Among many things, the pandemic has reminded society how indispensable professional drivers and their work are to our everyday lives. With businesses shut down and people sheltering in place, commercial drivers have gone beyond the call of duty to continue transport of essential goods from warehouses across the country to the shelves of our local stores, hospitals, clinics and front doors.
As the pandemic continues, even with the vaccine roll-out, the demand for the delivery of vital goods and services continues at an unprecedented scale. Our recent analysis found freight, tractor-trailer and long-haul fleets in and around Chicago consistently driving more miles each month than before the pandemic.
As COVID-19 cases spiked in Illinois, fleets drove 20% more in October 2020 than in January, reflecting driving trends we’ve seen across the country. And this comes at a time when qualified commercial drivers are more scarce than ever, with the American Trucking Associations forecasting the nationwide driver shortage swelling to 160,000 drivers by 2028.
The American Trucking Associations forecasts the nationwide driver shortage will swell to 160,000 drivers by 2028.
Showing appreciation to drivers and empowering them to play a leading role in their own safety and improvement has never been more important. Fleets that are most successful in this area make driver appreciation and empowerment a core part of their culture so that drivers stick around – and remain an asset – for the long term.
Appreciating and empowering drivers: Start with transparency
