Thomas Sholar, 69, who started in construction in the Houston area, began his truck driver journey all the way back in 1992, and continues to enjoy the ride to this day: “I guess I won’t retire until it stops being fun,” he says, after more than three decades behind the wheel of his big rig. Sholas has been recognized for his accomplishments both on and off the road with the TCA’s 2023 Driver of the Year away, one of five truck drivers to receive the award.Read more…
After several months of volatility in truck transportation employment, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported November jobs numbers that showed some changes: “the seasonally adjusted truck transportation jobs total for last month was 1,581,300, an increase of 700 jobs. But it comes after a four-month stretch in which July jobs dropped 6,900; August jobs fell 30,700 (fueled by the closure of Yellow Corp.); September jobs climbed 14,000 positions as some of the Yellow loss reversed itself at other carriers; and October recorded a drop of 3,600 jobs.” Read more…
President Joe Biden recently convened the first meeting of his newly launched Supply Chain Resilience Council after years of the industry speaking about the matter. The goal of the new council is to “strengthen America’s supply chains” and “lower costs for families.” There are 30 actions the council has in mind to “improve access to medicine and needed economic data and other programs tied to the production and shipment of goods.” Read more…
There is a major truck driver shortage happening at the moment, and it’s predicted to reach a record high next year, which in turn will have a massive impact on supply chain costs. With that being said, it’s now more important than ever for trucking companies to incentivize the job and to obtain more than one million new drivers over the next decade to replace those planning to leave the industry. Read more…
As 2023 nears its end, looking back may require sifting through many negatives of the past 12 months in logistics such as “strikes, bankruptcies, security incidents, weather events,” and more, but there are also many positives that stand out as well. It’s clear that the logistics industry “is an incredibly connected network of companies and individuals who are extremely passionate” and “will work countless hours to move this industry forward.” Read more…
The ADP Research Institute’s “Today at Work” report presented the Employee Motivation and Commitment index, claiming that the transportation and warehousing industry had the weakest job satisfaction among all sectors surveyed. This alarming revelation contradicts the findings from Trucker Path’s March 2023 survey, which suggested that drivers are just as content today as they were a year ago, despite ongoing challenges. Read more…
Central Region Job Centers recently held a CDL training recruitment event at the Columbia Job Center for applicants interested in obtaining their Class A License. Marking the starting steps of the training process, attendees filled out paperwork and learned about the varied work opportunities in the truck driving industry. Patricia Rogers of the Missouri Job Center noted: “We do these orientations to help provide information about what it means to be a CDL driver, the expectations out on the road, and some of the pitfalls that can affect them.” Read more…
With the logistics industry continuing to play an increasingly large role in the Inland Empire, including the region becoming the “warehouse capital of the world,” it is all the more curious that the industry “has experienced employment losses of over 20,000 jobs (7.1%) since December 2021. This significant decline is both worrisome and puzzling as it is unique to the Inland Empire,” as “the U.S. overall saw growth in this industry during that time.” Read more…
While decreasing stress and improving sleep habits can help improve truck drivers’ performance, quality of life, and mental health, it is often easier said than done. A pair of researchers that studied truck drivers’ stress and sleep disorders have concluded that the issue of “driver well-being” is far more complicated, stating that “vicious cycles and Catch-22s” must be halted “if motor carriers are to build a culture of satisfaction and health among their drivers.” Read more…
Applicants are often attracted to a truck driving career “due to the freedom of being on the road, job security, and the chance to earn a good income.” Since it is such an essential and demanding job, the salary can often be quite good; the occupation also gives applicants “a sense of adventure and the ability to earn a great living without needing to sit in an office setting all day.” But because trucks can often be difficult to drive, not to mention accidents always happening, there are quite a few steps applicants must take before becoming licensed and ready to work. Read more…
