Fri. May 15th, 2026

Many of us in the trucking industry will know that there is a severe shortage of truck drivers, says Houston Truck Accident Lawyer Greg Baumgartner. The latest figures published by the American Trucking Association has found that there are upwards of 40,000 truck drivers needed to make up the shortage in a trend that is likely to continue. The ATA also estimate that there will be over 170,000 open trucking positions available by the year 2026, which is a worrying prospect.

Why is this happening? Many point to the fact that the modern generation are unwilling to meet the trucking lifestyle requirements and prefer to focus on their family and social lives over their work. Millenials say that they place a lot of emphasis on their social life and are not able to give this up for the sake of their job, especially when there are many careers that do offer a great work/life balance.

One idea propositioned could be reducing the age of commercial truck drivers driving across state lines to 18 years old could, in a move that is thought to increase the number of applicants. Truck drivers at the moment are required to be at least 21-years-old in order to drive from state to state. Despite increasing the number of drivers, many truckers point to the fact that by lowering the age, more accidents may in fact take place.

The only way to prevent this from being introduced is to compensate drivers for the interruption to their social life, and that can be done by increasing the pay on offer. This seems to be the only way to attract more people to the profession. Some trucking companies have in fact done this, but even then, they still have a lack of applicants. Another idea is to offer generous signing on bonuses to newly hired drivers.

The future of trucking may in fact help this shortfall. There has been a lot of news coverage recently about driverless trucks. Is this going to be the only viable way to transport freight in the future if more truckers are not joining the industry?

By Abby Waechter

Abby Waechter is an accomplished journalist, editorial strategist, and digital publishing professional with over six years of hands-on experience in the media industry. As the Editor-in-Chief of 8Blogs.com, she leads the editorial vision of one of the web's most ambitious business and industry publications — a platform dedicated to delivering sharp, credible, and actionable content for professionals, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders across the globe. Abby's journey into the world of professional writing and editing began long before her byline appeared on any publication. Growing up with a natural curiosity for how businesses work, how economies shift, and how leadership shapes organizations, she found herself drawn to the intersection of journalism and business from an early age. That passion led her to Ohio University — one of the United States' most respected public research universities, located in Athens, Ohio — where she pursued a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and Communications. Ohio University's School of Media Arts and Studies gave Abby a rigorous academic foundation in editorial ethics, news writing, investigative reporting, audience analysis, and multimedia storytelling. It was here that she developed the disciplined writing habits and critical thinking skills that would define her professional career. She graduated with a deep understanding of what separates good content from truly great content — and a firm commitment to always delivering the latter. Before stepping into a full editorial role, Abby gained invaluable real-world experience through internships at newspapers, regional magazines, and online publishing companies. These early career placements were formative. Working in fast-paced newsrooms taught her how to research under pressure, verify facts rigorously, and write with clarity and precision on tight deadlines. Her internship experiences also gave her a front-row seat to the rapid transformation of media — from print-first thinking to digital-first strategy — a shift she embraced fully and has championed ever since. Over the following six to seven years, Abby built a diverse and impressive portfolio spanning writing, reporting, editorial assistance, and content strategy. She has covered topics ranging from startup ecosystems and venture capital trends to leadership philosophy, workplace culture, global trade, and emerging technologies. Her work is consistently praised for being well-researched, reader-friendly, and genuinely insightful — never sacrificing depth for the sake of brevity, nor clarity for the sake of complexity. At 8Blogs.com, Abby oversees a broad editorial mandate that spans twelve content categories including Entrepreneurship, Finance, Marketing, Technology, HR, Sustainability, and Global Business. She sets the tone, maintains editorial standards, and ensures that every article published reflects the publication's core values — integrity, depth, and practical intelligence. When she is not editing or writing, Abby stays close to the business world through industry events, professional reading, and mentoring emerging writers who are just beginning their own editorial journeys.