U.S. Supply Chain Compromised as Pandemic Causes Trucker Shortage to Worsen
A worldwide supply chain disruption is exacerbating an already serious shortage of new U.S. truck drivers. Brad Ball, President of Roadmaster Drivers School, explains how distribution of goods in America is severely threatened which is why his company is adding new locations to meet demand.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Dec. 20, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted supply chains around the world. In the U.S., 94% of Fortune 1000 companies are seeing pandemic-related disruptions, and 75% have experienced a negative or strongly negative impact on their business.(1) In the U.S., the disruption has exacerbated an already serious shortage of truckers; the American Trucking Associations (ATA) now estimates the shortage at 80,000 drivers.(2) "We need to train and license a new generation of truckers," says Brad Ball, President, Roadmaster Drivers Schools. "Our new center in Columbia, South Carolina—one of a series of new facilities we are opening—will help respond to this situation by bringing new workers to the trucking industry and new opportunities to people who need good jobs."
The global supply chain disruption, notes Ball, began early in 2020, when factories in Asia and Europe, hit hard by the pandemic, were forced to shut down or reduce production. In response, shipping companies, expecting a corresponding drop in demand for shipping, cut their schedules. However, instead of dropping, demand for manufactured goods and shipping rose increased, and disruption followed. Shipping and delivery problems are expected to be with us well into 2022, and perhaps longer.(3)
Meanwhile, the trucker shortage is expected to worsen; the ATA estimates that if current trends continue, the shortage could surpass 160,000 by 2030.(2) This will create a significant opportunity for new drivers. Shippers are raising truckers' salaries,(4) and trucking, Ball points out, is already one of the better-paid professions open to non-college graduates. It is also, he notes, a field open to all, offering equal pay for equal work.
In Charleston, South Carolina, home to one of the nation's major ports, the truck driver shortage is particularly acute. The South Carolina Trucking Association expects the current supply chain issues to continue for as long as a year, noting that demand has exceeded the supply of goods and materials and the transportation system to accommodate it.(5)
On January 27, 2022, between the hours of 10AM-5PM, members of the press, prospective students, and the general public are warmly invited to the grand opening of the new Roadmaster Drivers School of Columbia, SC, at 1602 Andrews Rd., Columbia SC, 29201.
"Trucking," says Ball, "is an essential and increasingly well-paid, respected profession. The turnaround for training is relatively short and it has become a profession where anyone, regardless of gender or background, can find steady employment with a good salary."
About Roadmaster Drivers School:
Roadmaster, headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL, is a nationwide training organization for truckers. They have 30 years of experience training more than 150,000 graduates with 18 training locations nationwide. By focusing on giving students the best education and maintaining high job placement standards, Roadmaster has gained a national reputation in the trucking industry for quality training of entry-level commercial truck drivers—noted for their training practices to be the most hands-on and safety-focused training in the country. For more information, visit http://www.roadmaster.com.
1. "Supply Chain Disruption & How to Respond." Accenture, accenture.com/us-en/insights/consulting/coronavirus-supply-chain-disruption.
2. Cullen, David. "ATA: Truck Driver Shortage Hits Record High of 80,000." Drivers - Trucking Info, 26 Oct. 2021, truckinginfo.com/10154800/ata-truck-driver-shortage-hits-record-high-of-80-000.
3. "How the Supply Chain Broke, and Why It Won't Be Fixed Anytime Soon." News WWC, 22 Oct. 2021, newswwc.com/united-states/how-the-supply-chain-broke-and-why-it-wont-be-fixed-anytime-soon/.
4. Kim, E. Tammy, and Rayford, Sean. "The Supply-Chain Crisis Is Creating a Rare Opportunity for Truck Drivers." The New York Times, 18 Nov. 2021, nytimes.com/2021/11/18/opinion/supply-chain-trucks-south-carolina-ports.html.
5. Neville, Nick. "Truck Driver Shortage Exacerbating Supply Chain Disruptions, SC Trucking Association Says." wistv.com/2021/10/20/truck-driver-shortage-exacerbating-supply-chain-disruptions-sc-trucking-association-says/.
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SOURCE Roadmaster Drivers School
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