As the trucker shortage deepens, some groups are trying to make it easier to become a driver

The trucking industry is estimated to have a shortage of nearly 80,000 drivers. While the problem is expected to get worse before it gets better, industry groups are trying to pave the way for more people to get a commercial driver’s license.
The Ottawa Cooperative Association, which moves grain and fertilizer in eastern Kansas, lost many of its truck drivers during the pandemic.

“COVID really kind of kicked the baby boomers out, which they drove trucks, a lot of 'em did,” said Judd Perry, the fuel manager, “and now that we had such a huge exodus of them, there's just nobody to replace 'em.

The American Trucking Association estimates that the shortage of drivers, which was around 78,000 in 2022, will likely double by 2031. It also says that the industry will need to recruit around 1.2 million drivers to replace retirees, but one of the barriers to hiring new drivers is the cost of training, which can be up to $7,000.