FTR Associates, Nashville, Ind., said in press release Thursday that strong demands for competing labor continue to put pressure on the Driver Labor Index.
FTR calculates the statistic it describes as the truck share of employment.
However, FTR forecasts that slowing freight growth in 2005 is allowing fleets to work off some of the record driver shortages of the last 18 months. The company predicts that the driver shortage will continue to shrink, ending 2005 with a shortfall of 33,000 drivers, down from the estimated cumulative shortage of 300,000 during 2003/2004.
Any upturn in freight demand will reverse this trend and significantly impact the industry’s need for additional drivers, the company said.
According to FTR, the Driver Labor Market Indicators report looks at supply and demand issues as well as how freight and broader labor markets all affect the pool of available drivers.
FTR Associates forecast reports cover trucking and rail transportation and include demand analysis for commercial vehicle as well as railcar. Specially designed reports cover specific needs.
For more information, visit www.ftrassociates.net.
Driver Shortfall Continues, But May Ease By Year’s End
FTR Associates, Nashville, Ind., said in press release Thursday that strong demands for competing labor continue to put pressure on the Driver Labor Index
More Fleet Management

From Diesel Prices to Cyberattacks: How the Iran War Is Affecting Trucking
The impact of the Iran conflict extends beyond fuel costs, bringing more fraud and cybersecurity risks to the trucking industry.
Read More →
ATA’s Spear Warns Fuel Prices, Trade Policy, and Global Conflict Could Stall Trucking Recovery
Speaking at the TMC Annual Meeting in Nashville, ATA President Chris Spear said trucking faces mounting pressure from rising fuel prices, geopolitical instability, and uncertainty around trade policy.
Read More →
New Entrants, Chameleon Carriers, and Safety: Is It Too Easy to Start a Trucking Company?
More than 100,000 new trucking companies enter the industry each year, but regulators manage to audit only a fraction of them. That churn creates opportunities for inexperienced startups — and for “chameleon carriers” that shut down after safety violations and reappear under new identities. Read more from Deborah Lockridge in this commentary.
Read More →
Fleet Managers Invited to Apply for Exclusive HDT Exchange Event
HDTX is an intimate event that connects heavy-duty trucking fleet managers with industry suppliers through small-group discussions, educational sessions, and structured one-on-one meetings.
Read More →
DAT Launches iPhone Widget to Help Owner-Operators Find Loads Faster
New DAT One feature shows top-paying loads directly on an iPhone’s home screen, helping carriers react faster to spot-market opportunities.
Read More →
Optimal Dynamics Launches AI System to Help Carriers Choose Better Freight
Optimal Dynamics says its new Scale platform uses AI agents and optimization to help carriers find and secure freight that improves network balance and profitability.
Read More →
DAT: Flatbed Demand Climbs as Van and Reefer Rates Soften
DAT Freight & Analytics data shows tightening flatbed capacity, easing produce markets, and softening van and reefer rates.
Read More →
Run on Less “Messy Middle” Data Shows Multiple Paths Forward for Truck Powertrains [Watch]
NACFE's Run on Less - Messy Middle project demonstrates the power of data in helping to guide the future of alternative fuels and powertrains for heavy-duty trucks.
Read More →
Federal Court Lets NYC Congestion Pricing Continue
A federal court ruling allows New York City’s congestion pricing program to continue, leaving truck tolls in place for fleets delivering into Manhattan.
Read More →
Fontaine Modification Launches Real-Time Truck Modification Tracking Portal
Fontaine Modification has introduced a new customer portal designed to give fleets real-time visibility into the truck modification process, addressing one of the most common questions fleet managers face: “Where’s my truck?”
Read More →
