Top 10 Challenges In & Out of the Truck

Despite its rank as third, a number of truckers and dispatchers consider ELDs the biggest issue facing the trucking industry. “The transportation industry will start to change a lot this year as the ELD mandate gets closer,” Lund says.

The toughest problem with ELDs is hauling perishables. For example, a driver has a load of strawberries and is one hour from delivery and runs out of hours. “There’s no leeway,” says Lund. “It makes no sense to strand a truck out on the road; it’s not good for the driver, it’s not good for the strawberries, it’s not good for anybody.” And although the ELD implementation deadline is still over a year away, it may be longer because of lawsuits, he adds.

Advanced Transportation Services in Visalia, CA has ELDs installed on half of its fleet now and is in the process of converting the rest, says Marshall Kipp, president and chief executive officer. “If you don’t have logging devices, will you get them soon or wait for the deadline? We’re getting them as quickly as possible. For those who don’t prepare,” he warns, “I think they’re making a big mistake.”

Cool Runnings, on the other hand, is waiting. “The day it is required is the day we do it,” declares Plotsky, who believes ELDs hinder a carrier’s ability to make money. As soon as a truck is started and is moving, the HOS clock begins and is tracked by the electronic logger.

“What happens if someone is moving your truck? Or you get up at two o’clock in the morning, make a delivery, and then go to bed for six hours? Nine hours have passed already, and you only worked three because you moved the truck. I’m not a fan of it,” he declares.

#4 Drivers, Drivers, Drivers
While there are many challenges pressing produce transporters, most of them relate to the men and women driving the trucks. Finding drivers, training them, retaining them, and keeping them healthy are all on the minds of transportation companies.

The driver shortage is code red. The current deficit is estimated at 48,000 according to the American Trucking Associations, and will grow to 175,000 by 2024. On the ATRI survey, responders ranked it #1 in this year’s Top 10 report. Some believe the situation will be exacerbated by the ELD requirement, as older, experienced owner-operators decide against implementing the equipment. “We’ve been told by many drivers that they’e not going to put up with the electronic logging,” confirms Plotsky.

For its part, the FAST Act addressed the shortage in two ways: first, while it will not allow drivers under 21 to be given a CDL, it will study the possibility; and second, military veterans with similar driving experience will be allowed to get CDLs. The Act has also published a proposed rule to set up a required core training curriculum for prospective drivers, which will include at least 30 hours of behind-the-wheel training.

Driver retention is another issue, according to the ATRI survey, which says the industry sees significantly higher turnover rates than other sectors of Amer-ican workers—which creates additional costs in recruitment and training. Driver health and wellness also has implications for industry safety.