Pandemic, supply chain issues further hurt truck driver shortage

Supply chain challenges and the ongoing pandemic have amplified a nationwide truck driver shortage in the trucking industry, according to a report from the Wisconsin State Journal. While the industry faced challenges before the COVID-19 pandemic, the aging trucking workforce has been further impacted by the pandemic. The average truck driver is 49 years old and many retired early during the pandemic due to public health concerns. New drivers, on the other hand, were prevented from entering the field with the temporary closure of many commercial license schools. The president of the Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association, Neal Kedzie, said the driver shortage could mean customers may need to be more realistic with delivery expectations.