With more than 70% of goods in the United States alone delivered by freight truck, you might think the trucking industry was growing and thriving.
Yet while it is growing, a driver shortage is threatening to keep it from succeeding. Let’s take a closer look at the three primary challenges impacting the trucking industry and what companies can do to overcome these challenges.
1. Demographics
The majority of the 3.5 million truck drivers in the U.S. are older white men; more than 66% of truckers are white and male, 38% of truckers are classified as minorities, and only 6% of drivers are female.
Age is also a challenge for the industry. The average age of a truck driver is 49, seven years older than the average age of the workforce in other industries. As truck drivers reach retirement age, it’s getting increasingly harder to replace them with younger workers. Part of this may be because of the smaller size of the next generation — made up of people born between 1965 and 1984, Generation X is 12% smaller than the Baby Boomer generation before them.
Trucking companies can improve their diversity and help offset the driver shortage by enticing younger millennials to seek out a career in the trucking industry. This generation is also the largest generation ever in the United States.
2. Lifestyle
A trucker’s lifestyle isn’t easy, even at the best of times. Drivers spend hundreds of hours on the road and cover thousands of miles every week, keeping them away from home for extended periods of time.
The hours are often strange, as well, such as driving overnight to make an early morning delivery. While it is a rewarding career, it’s not typically an attractive option for younger drivers — especially millennials who are focused on maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Shifting a trucker’s lifestyle can be a challenging task. It’s tempting to sugarcoat it by making the job sound more comfortable than it is to attract new talent, but no matter how recruiters spin it, the job will require long hours and time away from home. However, it is possible to make the job more appealing.
Companies can begin by offering flexible hours. The schedule still might not be as convenient as a 9-to-5 job, but having some flexibility may entice millennials to enter the workforce.
3. Pay
The final challenge facing the trucking industry is one that companies will have to dig deep into their pockets to rectify — the problem of compensation.
A career as a trucker can be a lucrative one, but only if the driver is getting regular work and being paid for the work they do. Most truckers earn money by the mile, so the pay can vary significantly. This lack of income security chases away many applicants before they even sign up.
Switching to an hourly pay scale or a minimum guaranteed paycheck for each pay period could provide some additional security that might entice new drivers to enter the fold.
Keep benefits in mind, as well. Getting a paycheck is great, but only if it also comes with medical benefits, a 401k, or a pension. If the workload and paycheck are comparable, younger drivers will likely choose a company that provides benefits over one that doesn’t.
The trucking industry is still in trouble, but if the companies within it can change their image enough to entice new drivers to join the workforce, they may be able to pull themselves out of the fire and keep the country moving forward.