TRUCKER SHORTAGE CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM

With the current trucker shortage probably doubling by 2030 according to the ATA,  it has become imperative that the issue is addressed immediately. There are many factors contributing to the continued shortage, amongst them are: “high average age of truckers and an increasing number of retirements,” “the inability of some candidates to pass a drug test,” “and a federal law prohibiting truckers younger than 21 years old from crossing state lines.”  Read more…

2,000 LOGISTIC JOBS COMING TO CONNECTICUT

Construction on the redevelopment of former Connecticut airfield Rentschler Field could begin as soon as this fall, a project that will not only bring hundreds of construction jobs for more than a year, but “ultimately up to 2,000 permanent jobs at a massive logistics center and accompanying high-tech research and development buildings.” The planning and zoning commission “unanimously approved National Development’s plan to create two mega-warehouses of more than 1 million square feet each on the former airfield.”  Read more…

TRUCKERS HOPE BILL BRINGS BETTER PAY

A bipartisan bill in the House, introduced by Rep. Andy Levin, D-Mich, hopes to “repeal the motor carrier overtime exemption in the Fair Labor Standards Act, allowing truck drivers to be compensated for all the hours they work.”  Currently drivers who spend many hours a day just waiting to pick up or deliver cargo aren’t paid for those hours; this bill is hoping to address that issue and, in turn, keep more drivers in the workforce.   Read more...

2,000 LOGISTIC JOBS COMING TO CONNECTICUT

Construction on the redevelopment of former Connecticut airfield Rentschler Field could begin as soon as this fall, a project that will not only bring hundreds of construction jobs for more than a year, but “ultimately up to 2,000 permanent jobs at a massive logistics center and accompanying high-tech research and development buildings.” The planning and zoning commission “unanimously approved National Development’s plan to create two mega-warehouses of more than 1 million square feet each on the former airfield.”  Read more…

LONG TERM LOGISTIC JOBS FOR AUTISTIC ADULTS

WeMake is partnering with Bettaway Supply Chain Services “to launch a structured hiring, training and skills development program providing long-term jobs and career opportunities for adults on the autism spectrum.” NJ-based WeMake, a not-for-profit skills development and workforce management organization for the autistic adult community, has created “a model program and support resources to enable companies to establish and sustain meaningful workplace opportunities designed to help autistic adults succeed on their own in compatible work environments.”   Read more…

TRACTOR-TRAILER FALLS OFF ATLANTA BRIDGE

A truck driver and passenger are hospitalized after their tractor trailer broke through a metal fence on the Fulton Street bridge in Atlanta. Traffic had to be  “shut down while  crews worked to remove the broken fence and the ramps from Interstate 20 to the southbound lanes of the connector.” The driver is currently in serious condition as investigators are trying to piece together the incident.   Read more…

AMERICANS NOT SURE ABOUT CHANGES TO HELP TRUCK DRIVER SHORTAGE

The American public appears overwhelmingly skeptical of at least two possible solutions to the trucker shortage currently blighting our nation: “nearly 71 percent of registered voters polled by NewsNation opposed lowering the required age to get a commercial driver’s license from 18 to 16. Currently, drivers have to be 18 to transport goods within a state, or 21 to transport goods across state lines.” In addition, “65 percent of Americans said they would feel at least somewhat unsafe with self-driving trucks on the road.” Read more…

DANGERS OF FLATBED TRUCKING

Though flatbed trucks are the most widely used open-deck trailers in the industry, recent deaths have renewed safety concerns for flatbed driving. While devices known as headache racks, often made of aluminum or steel, used to be required to protect drivers from shifting loads, this is no longer the case. These open-deck trailers are often hauling a variety of commodities such as “steel, rebars, steel coils, lumbar, construction materials, military equipment, machinery and other heavy goods.”  Read more…

LOGISTICS GIANTS CUTTING HUNDREDS OF JOBS IN OHIO

Global logistics giants Geodis and Ceva are planning to cut over 450 jobs in Ohio according to paperwork filed this past week. The French logistics company Geodis is planning on closing all of its business operations at its facilities in Columbus, while Ceva will be closing their east portion of their Groveport facility, with “supply chain operation specialists, dock supervisors and material handlers” being among the affected nonunion employees who will be out of work.  Read more…