Trucking in Today's Market

Right now Commercial Carrier trucking is about 110 years old and here to stay. It is made up of big business, independent owner operators, private business fleets and several hundred thousand professional drivers. What an historic industry.

Many challenges face trucking that were unforeseen only a few years ago. Things like fuel prices, idling diesel engines, safety challenges, driver shortages, etc. Not to overlook the fact that with this economy, trucks will be traveling less miles, creating a shortfall in collected highway taxes. This will erode the highway funding for construction and repair of our highways which are already in dire need of rebuilding.

The next thing to really change trucking is "Going Green". Stop or control engine idling. How will the drivers live in a truck cab needing heat in the winter and cooling in the summer? Many states now have passed legislation setting rules about this. Of course the way they enforce these rules will be to cite the driver.

These challenges will be met by the industry as always. Many new products and changes in the manufacture of trucks and trucking equipment show up every day. Drivers will adapt to these changes as companies will invest in new products. It will be interesting to watch the evolution in store for trucking and truckers in the coming years.