The American Trucking Association (ATA) reports that 70% of goods consumed in the United States are moved by a truck! An industry analysis by DAT Solutions reported that only one truck was available for every 12 loads needing to be shipped at the beginning of 2018! Fortune Magazine quoted FTR Transportation Intelligence’s report that the truck driver shortfall hit a record 296,311 by mid-2018!
Several reasons have been given for the staggering increase in demand for truckers:
- Federal regulations enacted in December 2017 require commercial trucks to use electronic monitoring devices (ELDs) to monitor and report the drivers’ hours of service. Drivers can no longer push themselves to exceed limits of hours on the road and then doctor the paper logbooks later to appear to comply with the law. So shipments of goods are taking longer, shippers are unhappy with delays, and profits go down. Having more drivers on the road allows for more frequent trips with less time for the shipment to be delayed waiting on the dock for the next trip.
- More people are shopping online than in brick and mortar stores, and shipments by companies like Amazon and Walmart have created a huge demand for an estimated 51,000 truck drivers to meet their needs.
- According to NPR (National Public Radio), “an aging fleet of drivers” is a major cause of the driver shortage. Many long-time truckers are aging out of the workforce. The average age of commercial truck drivers today is 55, with only 20% of the drivers in the 20-34 age bracket. Part of the blame may fall on federal regulations requiring a commercial truck driver to be at least 21 years old to cross state lines.
The above point effectively eliminates long-haul trucking as a vocational choice for young people just graduating from high school. Both the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives introduced bills (S.3352 and H.R.5358, respectively) that would have lowered the minimum age to 18, contingent on completion of an apprenticeship training program. Per Govtrack, they were not acted on by the 115th Congress, which ended January 3, 2019, and have been cleared from the books.
There has never been a better time to re-enter the labor force as an owner-operator and drive where you are appreciated, with competitive leased contracts through Canal Cartage, in Houston Texas.
COME JOIN OUR TEAM!
Canal Cartage is seeking owner-operators. We are a family-owned company founded in 1983, providing reliable transportation and warehouse services.
We serve the Houston, Texas area with drayage and warehousing services, cross-dock and transloading services. Our short-haul and long-haul trucking serves Texas and the Southeastern United States.
WE APPRECIATE OUR TRUCK DRIVERS!
Canal Cartage offers owner-operators higher income potential, improved safety, and vacation time flexibility. Additional perks include:
- We pay fuel surcharges.
- We pay extra for heavy loads.
- Extra pay for Hazmat loads.
- Dedicated routes are available.
- Our fleet of chassis and trailers eliminates wasted time for equipment repairs.
- We hold Truck Driver Appreciation Events!
Apply with our streamlined online application process and get started. We’re looking for owner-operators with a commitment to safety and providing excellent customer service for our commercial clients. Come drive with us.
