Misery of Long Haul

By: Dilyana Dobrinova

Principles of Microeconomics state that when there is a high demand for a product, supply would also increase to satisfy the demand. This logic applies not only to market realities but also to workforce dynamics. When there is a need for IT specialists, you would expect employers to provide high salaries and good working conditions, which would attract more and more IT specialists. Yes. In some industries, this might be true. Long-haul trucking, however, is not one of them. It might just as well be exactly the opposite.

Despite being an industry that is a large factor in the American economy, long-haul trucking doesn’t seem to be a concern of the Department of Labor at all. Working conditions of long-haul truck drivers have worsened in the past years, and mistreatment is causing many drivers to leave the industry. As a result, employers hire young and less experienced drivers to whom they dedicate their 18-wheelers – a decision that puts both the employers and the employees in danger. As a result of this unfortunate trend, the Senate has even approved a pilot program that will allow 18-year-olds to drive semis across state lines despite the fact that the 18- to 21-year-old demographic has one of the highest accident rate.Read More