The bureau of labor statistics estimates that the average age of a commercial truck driver in the u. Ota is the only trucking association in ontario that represents all segments of the industry forhire carriers, private carriers, intermodal. Trucking industry struggles with growing driver shortage. Truck driver shortage slows trucking industry and it could get worse. A new report says canadas truck driver shortage has reached new heights, with job vacancies more than doubling since 2016. The trucking industry employs 318,000 drivers and has the highest jobvacancy rate among all canadian industries, averaging 6. Canadian truck driver shortage sask trucking association. Coronavirus puts trucker training at risk fox business. Truck driver shortage adds uncertainty to canadian supply chains affected by covid19, rail blockades young people arent lining up to be truck drivers even though the average annual salary is. Trucks on the ambassador bridge between windsor, ont. Federal data is supporting the canadian trucking alliances recent findings that, despite being an essential service, the trucking industry is far from immune to the economic shocks brought on by the covid19 crisis and that federal aid is required to provide. Since then, the government and the industry have pursued various means to close the gap. Canadian border bill could worsen trucker shortage. Employment and social development canada esdc has announced a process to consider solidifying exemptions from new scheduling requirements for certain job classes in the trucking industry.
There definitely are problems with the truck driver shortage, thats universal. Like the american trucking associations, the cta talks with some alarm about a driver shortage thats getting worse as time wears on. Around 200,000 skilled workers come to work in canada every year. The total number of truck driver vacancies in canada has increased more than 8% between 2016 and the first three quarters of 2019, escalating from. The canadian trucking industry is facing a shortage of long haul drivers to the tune of 48,000 by 2024, meaning those seeking canada immigration have an excellent opportunity. As truck driver shortage worsens, trucking companies begin. Shippers and receivers shutting down for covid19 travel restrictions. Trucker shortage in canada could big economic problems soon. Truck driver shortage adds uncertainty to canadian supply chains. A very real threat to the canadian and saskatchewan way of life, the forhire truck driver shortage is a nationwide issue that requires ongoing advocacy and extensive study to correct. The ontario trucking association ota was founded in 1926, and provides services and public policy advocacy for trucking companies hauling freight into, out of and within the province of ontario. Trucker shortage worsens as energy sector booms with the oil and gas sectors booming, the need for truckers is growing. Nearly every period of economic growth is accompanied by a driver shortage, including the recovery that began in 2009. This scenario has caused a high rate of turnover in the canadian trucking industry, and thus a shortage of skilled, qualified truck drivers.
The trucking industry needed tens of thousands of drivers even before the coronavirus hit. Canadian trucking industry faces 48,000driver shortfall. The canadian trucking alliance supports the government of canada and all provinces in every way to mitigate the spread of covid19. One of the most persistent problems in the american economy over the past several years is that demand for shipping bandwidth is seemingly always on the rise, but freight companies simply cant meet it. I have 7 years of commercial experience and have driven every corner of north america. Forthwith, truck driver turnover is happening on increased rates when truckers are in high demand. According to a recent study, the canadian road transport sector will have to deal with a serious shortage of truck drivers within the next eight years.
Montreal a new report says canadas truck driver shortage has. Nobody is keeping track of the number of temporary foreign workers that are truck drivers but there are now more than 500,000 temporary foreign workers in canada. Us xpress turns to military playbook as driver shortage worsens esha dey, bloomberg news bloomberg the deepening crisis of a truck driver shortage that is already leading to higher prices for agricultural produce and threatening to stoke inflation, is forcing trucking companies to. As truck driver shortage worsens, trucking companies begin recruiting women. Canadas truck driver shortage will grow by half in less than a decade as the industry grapples with an aging workforce and difficulties recruiting young people and women. Despite their best efforts, the problem persists and it could get worse before it gets better. And industry studies suggest the average age of the canadian truck driver is 48. A quick guide to the state of truck driving in canada.
But the ranks of welltrained drivers are shrinking, especially as baby. Theres already a shortage of bigrig truck drivers, and the pandemic may make it worse jasmine garsd apr 10, 2020 the global covid19 pandemic has only made it harder to fill a truck driver. The combination of these trends has put upward pressure on wages, especially in the longhaul segment, the report concludes. How to apply for canada immigration as truck driver in canada. A demographic tsunami is about to make canadas trucker shortage. As of 2016, just over 181,000 truck drivers were employed by the canadian trucking industry, an increase of over 10,000 from 2011. Truck driver shortage worsens as coronavirus keeps dmvs closed. A year ago, a study by the canadian trucking alliance projected canadas trucking industry will face a shortage of 34000 drivers by 2024. Industrywide, the numbers of longhaul truck drivers are dwindling yearoveryear in north america. Trucking companies draw recruits from unexpected source amid driver shortage duration. The canadian truck driver shortage is the shortage of available truck drivers to keep the canadian economy moving. Truck drivers crossing canadian border must wear masks.
The trucking industry, a key link in canadas supply chain, is facing a driver shortage that could exacerbate disruptions to supply chains caused. The average age of truckers in canada is currently 47, two years older than in 20, when the coming shortage. The canadian trucking industry finds itself struggling to keep drivers. One prominent american, like just about every canadian truck driver ive ever talked to about it, says thats a myth. Cta study predicts driver shortage to be worse than previously thought june 15, 2016 by truck news. The fuel shortages for vehicles will start running out. The canadian trucking alliance says in canada, the labour shortage could reach 48,000 by 2024. A study from the canadian trucking alliance pegged the average age of a canadian truck driver at 48 and found that by 2024 the country will be short as many as 48,000 drivers. Driver goes into seattle to deliver but the city goes into quarantine and no one leaves. Truck driver shortage worsens as coronavirus keeps dmvs closed trucker training is at risk during coronavirus as driver shortages continue nationwide. There are 600,000 canadian citizens with truck driver s licenses who no longer have jobs as truck drivers. A new study by the canadian trucking alliance cta reveals that the driver shortage in the canadian forhire trucking industry is escalating quicker that previously believed.
Ottawa, ontariomarketwire feb 21, 20 canada could experience a shortage of 25,000 to 33,000 forhire truck drivers by 2020, disrupting. Young blood, like sydorchuk, is something canadas trucking industry desperately needs as it faces a serious shortage of qualified drivers thats only set to get worse. Trucker shortage in canada could big economic problems soon your morning. As of 2018, the ontario trucking association ota estimates that shortage could be as high as 22,000 vacant driver. The increase in wages should not be income taxed during the crisis. Drivers start getting sick, go into quarantine along with truck. There is no shortage of truck drivers, at least not in the u. A year ago, a study by the canadian trucking alliance projected canadas trucking industry will face a shortage of 34,000 drivers by 2024. Montreal canadas truck driver shortage has reached new heights, with job vacancies more than doubling since 2016, a new report says. An aging fleet of drivers is one of the main reasons for the driver shortage. Us xpress turns to military playbook as driver shortage. Currently, canada reports being short around 25,000 truck drivers. The canadian trucking industry is facing a looming labour shortage that could reach 48,000 drivers by the year 2024, according to the canadian trucking alliance. Theres a shortage of bigrig truck drivers in the u.
Truck driver shortage adds uncertainty to canadian supply. Trucker shortages amid coronavirus more from fox business up next. Syed hasan, a manager with north american transport driving academy. To help remedy a critical truck driver shortage, u. The wages have not kept up to the rapid increase in the cost of living in canada. Ever since his dad let him back up his first big rig in an empty parking lot when he was, there was nothing else sydorchuk wanted to do. The need to take steps to make life easier for truck drivers was brought home by a study of the truck driver shortage in canada, released in june by cta, which shows the situation is worse than was anticipated. Bigrig truck driver shortage worsened by coronavirus. Proportionately, the truck driver shortage in canada is worse than in the united states, according to the conference board of canada statistics. Trucker shortage in canada could big economic problems.
Advanced training systems president and ceo john kearney says that simulator training will play a key role in readying these new drivers for the. Canadian press photo the average age of a truck driver is over 47 up from 45 in 20 and almost 30 per. A demographic tsunami is about to make canadas trucker. The driver shortage truck drivers are the basic unit of transportation capacity and the glue that holds supply chains together. During the great recession, the shortage was eliminated as freight demand fell and fewer drivers were needed.
When the truck driver shortage was first documented in 2005, it was 20,000. Canada is facing a serious shortage of truck drivers, says kristelle. Driver shortage sets off alarms in the supply chain. With no real change in sight, the truck driver shortage is sure to get worse, before it ever gets better. While truck drivers represent 46% of the canadian logistics industry, they account for 63% of its job vacancies, according to trucking hr canada, a nonprofit organization focusing on hr solutions for the trucking workforce. That is so because truckers know that they are in the situation to change companies easily. Despite this increase, the prevailing view is that there is a. A new report that profiles truck drivers in atlantic canada concludes the truck. The truck driver shortage in 2020 the dirty truth no one talks.
The trucker shortage isnt specific to livestock hauling. Since more than 70 percent of the nations total freight moves by truck, the impact of this shortage. Joyce brenny, head of brenny transportation in minnesota, increased driver pay 15 percent this year to try to attract more drivers. The trucking industry, a key link in canadas supply chain, is facing a driver shortage that could exacerbate disruptions to supply chains caused by.
The truck driver occupation in canada is facing an acute labor shortage, as confirmed by the large number of truck driver vacancies and the occupations historically low unemployment rate. Canadian trucking alliance public statement on voluntary. That is why canadian trucking companies are now hiring workers from foreign countries to work in canada for fulltime employment. Even so, trucking companies, especially truckload carriers, often have great difficulty finding, hiring and keeping drivers. Never mistake the terms truck driver turnover with the truck driver shortage. The study forecasts a shortage of 34,000 drivers by 2024, reflecting an increase in demand of 25,000 and a decrease in supply of 9,000.
Posted friday may 08, 2020 in business, labourhrdriver shortage, news releases. Report sounds alarm over truck driver shortage as job vacancies. New report quantifies canadas driver shortage truck news. If the shortage isnt taken care of, fewer goods will be shipped and the canadian economy will suffer. Canadas truck driver shortage will grow by half in less than a decade. Canada is a country with a much smaller population to draw from than the u. After 8 hours on duty during this crisis truck drivers are to be compensated at time and a half due to increasing fatigue that weakens their immune systems. When you do get sick, do you isolate at a truck stop and ride it out. Report sounds alarm over truck driver shortage as job. The shortage returned in 2011 as demand increased, reaching 45,000 by 2015, and it continued through 2016 but fell slightly after freight demand decreased.
Shortage of drivers causing a crisis in transportation. With an average age of 47 and rising, the sector has one of the oldest workforces. No container or straight truck or trailer moves without, at some point, a truck driver. A study from the canadian trucking alliance pegged the average age of a canadian truck driver at 48 and that by 2024 the country will be short as many as 48,000 drivers.