If you currently work as a trucker, you may have heard about or personally experienced various supply chain challenges and their resulting complications throughout the industry. From drivers, to trucking company managers, to Truck insurance providers and more, supply chain concerns can have a reverberating effect for deliveries, pick-ups, and on-time shipments of all types of goods. Although the supply chain is complex and multifaceted, those trucking companies reaching out for help to the Biden administration may be able to receive support by making specific requests for aid. Here are some of the most common requests many trucking companies are currently making that could help both the companies and their truck drivers alleviate some of the problems associated with supply chain concerns.
Provide Commercial Drivers With Additional Work Flexibility
In some cases, trucking organizations are requesting changes to regulations that would make it easier to provide commercial truck drivers with greater work flexibility. More flexibility could help prevent driver shortages. Examples of this type of flexibility could include:
- Additional or continued service relief hours and lessened service regulations
- Flexibility on scheduling driving hours and days off
- The possibility to move up the ladder from an hourly wage to a yearly salary
- Flexibility on healthcare requirements and alternative options
Reduce Inefficiency and Chokeholds at Ports To Improve Flow
One frequent supply chain concern many truckers have is inefficiency at points of goods pickup and chokeholds at ports where goods are shipped in from elsewhere. That’s why another common administrative request is for help with improving the flow of goods at these ports. Some trucking companies are requesting that the administration:
- Discuss current issues with stakeholders to brainstorm for potential solutions and gather key input
- Determine the causes of frequent bottlenecks, delays, and other portside inefficiencies
- Pinpoint weak spots on the supply chain and work to address the issues immediately to help improve the movement of goods through ports
- Support companies in improving algorithms to determine the appropriate number of drivers needed in a given port at any given time
Create Resources To Support and Retain Current Truck Drivers
One often overlooked issue that can contribute to supply chain problems is a dearth of qualified truck drivers. Without an adequate work force, companies may encounter serious staffing issues and may not be able to deliver goods on time. That’s why some trucking companies are looking for further financial or administrative support to retain current drivers by offering benefits such as:
- Paid or unpaid sick leave
- Paid or unpaid vacation days
- Paid or unpaid maternity or paternity leave
- Company-subsidized health, dental, and vision insurance
- Mental health care and company therapists
- Additional company benefits, such as health club memberships, employee discounts, or employee retreats
In addition, many trucking operations are opting to provide additional in-house support to help retain their current workforce. Some companies may ask for financial assistance to provide workers with:
- A company counselor
- Employee support groups
- Membership in relevant professional organizations
Offer Additional Promotion of Transportation Careers To Increase the Work Force
To prevent supply chain disruptions in the future, the trucking industry is looking for ways to attract fresh talent into the work force. The administration may be able to contribute by helping to promote transportation careers by way of:
- Detailed websites providing information about the trucking career path
- Printed pamphlets about the trucking industry distributed to high schools, technical schools, colleges, and certain work sites
- Public mention of the trucking industry and a discussion of the job’s importance to the transportation industry and supply chain sector
Promotional resources can vary in nature, but all could mention the upsides of working in the trucking industry. For instance, perks often include:
- Stable and consistently in-demand work
- The possibility to work in numerous geographical locations
- Competitive benefits, in many cases
- Above average and often competitive yearly or hourly salaries, in many cases
Modify Current Regulations To Bring Qualified Apprentices on Board
In many instances, trucking companies are looking to bring young, highly qualified trucker apprentices on board to expand their work force and ensure timely deliveries. The administration may choose to:
- Reduce or modify current regulations to permit younger commercial truckers to drive trucks carrying interstate shipments
- Support trucking companies in starting up apprenticeship pilot programs to provide young drivers with safety and technology training
- Encourage the nationwide adoption of early pathways into the trucking profession
Work With Foreign Importers To Reduce the Chance of Bottlenecks
Finally, some trucking companies have requested for the administration to work directly with foreign importers and companies to better coordinate operations and reduce bottlenecks. For example, your company may request for leaders to:
- Get in touch with foreign professional trucking organizations to coordinate deliveries and find common solutions for staffing and delivery issues
- Contact foreign leaders, businesspeople, and importers to eliminate red tape and help reduce the chance of bottlenecks at ports
- Make additional resources, such as communications technology, available to certain foreign importers to help track overseas deliveries and ensure there are enough drivers to handle each shipment.
From truck drivers, to operations managers, to Truck insurance providers and more, numerous professionals in the trucking industry may be affected by supply chain concerns. If you work as a trucker and have heard of or experienced some of these challenges, you may want to talk to your higher-ups about requesting key types of aid from the Biden administration. Many trucking organizations have begun making specific supply chain-related requests. If your company has concerns about supply chain issues, you may want to suggest making one or more of these administrative requests.
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