Workforce
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Volvo Trucks, OEMs meet hurdles to reboot production and supply fleets
A United Auto Workers strike at Volvo Trucks adds to production woes for tractor manufacturers.
By Jim Stinson • April 20, 2021 -
Wheels turn, drivers earn as fleets test pay structures
Cents per mile is the standard. But trucking firms struggle with recruitment and retention, even when they raise pay.
By Jim Stinson • April 20, 2021 -
Explore the Trendline➔
Getty ImagesTrendlineThe Transport Dive Outlook on 2021
Which trucking-related startups should firms keep an eye on? What's in store for M&A? What trends should fleets be tracking this year? Experts weigh in on what 2021 holds for the transport industry.
By Transport Dive staff -
JB Hunt doubles up on trailers, containers to meet shipper demand
Injecting equipment into the supply chain could ease capacity, though the COO said trucking faces the most challenging driver market in decades.
By S.L. Fuller • April 19, 2021 -
Dollar General to hire 20K employees, including truck drivers
The retailer's private fleet has grown from 80 tractors at the end of fiscal 2017 to more than 700 tractors and more than 550 drivers this spring.
By Ben Unglesbee , S.L. Fuller • April 19, 2021 -
Fleets refresh tactics to recruit young talent and battle the driver shortage
Drivers under age 21 represent a largely untapped pool of workers. But there's one big hurdle: They can't haul interstate loads.
By Heather Larson • April 16, 2021 -
Community college feeds diesel tech talent pipeline through VR training
Virtual reality technology, and the flexibility the online program provides, can cater to the new generation of technicians in training.
By S.L. Fuller • April 09, 2021 -
Fleets pay the price of complex pay structures
Driver pain points and frustrations create a drag on company culture.
By Jim Stinson • April 07, 2021 -
Cascading effects of Texas winter storm bump up spot rates
Spring is here, and the polar vortex of mid-February is in the rearview mirror. But impacts on the spot market linger.
By Jim Stinson • April 05, 2021 -
Independent driver shortage: Can markets expand the small pool?
OOIDA says demand, higher rates and higher pay will pull in the right number of drivers. But fleets are not so sure.
By Jim Stinson • March 26, 2021 -
Pay is the top factor in truck driver retention: study
Raising wages can also help fleets recruit male and female drivers, as both genders place equal importance on pay.
By Shefali Kapadia • March 23, 2021 -
UPS takes driver safety to the next level with virtual reality
Virtual and augmented reality can give drivers tools needed to make better decisions — and validate the choices.
By Heather Larson • March 19, 2021 -
Congress takes on driver shortage, reboots divisive under-21 interstate bill
Proponents of the DRIVE-Safe Act applaud its ability to bring young drivers into the workforce, but opponents express safety concerns.
By S.L. Fuller • March 15, 2021 -
Trucking's year without conferences
With new infections still an issue, there is no clear consensus on when the conference industry will stage a wide-scale return.
By Jim Stinson • March 11, 2021 -
Enticing truck drivers with cabs built for comfort
One Daseke company lets drivers be part of the truck-selection process — a unique approach to recruitment and retention that works, the COO said.
By Amanda Loudin • March 10, 2021 -
Old Dominion to hire hundreds of drivers as trucking payrolls shrink
The carrier has more than 1,200 openings for drivers, dock workers and clerical positions. Qualified CDL holders will receive a $5,000 sign-on bonus.
By S.L. Fuller • March 09, 2021 -
Averitt increases driver pay as fleets spend millions to battle the shortage
Many transport firms report difficulties in recruiting drivers, carrying the risk of idled trucks and lost profits.
By S.L. Fuller • March 03, 2021 -
LTL carriers upgrade service centers for the future
XPO Logistics shipped roughly five times more units using robotic technology in 2020 than it did in 2019.
By Jim Stinson • March 02, 2021 -
Lawmakers aim to ease driver shortage with women in trucking workforce bill
The proposed legislation would create an advisory board within the FMCSA to study barriers to entry for women.
By S.L. Fuller • March 01, 2021 -
Deep Dive
Sleep apnea: A slow killer lurks among OTR truck drivers
Fatigue management and safety programs are taking root in the freight business, as trucking firms address the issue without federal regulators.
By Jim Stinson • Feb. 25, 2021 -
FAQ: Can (and should) trucking firms mandate drivers get the COVID-19 vaccine?
Transport leaders can mandate any policy, provided it follows employment law. But what if drivers refuse?
By Shefali Kapadia • Feb. 19, 2021 -
Werner idles 1K trucks during icy storm
A winter storm pummeled some Southern states, causing trucks to park and service centers to close.
By Jim Stinson • Feb. 18, 2021 -
Deep Dive
How Old Dominion's service-center strategy drives LTL success
The trucking firm faces two large obstacles in its growth path: Obtaining land near population centers and ensuring freight doesn't gum up the works.
By Jim Stinson • Feb. 18, 2021 -
Filling in-demand roles, like drivers and technicians, can start with 'skill adjacencies': Gartner
Yellow, formerly YRC, said it would consider training box truck drivers on Class 8 to help ease the squeeze of the driver shortage.
By Sheryl Estrada , S.L. Fuller • Feb. 17, 2021 -
Businesses, HR groups ask EEOC for vaccine incentive guidance
Scores of employers, including Ryder, have announced plans to offer paid time off to employees who get vaccinated.
By Katie Clarey , S.L. Fuller • Feb. 11, 2021 -
Sysco plans driver, warehouse hiring push to prep for pandemic recovery
The recruitment effort will add short-term expense, but the longer-term pipeline of drivers would make the investment worthwhile, the CEO said.
By S.L. Fuller • Feb. 08, 2021