In a capacity-constrained environment, shipper and provider collaboration could not be more critical. Our industry must continue to focus on attracting and retaining professional drivers and providing rewarding careers for the workforce that is so crucial to the future of the transportation sector. With a shortage of quality drivers now fully apparent, key changes need to revolve around tackling the many challenges that the professional driver has been faced with in recent years. The impact of hours-of-service and Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA) regulations, as well as the overall driver demographic, will require carriers to make changes in two specific areas:
— Carriers will need to examine the overall driver experience and accommodate the needs of drivers while providing an attractive lifestyle balance. This may require better pay or bonus packages, career path opportunities and other incentives that encourage driver participation in this sector. Attracting future professional drivers will require effort from not only the carrier, but the shipper community as well.
— Carriers and shippers will need to have more direct dialogue on facilities, lanes and shipment characteristics that negatively impact drivers. From the simple extending of load hours or improving the driver experience at a facility to the complex network re-engineering or mode conversion, issues will need to be quickly addressed. With 73 percent of goods moving via truck, the successful solution of the driver/capacity constraints benefit all segments of the supply chain.
For transportation companies and their partners to succeed in 2015 and beyond, they will have to learn to adapt to the changing environment and put the needs of the professional driver at the forefront while ensuring the efficient delivery of the nation’s freight.
Derek J. Leathers, President and CEO, Werner Enterprises