For years, trucking talked about a “driver shortage” as if the problem were simply not enough people with a license. The data now points somewhere more specific.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. will need about 214,500 new heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers every year through 2035. Most of those openings aren’t new jobs. They come from replacing drivers who retire or leave for other work.
Meanwhile, the American Transportation Research Institute’s 2025 survey of industry concerns no longer lists “driver shortage” in its top ten. In its place: truck parking ranked #4 and driver compensation ranked #5. In other words, the industry’s problem isn’t finding people. It’s keeping good ones.
What’s driving drivers out
- Pay that doesn’t match the job. Compensation is now one of the industry’s top-five concerns.
- Lost time. Hours burned waiting at docks or searching for safe parking are hours a driver isn’t paid to drive.
- Rising standards. Customers expect real-time tracking, accurate ETAs, and professional handoffs. The bar for a “good driver” keeps going up.
What it means for shippers
When a carrier can’t keep good drivers, you feel it: missed windows, inconsistent service, and a new face at your dock every week who doesn’t know your receiving process. Capacity on paper isn’t the same as reliable capacity on your route.
How we approach it at Way To Go
Our drivers are our greatest asset, and we’ve built our business around keeping them. Consistent people on consistent routes means fewer surprises for your team. Paired with an experienced dispatch team and real-time tracking, that’s how we’ve kept Birmingham-area businesses moving since 2002.
Looking for steady work with a team that values drivers? Reach out to hr@waytogocourier.com.
Need a reliable delivery partner? Call 205.731.9000 or request a quote.
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook (Heavy and Tractor-Trailer Truck Drivers); American Transportation Research Institute, Critical Issues in the Trucking Industry, 2025.