Agriculture Concerned by Trucking Industry’s Severe Driver Shortage

WASHINGTON, DC – An industry that agriculture heavily relies on to move both its inputs and harvested crops, is facing a serious shortage of workers.

For the trucking industry, too few drivers is not a problem that can easily be solved with automation or even higher pay.

According to Richard Gupton, Senior Vice President of Public Policy with the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA), the DRIVE-Safe Act would lift federal restrictions that prohibit drivers under the age of 21 who are allowed to obtain a commercial drivers license (CDL) from crossing state lines. Most states allow drivers to obtain a CDL at the age of 18.

Gupton explains that this could expand the pool of potential driver candidates.

If the DRIVE-Safe Act were passed by Congress then as drivers meet the requirements to obtain a CDL, they can also begin a program of additional training.

The safety training would require at least 400 hours of on-duty time, 240 hours of driving time with an experienced driver, and all training trucks have active braking collision mitigation systems installed along with a speed governor set at 65 miles per hour, and a video survellience system.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)