Trucking's biggest concern: finding drivers

A shortage of drivers remains the top issue facing the North American trucking industry, according to a report released yesterday by The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI), a not-for-profit research organization.

For the second straight year, the driver shortage in North America is the top-ranked issue in "Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry—2018" report, the group said, adding that strong freight demand and an aging workforce are increasing pressure on motor carriers to recruit and retain the best talent.

The report echoes ongoing concerns over attracting and retaining drivers across the industry.

Number two on ATRI's 2018 list is the Hours-of-Service rules, driven in large part by the industry's call for increased flexibility in the rules; driver retention ranked third, moving up two spots from last year, the group said.

Industry concern over the electronic logging device (ELD) mandate has abated since the final rule went into effect last year, ATRI reported, noting that the issue dropped from the number two spot last year to the number four spot this year. Rounding out the top five issues is a lack of available truck parking, ATRI said.

ATRI said it received more than 1,500 responses from motor carriers and commercial drivers for the report.