LEXINGTON, Ky. — There’s a growing trend of truck driver shortages.
The problem isn’t new but the concern of the shortage could impact the summer months as more people resume travel like they did prior to the pandemic.
“We just have an ongoing driver shortage. Actually, I need to hire a driver right now,” said Bob Riley. He’s the Co-owner of Riley Oil Company in Richmond.
“As far as the summer, I mean, you get seasonal average seasonal differences. Right this minute what you're seeing is we're coming out of basically the COVID[-19] slowdown. And so yeah, there, there will be more pressure for drivers and for just economic activity is going to increase greatly,” Riley said.
He said the industry is pushing the limits and it’s close to the edge.
“When running short-handed we don't have as many drivers as we would prefer to have, you know, if we had a few more quit we would have we would have a real problem,” Riley said.
Across the nation, the National Tanker Truck Carrier (NTTC) group said anywhere between 20% to 25% of tank trucks are parked or not in use, meaning fewer drivers to deliver fuel to gas stations.
“As the country emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic and demands for goods increase, our industry has (an) immediate opportunity for professional drivers assisting in our economic recovery,” said Ryan Streblow, Executive Vice President of NTTC.
Tanker truck drivers require a special hazmat certification in addition to a Commercial Driver’s License making the pool of drivers even smaller.
“Every product that you can actually touch at some point has been on a truck,” Riley said.
He said nearly two-thirds of goods in the nation are delivered by trucks.