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At a time when attracting and retaining professional truck drivers has become more difficult than ever, fleets are thinking differently about this persistent industry challenge.

SAN ANTONIO — During one of the first in-person industry events to be held as the country emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, trucking executives attending American Trucking Associations’ Mid-Year Management Session expressed optimism about opportunities that await motor carriers — and the nation overall — as life for Americans returns to normal.

A worsening shortage of truck drivers is raising concerns among California farmers that, unless a solution emerges soon, there might not be enough hauling capacity to bring this year’s harvest to market.

Trucking has been facing a driver shortage problem for quite some time, but workflow software could be part of the solution.

The latest economic report from ATA estimates the driver shortage to be over 60,000. What role has the pandemic played? Older drivers chose to retire while potential drivers found licensing difficult with the closure of state motor vehicles offices. The launch of the Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse database also impacted the number of drivers on the road.

The often discussed driver shortage is over — at least for the time being — as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the deepening U.S. recession and a falloff in the amount of freight being hauled by many sectors of trucking, industry experts said.

Fleet owners and operators are faced with a convergence of business challenges that have forced some operations to close. Tight shipping rates, increased insurance premiums, and continued driver shortages are pressuring businesses to reconsider long held operational beliefs in order to stay profitable.   In these challenging times, how do commercial fleets create a model of operational excellence that reduces risk and protects their profitability?

WASHINGTON — A bill that would pave the way for commercial drivers younger than 21 to drive trucks across state lines received a resounding endorsement from an organization that represents freight industry interests nationwide during a Feb. 4 Senate hearing.

Lawmakers in the Senate and House of Representatives have introduced legislation that would support women in the trucking industry.