Is the trucking industry growing or shrinking?

The supply of drivers isn't able to keep up with the freight demand. From early retirements to fewer drivers entering the workforce — both of which can be attributed to the pandemic — the number of drivers on the road is shrinking.

Is the trucking industry in decline?

(NewsNation) —A waning demand for trucking services could be the early warning sign of a recession, data analysts and experts say. A recent Bank of America survey found that truckload demand has fallen 58% to near-freight-recession level. Consumer spending habits are contributing to the decline, too.

Is truck driving a growing industry?

Job Outlook

Employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 6 percent from 2020 to 2030, about as fast as the average for all occupations. About 231,100 openings for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers are projected each year, on average, over the decade.

Is the trucking industry struggling?

Companies around the country are struggling to find professional truck drivers, and the driver shortage is only expected to get worse. The American Trucking Association estimates the industry is 80,000 drivers short.

How is the trucking industry 2022?

Experts warn that the truckload freight market is headed for trouble in 2022. This spring, rising inflation, skyrocketing fuel prices, and drastic changes in consumer spending are conspiring against owner-operators, cutting deep into already razor-thin profit margins.

Why The Trucking Industry Is So Fragmented And Chaotic

How long will the trucking industry last?

As reported by Redwood Logistics, trucks carry about 70% of all goods shipped in the U.S., and this is expected to grow by 3.4% annually until at least 2023. This heightened demand, coupled with fewer young people choosing truck driving as a career, has caused a shortage of 51,000 truck driving jobs across the country.

Are trucking rates going up?

Similarly, high fuel prices drove up trucking and other costs prompting retailers and others to further slow their orders to control costs. “We expect the rates to continue their downward trend up to the 2022 peak season at which time the rates will go up, albeit not to the levels seen in 2021” predicts Levy.

Are truck drivers in demand 2021?

American Trucking Associations estimates that the industry needs 80,000 more drivers. That figure is expected to worsen in the years ahead with a lack of new drivers to offset retirements and growing demand.

Is there a trucker shortage 2021?

However, we are of the belief that the truck driver shortage is a really a myth. There are many individuals with the training and skills needed to fill these truck driving job positions. But due to low pay and less than desirable working conditions, many are leaving the industry, in search of a better career.

Are truck drivers in demand right now?

Trucking is an essential service for this country and will likely continue to increase in demand. Truck driver employment is expected to increase 6% by 2030, further increasing the job security of this profession.

What is the future of trucking industry?

Carrier Bankruptcy

Transportation will be an essential industry as long as people need goods, and with American consumers more dependent than ever on online shopping, carriers that are poised to evolve with changing times will find themselves essential to the economy.

How is trucking business now?

Demand for Short Hauls Grows

According to the American Transportation Research Institute, hauls over 1,000 miles have dropped over the last five years. In 2020, freight carriers found that over 69 percent of their hauls were under 500 miles. Many truckers like short hauls so they can spend more time at home.

Is trucking in high demand?

In California, the number of Heavy Truck Drivers is expected to grow much faster than average growth rate for all occupations. Jobs for Heavy Truck Drivers are expected to increase by 15.2 percent, or 24,400 jobs between 2018 and 2028.

Are truck drivers in demand 2022?

According to an analysis of data accrued by FTR Intel, rising demand spiked spot trucking rates upwards of 24%, compared to January 2021. Furthermore, freight spot load postings increased almost 44% at the start of 2022.

Why has Trucking slowed down?

More than likely, the lower volumes are due to a major consumer slowdown. Inflation that began in 2020, combined with the surge in fuel prices related to increased inflation and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, have made consumers move to the sidelines.

What is the current state of the trucking industry?

Industry Data

As a result, the trucking industry hauled 72.5% of all freight transported in the United States in 2019, equating to 11.84 billion tons. The trucking industry was a $791.7 billion industry in that same year, representing 80.4% of the nation's freight bill. Learn more here.

Are truck drivers in demand in USA?

Last year, trucking companies in the United States suffered a record deficit of 80,000 drivers, according to the American Trucking Associations, a trade association. Given that trucks move 72 percent of American freight, a lack of drivers spells substantial disruption.

What is the average age of a truck driver?

The average age of an employed Commercial Truck Driver is 48 years old. The most common ethnicity of Commercial Truck Drivers is White (63.0%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (18.1%) and Black or African American (13.0%). The majority of Commercial Truck Drivers are located in AZ, Phoenix and NE, Omaha.

Will semi truck prices go down in 2022?

Even though 2021's absurd highs are cooling off, America's truck auctioneers are still happy with the state of the used big rig world. Visser said he believes used truck prices will lower by 5% each month. By the end of 2022, used truck prices will return to the levels we saw by the end of 2020.

Why are truckers in short supply?

One of the largest issues influencing the driver shortage is the demographic of the current workforce, primarily age, and gender. The trucking industry relies heavily on male employees, 45 years of age or older.

What is causing the trucker shortage?

There's no trucker shortage; there's a trucker retention problem created by the poor conditions that sprung up in the industry in the wake of 1980s deregulation.

Why do truck drivers quit?

Burnout impacts drivers' personal life, health, and job performance. It can also cause them to quit. Research into the link between burnout and turnover in trucking generally analyzes three dimensions of burnout: overwhelming exhaustion, feelings of cynicism, and inefficacy.

What's wrong with the trucking industry?

There has been a shortage of truck drivers for years, and now, a spiraling trend of drivers aging out—coupled with the exodus of those fed up with long hours, shrinking wages and increasing government regulations—is hammering an already broken supply chain.

Why is the trucking industry suffering?

There are a few reasons for the shortage of truck drivers. One reason is that strict regulations from the Department of Transportation are making it more difficult for companies to hire more drivers. There are also fewer new drivers drawn to the industry because many young adults don't see the job as desirable.

Are trucking companies making money?

2012 to 2016 was a particularly tough period in the trucking industry, profit rates ranged from 2.5% to 3.8%. Profits surged dramatically in 2017 to an average of 6% and grew higher in 2018 until margins plummeted again in 2019. By the end of 2020, margins grew past 6% again.