The U.S. is around 80,000 commercial truck drivers short of what’s needed to meet current demand. And requirements for the future will send that number soaring.

The American Trucking Associations estimates that 1.1 million truck driving positions will need to be filled in the next 10 years. And more than half that number consists of retirees. So what to do? On this episode, we speak with Tra Williams, chief executive officer of Fleetforce Truck Driving School. He lays out the problem — in evidence long before the coming of COVID-19 – and helps us understand how we got into this state of affairs. (Hint: It’s not all about poor working conditions and low pay.) He also offers some insights into how industry can attract, train and retain new drivers, to head off what looks to be an ever-worsening crisis. Can we make the numbers? Hosted by Bob Bowman, Editor-in-Chief of SupplyChainBrain.

Show notes:

ATA’s chief economist Bob Costello on the driver shortage.