http://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/trends-september-2013/

Substantial Driver Shortage Expected by 2016

And the numbers back it up: “the 168-hour week; the 60-hour cap for drivers working seven consecutive days, 70 hours for eight consecutive days; the 34-hour restart; the 30-minute break; and the consecutive 1 a.m. to 5 a.m. rest periods.”

115,000-driver deficit expected by 2016—a point documented in the 2013 State of Logistics report.  The new rules are resulting in scarcity of drivers due to lower utilization.  (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) Hours-of-Service (HOS) regulations that went into effect July 1, 2013).

Most trucks on the road now sport ads for drivers, but finding drivers who can qualify is becoming more challenging with new requirements: The FMCSA’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability (CSA).

Limiting gross vehicle weights on roadways is better for resources, but shrinks capacity of trucks and with driver time cut back, the combination adds up to less productivity.