Here's what you need to know about the CDL driver shortage.

Over the past decade the trucking industry has struggled to find and hire enough active drivers to fill its trucks. The driver shortage has gotten so drastic that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released an article entitled “Is the U.S. labor market for truck drivers broken?” detailing the persistent need for qualified truck drivers. More importantly, the report outlines how unusual it is for a market to be “consistently out of equilibrium in the direction of a shortage over more than a decade,” suggesting that there are factors keeping qualified drivers from entering this line of work. 

The truth of the matter is that the market for drivers is not broken; there are enough qualified CDL drivers. The root of the industry’s driver shortage is that in general motor carriers aren’t sufficiently enticing qualified individuals to take the leap into a driving career. In order to attract the next generation of driving talent, fleets will need to offer not only increased base compensation, but also increased quality of life across the board for drivers. This includes at-home time, consistent layover pay, and increased safety. 

One of the best ways to entice drivers is with an awesome referral hiring program. With referrals, loyal drivers can help you reach more candidates while supplementing their income.  Increasing referrals can increase your retention and help to grow your fleet simultaneously. Schedule a demo and see how RocketCDL can help you achieve your hiring goals.