'Everything's going to keep going up' because of trucker shortage
SALT LAKE CITY (KUTV) — Companies across the country are desperately looking for truckers. The shortage is causing prices to rise for everyone.
“When you can’t get goods delivered because of a trucking shortage, then they (companies) have to pay more,” said Jim Grundy, CEO of trucking company Sisu Energy. “They have to entice people with higher wages to get them to run the same freight that they could have done if we had the right amount of truckers.”
Wayne Reeves, a trucker from Minneapolis who stopped in Salt Lake City, said freight rates have been increasing the past six to eight weeks.
“That means you’re going to pay more for that hamburger or whatever at the store,” Reeves said.
A trucking economist expects the shortage to increase to 105,000 truckers in the next two years.
Grundy said trucking presents a good opportunity for young people and anyone looking for work.
He said a few possibilities could help reverse the trucker shortage: automated trucking as well as legislation allowing younger people and people from other countries to work here.
You’re going to see the cost of goods and everything from groceries to oil to fuel to cars to homes, everything’s going to keep going up,” Grundy said.
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