With the ability to have groceries delivered and two-day shipping for a variety of products, the ecommerce boom has completely changed the trucking industry in recent years. According to the U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast by the American Trucking Association, freight tonnage in the U.S. will grow 24 percent by the end of 2022. And in turn, revenue is projected to rise by 66%.
To keep up with the ongoing demand, the amount of truckers on the roads has steadily increased. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has found that there are 231,100 openings for heavy and tractor-trailer drivers each year, on average. They’ve also projected a 6% growth in the field from 2020 to 2030, which is similar to averages for other occupations.
Recently, the American Transportation Research Institute published a report on the impact of ecommerce on the industry. Here are some key points from their research:
- Total retail sales in the U.S. amounted to over $5 trillion in 2017, of which ecommerce represented $449.9 billion, or 9% of the total.
- According to a UPS study, 63% of survey respondents indicated that delivery speed is important when searching for and selecting products.
- 85% of ecommerce sales are generated by non-store retailers that have a primary presence outside of brick-and-mortar stores like Amazon and eBay.
- Digital spending has been concentrated on consumer products like apparel, furniture, and electronics while businesses have shifted their purchases of industrial and construction supplies to online platforms.
Similar to other rapidly growing industries, it may lead to some complications as truckers, warehouses, and supply chain managers all work to keep up with demand. Here are some things you can expect from the industry in the near future:
- Technological Innovations: According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, most major mobile carriers are sunsetting the use of 3G for electronic logging devices, which record driving time for commercial motor vehicles, for 5G. This makes systems more efficient and prevents drivers from exceeding their allowed hours.
- Stress on Infrastructure: With the increasing amount of heavy vehicles, more wear and tear is expected on the roads. Problems with roads like potholes and road closures, can also lead to accidents and an increase in traffic.
- Shift in Production Locations: In order to work more efficiently, many businesses are changing their production operations to meet demands and be in a more central area. For example, flatbed vehicles are mainly produced in Texas and Pennsylvania while Dry Vans are primarily located in Texas, Illinois, and Ohio.
Get Started With Beacon Transport
Interested in joining the trucking industry? At Beacon Transport, our mission is to develop and maintain a respectable, profita ble reputation as a valuable truckload carrier company. We specialize in hauling non-hazardous dry freight throughout the Southeast, Midwest, and Southwest and have an in-house maintenance staff that handles all of our servicing needs.
Contact us today to learn more about us and our job opportunities.
