The tight US labor market has not spared the trucking industry, where “help wanted” pleas are plentiful, wages are on the rise, and drivers have recently scored signing bonuses of up to US$20,000.
In an economy that hauls more than US$12 trillion in freight annually, the problems facing trucking have drawn the attention of US President Joe Biden, who is seeking to restore his political fortunes as US faces the highest inflation in nearly 40 years.
Biden’s administration has convened a task force to examine the supply chain snarls partly blamed for the price increases and shortages, including in shipping and trucking.
However,