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SALT LAKE CITY -- When the recession hit, companies began to ship less stuff.
Utah Trucking Association Executive Director David Creer says, "They had trucks idle. Of course when trucks are idle, they don't need the driver."
Creer says many of the experienced drivers trucking companies had were either laid off or decided to look for work in other industries. Trucking companies are starting to get more stuff to haul lately, which is good, but there's a problem.
To become a professional trucker and be hired by a substantial company is very difficult.
–David Creer
"The problem is, there is just not a big enough pool [of drivers] for companies who now have trucks with loads, and they don't have a driver to sit behind the wheel," he explains.
Creer says Utah may not face as bad of a shortage as other states could, but shoppers may still feel the effects of it. The shortage may cause some delays in getting items to the supermarket shelves. So, demand for items would remain the same, but the supply may go down slightly.
Also, trucking companies may have to increase their shipping rates because of higher demand. On the positive side, increased rates could mean higher wages for truckers and that may convince good drivers to come back to the industry.
The other side of that coin is that customers might have to pay a bit more. If there is an increase in prices consumers have to pay, Creer does not believe it will be dramatic.
Unfortunately, there are other things which may keep trucking companies from finding drivers. Creer says being hired by a good company isn't as easy as some people think. Truckers need to be fit enough to drive long stretches at a time. They have to go through many drug screenings. Also, trucking companies want drivers with experience. Rookie drivers with health problems and drug habits would be impossible to insure.
"To become a professional trucker and be hired by a substantial company is very difficult. You have to get your CDL (Commercial Driver's License). You have to get a medical review," Creer says.
Plus, federal regulations have changed recently. The system to rate trucking companies has been expanded to include individual drivers.
"Now the driver is part of that. So, the driver has to be very cautious because his records go along with him. Another trucking company that is going to hire him, they can see what his record is," Creer says.
It didn't used to be that way. Creer says it wasn't as easy to track a trucker's driving record in the past.
E-mail: pnelson@ksl.com
