A new survey from logistics technology platform Tech.co has shed light on growing labour shortages in the US freight industry, revealing a key bottleneck as demand for transport services remains robust. According to the research, 75% of freight firms report healthy demand across the sector, yet a quarter of these companies say that workforce shortages are now the biggest challenge they face.
These shortages risk undermining what could be a major freight boom, with lingering supply chain disruptions, fuelled by tariffs and global economic uncertainty, already creating wide swings in demand for transport capacity. Without sufficient staffing, freight firms may struggle to meet demand spikes, with potential consequences for the broader supply chain and downstream industries.
Staffing woes outweigh diesel and regulation pressures
Workforce shortages now surpass other concerns, such as rising diesel prices (23%) and unforeseen disruptions (16%), as the most significant obstacle to business, according to 260 transport professionals surveyed across the USA by Tech.co in April 2025. US Government regulations (14%) and poor working conditions (8%) also feature, but to a lesser extent. The picture emerging is of a freight industry under strain. The conclusions are that it’s not due to a lack of business opportunity, but from a lack of people to do the work.
Speaking for Tech.co, Jack Turner, called the labour shortage “a ticking time bomb” and stressed the urgency of recruiting younger talent into the sector. “Unless the industry can attract more people, especially younger generations, it risks losing huge volumes of potential business,” Turner said. Bianca Prieto, editor of *The Inside Lane* trucking newsletter, echoed this sentiment, noting that “the industry isn’t lacking opportunity; it’s lacking manpower.”
Recruitment a rising priority across the developed world
Trucking is proving a lacklustre career option in many markets. The UK has a long-standing driver shortage. The average age of a heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver in the UK is around 53 years old. According to Government and industry sources, Fewer than 1% of HGV drivers in the UK are under the age of 25. Across the EU, the International Road Transport Union say the average age of a truck driver is between 46 and 49 years old, and the trade body is not expecting the situation to improve any time soon.
In North America, recruitment and staff retention have emerged as top concerns. 15% of freight companies named it their leading priority for the current quarter. It ranks behind only managing financial pressure (21%) and maintaining vehicles (23%), demonstrating the increasing importance of building and retaining a reliable workforce in the face of operational pressures. To tackle the staffing crisis, freight firms are pursuing a mix of strategies. The most popular involves offering better training and development opportunities, cited by 8% of respondents. Enhancing recruitment efforts (7%), improving work-life balance (6%), raising compensation and benefits (6%), and fostering a stronger company culture (6%) also feature prominently among planned initiatives.
Rail offers capacity cushion but trucking remains intrinsic
While the trucking industry grapples with its labour dilemma, rail freight could play an important role in absorbing excess demand. As disruptions from tariffs and economic policy continue to affect global supply chains, the ability to shift capacity between transport modes becomes increasingly important. Rail, which is generally less labour intensive than trucking, may help cushion the impact, at least temporarily.
Recently, WorldCargoNews.com reported on the rising scourge of forged documents and unqualified drivers, feeding criminal activity and making trucking less safe. However, in the legal pursuit of legitimate trucking, long-term resilience will depend on the road freight sector’s ability to shore up its workforce and modernise employment conditions. As demand continues to fluctuate and global supply chains remain under pressure, attracting and retaining drivers will be critical in ensuring that US freight operations can deliver on their potential.