Rebecca Oyler: Truck drivers are vital and deserve respect

A couple of years ago, it was toilet paper. But now, it’s more sporadic — maybe you’ve had to buy a different brand of coffee or forgo your favorite candy. But as supply chain disruptions continue, imagine what it would be like with no options on the shelves: no fresh bread, no medicine, no fruits and vegetables, and, heaven forbid, no coffee.

This would be the reality without the 3.5 million U.S. truck drivers on the road delivering goods to almost every warehouse, production line and store shelf in the country every day.

It’s no secret that we have a shortage of truck drivers in the U.S., which is contributing to our supply chain issues. We are about 80,000 drivers short of what it would take to keep all the trucks on the road necessary to deliver everything people want and need.

The industry is doing many things to improve recruitment and retention of commercial driver’s license (CDL) drivers, including expanding apprenticeship programs, providing scholarships for training and education, offering bonuses and other incentives, and expanding outreach to women, who only make up 7% of truck drivers today.

The industry is also working to recruit more young people into the field, but a few changes need to happen to enable this.

Although drivers ages 18 and 20 can get their CDLs, federal law prevents them from driving across state lines. Jobs for these young drivers are limited when they can drive from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia but can’t cross the border to Wheeling. By the time they turn 21, many have already left the trucking industry and don’t come back. Recognizing this as a barrier to keeping younger truckers on the job, the federal government is working on an apprenticeship program to build a safe bridge to a promising career for them.

These initiatives, along with touting the benefits of a high average salary with relatively inexpensive training requirements, are recognized ways to try to close the driver shortage. But there are other less obvious problems we need to work on if we truly want to address the ability to attract and retain drivers in the trucking industry.

First, if you’ve seen trucks parked precariously along interstate off- and on-ramps, you’ve seen firsthand the crisis in truck parking that drivers deal with every day. Federal hours-of-service regulations require rest breaks at certain intervals of driving to ensure drivers stay safe and alert. But there is only one truck parking space for every 11 truck drivers in the U.S. The scramble for parking spaces leads drivers on a search — for an average 56 minutes every day — for a place to park, meaning delays in shipment, about $5,500 less pay per year for the driver, safety concerns and an enormous amount of frustration. We must do more to make sure drivers have safe places to stop and take a break.

To add insult to injury, drivers are often unable to find a restroom out on the road, as many establishments don’t allow drivers access to facilities. Imagine spending eight long hours on the road, only to stop for a break and find that there are no available restrooms. Ironically, many of these businesses are waiting on delivery of the loads these drivers are hauling.

Human decency and common courtesy require that we address this issue. House Bill 2465, introduced by state Rep. Jason Silvis, R-Apollo, would require restroom facilities be provided out on the road for truckers. This is an important conversation we need to have.

Trucking is a great career, a rewarding path to the family-sustaining wages everyone wants. But it’s clear that, if we want to ensure that goods continue to get to our doorsteps and store shelves, we need to do more to recognize and respect the drivers who get them there. Providing a safe parking spot with decent facilities is the least we can do to thank the drivers who make sure we get everything we need, including that morning coffee.

Rebecca Oyler is president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association.