Trucking Index Highlights Another New Low in Driver Availability

ACT Research reports the latest stimulus is yet another factor on a long list of driver constraints keeping the truckload market tight

The latest release of ACT’s For-Hire Trucking Index, with February data, showed a Driver Availability Index that has tightened to another new low point in the past three years.

Tim Denoyer, ACT Research’s Vice President and Senior Analyst commented, “The Driver Availability Index tightened to a new low in February, to 23.6 from 25.0 in January.”

He added, “But as fleets often like to be gearing up for springtime volume growth in February, the tightness in the driver market feels acute. For the third straight month, this was the tightest reading in the three-year history of this index.”

Denoyer also noted, “The latest stimulus is yet another factor on a long list of driver constraints keeping the truckload market tight. Demographics and the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse are also factors inhibiting driver re-engagement, even in response to record spot rates and rising driver pay.” He concluded, “Significant additions to capacity this year are unlikely.”

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