobs, climbing to 1,502,900 jobs, and the months of July and August saw increases as well. Which makes September number have the opportunity to be optimistic. Couriers and messengers continued to increase, up more than 64,300 jobs since September. In the grand scheme of things that may not be a lot (or enough) but it certainly is progress.
The issue of hiring and retaining drivers is still at hand, especially with the holiday shopping season just around the corner with the potential for deliveries, prices, and inventories to be impacted. Many companies have tried to hire and retain drivers by offering sign-on bonuses, higher wages, and more ideal schedules they drivers can be home with their families, but it’s still not making that much of an improvement. Changing the image of what it means to be a truck driver is something Kendra Hems, the president of the Trucking Association of New York is trying to do. Hems acknowledges that being a truck driver isn’t easy work and wants those considering becoming a truck driver to realize that it’s about more than just driving a truck, that it plays a critical role in supply chain and offers a ceiling to grow professionally outside of traveling, she tells News 10 .
Hopefully truck transportation jobs will continue to see some improvements and things will start to get better over time. If you would like to learn more today or have any questions, please contact us today!
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