Natural disasters, driver shortage, a growing economy, higher input costs, increasing pay for qualified drivers…all factors contributing to the highest spot quotes the industry has seen in over two years with van rates on the truckload spot quote market reaching a national average of $1.94 per mile and reefer rates increasing from $2.19 to $2.22 per mile week-over-week, according to DAT Trendlines.

According to the American Trucking Associations, the trucking industry is currently short around 48,000 drivers with that number expected to surge to 890,000 by 2025. 1This increase will be gradual, however, there will be a noticeable tightening by mid-year 2017, FTR Associates predicts.

Drivers are said to be one of (if not the most) important asset for trucking companies.  Not only are they responsible for the successful and safe transportation of products, but overall act as brand ambassadors for their company, often spending more time with customers than traditional salesmen.  The impression they leave behind plays a large role in customer retention as a negative experience can lead to lost future sales while a pleasant and memorable experience can cause a shipper/consignee to want to increase their business together.  Knowing this, it comes to question as to why many carriers would hire less than qualified drivers to represent their company.  Perhaps to fill capacity restraints?  Or maybe because they do not have to pay them as much as they would an experienced/skilled driver?  Whatever the case, industry experts agree that the quality of drivers is decreasing.

Less meant more last quarter, according to CargoNet’s 2nd quarter statistics, which found the number of cargo thefts to have dropped but the value of stolen goods increased.

Technology is changing every day and the trucking industry is no stranger. With an upcoming final rule mandating the use of electronic logging devices for commercial truck drivers expected to be published September 30th, as well as requirements for speed limiters and electronic stability controls systems, members of the trucking industry are wondering what’s next. We set out to uncover what professionals believe to be the “next generation in cab trucking technology” as well as how Road Scholar Transport is improving our technology this summer. Here is what experts believe is next.