00:00America's trucking industry is stuck in a traffic jam, not on the highway, but in the job market.
00:06As tens of thousands of driver seats are empty and the debate heats up over what's really to blame.
00:13Some see it as a shortage.
00:15The American Trucking Association says the U.S. is down about 60,000 drivers right now,
00:21a number they say could hit 82,000 by the end of the year.
00:25If nothing changes, they project more than 160,000 by 2030.
00:30That gap has a price tag.
00:32A freight finance firm estimates parked trucks are costing the industry $95 million every week.
00:38Get them rolling, they say, and you could see up to $50 billion in extra revenue each year.
00:44But others call this a turnover crisis, not a shortage.
00:47Driver advocates point to long hours, low pay, and working conditions that push people out faster than companies can hire.
00:55The average trucker is 46.
00:57Many are retiring early, and federal rules keep younger drivers from crossing state lines.
01:03Now automation is taking a seat at the table.
01:06This week, Aurora Innovation announced it's running driverless trucks at night on routes between Texas and Arizona.
01:13The company says doubling utilization and cutting delivery times in half could be a game changer.
01:18And their LiDAR-powered system doesn't get tired even in the dark.
01:22Whether the future is more human drivers, more automation, or both, there's no quick fix.
01:28If freight demand rises, the pressure will only grow.
01:31And if the economy slows, trucking's road ahead could get even bumpier.
01:35For more of our unbiased rate fact reporting, download the Straight Hour News app today or log on to san.com.
01:40For Straight Hour News, I'm Kaylee Carey.
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