It’s a heady time in trucking, if you’re a journalist. But I understand that you’re trying to run a fleet today – much less trying to figure out how you’re going to run one five, or 10 years down the road. It can all be a bit much to take in, sometimes.
America’s largest trucking company is combating a driver shortage by raising wages -- and so far, it’s working out.
J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc. said late Monday its contract-services unit has raised wages by around 10 percent over the last 12 to 18 months to recruit new drivers. That compares with a 2.8 percent increase in average hourly earnings for all U.S. private-sector workers in the 12 months through September, and 4.3 percent over the past 18 months, according to Labor Department figures.
Over a million trucks are currently in operation across the region, with virtually all land cargo within the region being transported by road. The staggering number of trucks on the GCC’s roads increases by 5–9% every year. While this is a good indicator of growing inter-GCC trade, an increase in truck traffic invariably raises the likelihood of roadside errors, driver fatigue, strain on vehicles, and ultimately, carbon footprint.