While the truck driver shortage has been an ongoing problem for the better part of a decade, it is still having a large impact on all aspects of the transportation industry and was only accelerated by the CoVID-19 pandemic. The ensuing downturn in the economy caused a number of smaller fleets to lay off drivers during the early days of the pandemic. According to data from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and Tucker Company Worldwide, small carriers lost 150,172 drivers during the first half of 2020, when US freight shipments dropped by 25%. Additionally, with extended unemployment benefits, some drivers found that they could stay home and stay safe without losing significant income, all while a number of retirement-age drivers decided to hang up their keys to avoid exposure to COVID-19 on the road. Also, the CDL Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse cut loose 40,000 drivers due to failed drug test results, which accounted for about 1% of the truck-driving workforce.
