Driver Availability Index falls in June

July 26, 2005
The number of people available to be hired into the trucking industry fell slightly in June, according to the current Driver Labor Market Indicators Report published monthly by FTR Associates (www.ftrassociates.net).

The number of people available to be hired into the trucking industry fell slightly in June, according to the current Driver Labor Market Indicators Report published monthly by FTR Associates (www.ftrassociates.net).

The reading was propelled by only a small number of people entering the workforce, with the limited growth confined primarily to the service-providing sector. The lower driver labor index alongside a steady freight demand index continues to create a driver shortage in the range of 140,000. While FTR Associates is now forecasting 2005 to end with the driver shortage shrinking to 60,000, monthly indicators continue to increase this number.

The Driver Labor Market Indicators report looks at supply and demand issues as well as how freight and broader labor markets all affect the pool of available drivers. The ability to put drivers in vehicles has a major impact on individual fleet and industry expansion plans.