newsworthy
ly away for days, sometimes weeks, at a time.
ABUNDANT OPPORTUNITIES
Experts say such behavioral patterns are symptomatic of
an industry where critical labor is in short supply.
Estimates of the shortage of qualified drivers range from
30,000 to as high as 180,000. The July 1 enforcement of the
new driver “Hours of Service” rule, which reduces
a driver’s workweek, has further increased
demand for drivers.
Good drivers know that opportunities will be
abundant amidst a buyer’s market for their servic-
es. As a result, they are more likely to jump at the
first signs of disillusionment.
“Drivers do not perceive the ‘change penalty’ as
very high,” said Gordon Klemp, founder of the
Kansas City-based National Transportation
Institute (NTI), a firm that tracks driver employ-
ment and compensation trends. “I can quit this morning,
have a tentative job offer this afternoon, and be in orienta-
tion next Monday.”
turnover during that transition period.
A FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE?
The disconnect begins with the recruiter, which is paid to
get drivers to commit and show up for orientation. A tight
labor market may prompt recruiters to “overpromise” in
order to land drivers, according to Klemp. A positive orientation program can build a driver’s motivation, but the first
months behind the wheel can be a difficult learning process
and lead to driver frustration. Klemp said a carrier that
effectively manages those expectations can minimize driver
“EHARMONY OF TRUCK DRIVERS”
In this new environment, trucking companies
need to “re-imagine what recruiting could look like, tailored around delivering on and addressing driver expectations” instead of simply modifying their recruitment and
orientation programs, said Hindes.
Stay Metrics, an 18-month-old product of the incubation
program at the Innovation Park at Notre Dame, isn’t standing still. Hindes said the company is working on building a
composite profile of the ultimate truck driver, one who will
be qualified, capable, stable, and a perfect match for the
fleet he or she engages with. “It would sort of be like the
eHarmony of truck drivers,” he said, referring to the popular personal online matchmaking service. ;
—Mark Solomon
alliances
American Packaging Corp., located in Story City, Iowa, has
added the Seegrid GT10 tow tractor to its robotic fleet. …
Transplace, a provider of nonasset-based third-party logistics, intermodal, and truck brokerage services, has selected Greenbriar Equity Group LLC, a New York-based private investment firm, as its new equity partner. … I.D.
Systems Inc., a provider of wireless solutions for securing,
tracking, and managing high-value enterprise assets, has
received a contract from a publicly held transportation
services company to deploy I.D. Systems’ VeriWise Track
and Trace system on its fleet of dry vans, flatbeds, and
refrigerated trailers. … After just over a month in operation, Nordic Cold Storage has moved tens of millions of
pounds of refrigerated cargo through the Georgia Ports
Authority’s Garden City Terminal in Savannah. … The
Kahala Posts Group, an alliance of 10 postal administra-
tions from around the world, is offering its customers
global trade management (GTM) capabilities from Amber
Road. … Mountain Leverage LLC, a provider of supply
chain logistics services, has achieved Platinum Partner status with Vocollect, a provider of voice solutions and a unit
of Intermec Inc. … Ace Hardware
Corp. has selected Nuvera Fuel Cells
to be the hydrogen provider for the
fuel cell-powered lift truck fleet at its
new retail support center in Wilmer,
Texas. … Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal,
the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA), and Cordele
Intermodal Services have signed a new inland port agreement. The agreement ensures a direct 200-mile rail route
to and from GPA’s Garden City Terminal. … APL Logistics
has launched an online sales channel for Walmart in
NUVERA FUEL CELLS
