A shortage of drivers — and quality

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Updated Jun 26, 2010

I’ve been hearing since at least March that many carriers are once again scrounging for drivers. This means a return to business as usual in terms of a driver shortage, only this time it could more severe than normal.

The reasons by now are well-known. The economy has been bouncing back. Imminent safety-related regulations — notably Comprehensive Safety Analysis 2010 — are expected to push a significant number of drivers out of the cab.

Our friends at the owner-operator financial services provider ATBS have issued a good summary of how things stand via their ATBS Owner-Operator Newsletter. Among the points it makes:

 


 


 

“Most fleets we talk with say there is also a driver ‘quality shortage.’ It’s real, too. This will be a bigger problem than the driver shortage because the new CSA 2010 regulations will require higher quality. Owner-operators are a cut above the rest anyway so the quality shortage means that people like you will be in higher demand.”




And if you want the very latest outlook from two experts in the know, plan to catch our free June 24 webinar on “The emerging driver shortage.” Noel Perry, of the consulting firm FTR Associates, and Tom Kretsinger Jr., President of American Central Transport, will join me to explain how they see all this unfolding for the near future. You can register now.


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