Truck driver shortage worsens supply chain delays

Amidst a truck driver shortage in the country, there are more than 13 loads for every truck at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports adding to the supply chain delays. Mario Cordero, port director at Long Beach said that he expects a new deal with the Biden administration to keep ports open 24/7 and to speed up the long waits for truck drivers who pick up shipments. "If a truck driver shows up at 5 in the morning, you're not going to wait two hours to get into the terminal," Cordero said. 

The majority of the nation's goods are transported by trucks. According to the American Trucking Association, with drivers in demand, they are now commanding higher salaries- up 25% since 2019. Luis Franco, owner of the Harbor Trucking School said that there has been a lot of interest in his school but none of the drivers could get licenses for months during the pandemic because the Department of Motor Vehicles shut down. "The DMV needs to make it a priority in order for them to get out there on the road and start making money," Franco said. Even now, the appointments can take months. All these factors have added to the truck drivers shortage and the supply chain delays in turn. At the moment, the priorities are to put products back on the shelves for the holiday season. 

Source: CBS News