3 Trends in Trucking for 2022

January 25, 2022 / 2 min read

The turmoil of the past two years has hit the trucking and transportation sectors with shifts in demand, a changing workforce, and new legislation affecting the industry. All of this can change the profile of information needed to run driver-dependent businesses effectively and efficiently. Here are some key trends for trucking this year, their potential impact on processes and procedures, and what information companies may need to stay ahead of the curve.

Trucking trends - article

A shrinking pool of specialized drivers makes hiring competitive.

Infrastructure bill is changing the profile of drivers on the road

Several aspects of the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law were designed to support the trucking industry and its need for more drivers¹, including lower barriers to acquiring commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) and the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship Programs to get newer drivers on the road. Transportation companies pursuing new drivers need tools to ascertain the education, qualifications, and driving history of these new team members both on and off the clock.

Continuous monitoring helps to foster driving talent

Safeguarding your business and fostering your talent go hand-in-hand with access to real-time data, such as continuous monitoring of motor vehicle reports (MVRs) or telematics data on driver activities and behavior. Access to driving records can help fleet operators proactively meet the full spectrum of employee needs, from coaching to improve behavior to recognizing the safest and most effective drivers.

Shortages affecting key driver segments

The trucking industry has struggled with driver shortages for more than 10 years now, but lately the problem has become especially acute for two specialties: Bus drivers and tanker truckers.

The school bus driver shortage has worsened in communities across the nation, with many districts suspending in-person learning for lack of transportation resources. The U.S. Department of Transportation even announced a reduction in certain CDL requirements for drivers to address this issue.²

Spiking gasoline prices and empty gas stations have also been associated with a shortage of tanker truck drivers³, who have specialized training to manage their potentially hazardous cargo.

As the hiring pool for such critical and specialized drivers dwindles, many employers in these sectors are prioritizing quick, thorough, and competitive hiring practices.

Data that helps employers balance aggressive hiring and high productivity must become both broader and more nuanced to help the transportation industry adapt to society’s changing needs. Visit our website to learn more about solutions to support the entire employee life cycle.

FACT SHEET: The Biden-⁠Harris Administration Trucking Action Plan to Strengthen America’s Trucking Workforce, The White House, December 16, 2021, <https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/12/16/fact-sheet-the-biden-%E2%81%A0harris-administration-trucking-action-plan-to-strengthen-americas-trucking-workforce/>, accessed on January 18, 2022.
DOT, Dept. Of Education Announce Temporary Waiver to Help Increase the Number of School Bus Drivers Nationwide, U.S. Department of Transportation, January 4, 2022, < https://www.transportation.gov/briefing-room/dot-dept-education-announce-temporary-waiver-help-increase-number-school-bus-drivers >, accessed on January 18, 2022.
Noi Mahoney, “Driver shortage especially tough on oil patch companies, tanker transporters,” FreightWaves, September 20, 2021, < https://www.freightwaves.com/news/driver-shortage-tough-on-oil-patch-companies-and-tanker-transporters >, accessed on January 18, 2022.