A new report from a trucking association finds that rising costs in the industry have outpaced the driver shortage and are the top concern for employers.
Trucking HR Canada survey results show one-third of business owners said higher overhead costs such as fuel, equipment, insurance and labor are now their biggest challenge.
This is the first time in a decade that the driver shortage is not at the top of companies’ list of concerns.
“We’ve seen a slight slowdown, so recruiting drivers is no longer a top concern like it has been in recent years,” CEO Angela Splinter said in a telephone interview. “I think it reflects what we’re seeing in our economy right now. »
Nonetheless, problems in the world of work remain significant, as job vacancies – including those behind the wheel – will exceed 40,000 by the end of the decade unless more support is provided to attract and retain job seekers. workers, argued Mme Splinter.
The growing number of women in semi-trailers is helping to ease the pressure.
The number of female drivers increased by 43% to nearly 14,300 between 2016 and 2021, although the total still represents less than 5% of those behind the wheel.
The number of women in the trucking and logistics sector increased by 26,235, or 27%, to 123,370 between 2016 and 2021, even as the proportion of women in the workforce remained stable at 48%.
Trucking HR Canada provides funding to strengthen the workforce, attracting women and youth who might otherwise find themselves in other fields, Ms.me Splinter. The nonprofit’s efforts include programs that fund new driver training and an employer salary incentive to hire post-secondary students for internships in non-driving roles.
“If we could do more about recruitment and even retention, we would see fewer vacancies over time,” Ms.me Splinter, calling on the government to devote more funds to the sector.
It’s not just heavy cargo riggers who are in short supply. Technicians, mechanics, dispatchers, material handlers, shippers, receivers and information technology specialists are all in demand.
“We are competing with all these other sectors for the same workers,” said Ms.me Splinter.
Aging workforce
As thousands of drivers approach retirement age, the number of riggers under 25 almost doubled to around 18,700 between 2016 and 2021, a key trend for replenishing fleet ranks, the report says .
The share of workers aged 18 to 24 in overall trucking and logistics increased to 10% in 2021 – the latest year for which census data was available – with more than 34,000 more young people in the sector than five years earlier.
“Young people are seizing the economic opportunities and good jobs that our sector offers. At the same time, our workforce continues to age,” said Mr.me Splinter, noting an increase of more than 9,000 drivers aged 65 and older.
One in four companies will likely have to delay their business expansion plans because they can’t hire enough drivers, the report said.
The results are based on government data as well as a survey of 376 employers representing more than 48,000 drivers.