Moving products and materials around the United States takes an incredible amount of truck drivers. Has the supply kept up with the demand, or is there a shortage?
For the last few years, reports have been indicating that there simply are not enough drivers for the industry. For instance, a report back in 2016 already put the shortage at 48,000 drivers, and it said that the number could increase all the way to 170,000 or more by 2026. Those statistics come from the rather concerned American Trucking Associations.
Why is this happening? One expert said that age is the biggest issue. Many older truck drivers are retiring and coming to the end of their careers. There are not enough young people to take those jobs and replace them. Every year that sees more people retire than enter the workforce means the shortage gets a little bit more severe.
On top of that, if the need for goods keeps increasing, that just makes the problem more obvious. The economy has been rebounding. More and more people are buying things on the Internet and taking advantage of quick shipping options. The overall population in the United States keeps going up. These are just a few of the many reasons why the industry needs even more drivers every year, adding to the shortage already created by all those retirements each year.
Does this issue make truck accidents more likely? It may, as new truck drivers will not have nearly as much experience as those who have been driving for years. Additionally, if drivers are rushed through training, they may not be ready for the road. It is important for those who get injured in a truck accident to know their legal rights to financial compensation.