Among the survey’s professional truck driver respondents, Driver Compensation and Truck Parking tied for the number one industry concern. Detention / Delay at Customer Facilities – another challenge experienced daily by commercial drivers – ranked second.
ATRI REPORT: TOP 10 CRITICAL ISSUES IN THE TRUCKING INDUSTRY - 2021 1.
Driver Shortage
2. Driver Retention 3. Driver Compensation 4. Lawsuit Abuse Reform 5. Truck Parking 6. Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) 7.
Detention / Delay
8. Infrastructure / Congestion / Funding 9. Insurance Cost / Availability 10. Diesel Technician Shortage young adults was the second-highestranked strategy in dealing with the driver shortage. According to ATA, the average age of over-the-road drivers is 46 and for new driver entrants, the average age is 35. Driver Retention was selected as the second-most critical issue overall this year. The top-ranked proposed strategy selected by respondents was to research and prioritize retention, based
on driver feedback and driver tenure data. Data from ATA showed that driver turnover at large truckload fleets was 92% at the end of 2020. Further reflecting the industry’s workforce challenges, Driver Compensation was ranked third overall. Rounding out the top five industry concerns were Lawsuit Abuse Reform and the lack of available Truck Parking.
“It really is no surprise that truck driver-related issues – notably the driver shortage and driver retention – ranked so high on the survey. Coming out of the pandemic, with the increased demand for goods and other pressures on the supply chain, getting and keeping drivers has been a real challenge industrywide,” said ATRI President and COO Rebecca Brewster in a press release announcing ATRI’s report.“We also see the impacts of the current supply chain crunch in how highly issues like driver compensation, truck parking, infrastructure and driver detention ranked on the list.” ATRI’s report highlights the industry’s most pressing concerns – but more importantly, it provides a roadmap for tackling these challenges as we move forward.
2020 Trooper of the Year — Trooper Larry Favors On April 6, 2020, Trooper Favors conducted a traffic stop on I-10 to complete a Level II CVSA inspection. After initial contact with the driver, he stated that he did not feel well, and Trooper Favors offered to summon rescue. The driver declined, and Trooper Favors continued with the inspection.
Trooper Larry Favors is the recipient of FTA’s 2020 Trooper of the Year Award. He came to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) in 2012 after retiring from the United States Navy. He had a decorated 30-year naval career and attained the rank of Command Master Chief.
Trooper Favors is dedicated to the mission of the FHP. As a Commercial Motor Vehicle Trooper, he strives to reduce the number and severity of crashes, as well as hazardous materials incidents involving commercial motor vehicles and increase public awareness and education.
Later during the inspection, Trooper Favors observed blood coming from the driver’s nose and mouth. Recognizing that the symptoms displayed indicated a serious medical condition, Trooper Favors had rescue respond to the scene. Rescue responded and transported the driver to the hospital in Macclenny. Later, the driver’s wife advised that doctors told her that her husband only had minutes to seek medical attention, or he would have perished. She thanked Trooper Favors for saving her husband’s life.
FLORIDA TRUCK NEWS
WINTER 2021 | 19
