Trucking news and briefs for Monday, Oct. 25, 2021:
FMCSA Deputy Administrator Meera Joshi met with trucking groups in the Midwest last week to discuss challenges in the industry.
Truck driver retention and recruitment have been a focus of the White House Task Force on Supply Chain Disruptions. The core reason for America's truck driver capacity issue is the "startlingly low retention of current drivers," according to a statement from the FMCSA.
“Truck drivers are essential professionals who have been working on the front lines of this pandemic," Joshi said. "It’s hard to overstate the critical nature of trucking to the wellbeing of our nation. Truck driving is a vital segment of the supply chain, and our focus is on continually enhancing workplace practices while improving efficiencies including decreasing driver detention time while ensuring the highest level of safety possible for every roadway traveler.”
During her Midwest trip, Joshi met with representatives of the Illinois Farm Bureau Association, the Illinois Trucking Association, Union Pacific Railroad’s Global IV Intermodal Terminal, and at a United Parcel Service driver training facility.
A statement from the FMCSA said discussions covered a broad range of strategies to improve supply chain movement and roadway safety including:
ACT Research reports that rates increased in September after a drop-off in August.
