{"id":4528,"date":"2020-06-30T11:05:43","date_gmt":"2020-06-30T15:05:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/?p=4528"},"modified":"2020-06-30T11:57:52","modified_gmt":"2020-06-30T15:57:52","slug":"trucking-and-coronavirus-bumpy-road-ahead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alltruckjobs.com\/blog\/trucking-and-coronavirus-bumpy-road-ahead\/","title":{"rendered":"Trucking and Coronavirus | A Bumpy Road Ahead"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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As coronavirus cases climb in the United States, Americans are waking up and acknowledging that drivers are essential. For those of us in the industry, the extra media attention on trucking and coronavirus reinforces what we already know. Trucking is the backbone of the American economy and a non-negotiable step in the supply chain. Billy-Big-Rig beware, in the midst of all the praise experts like Brain Fielkow president of JetCo Delivery, warn of a bumpy road ahead.<\/p>\n

An outpouring of support on social media has made this industry chuck-full of super-charged superheroes overnight. Although, trucking and coronavirus restrictions and precautions with have no-doubt made an already challenging job, much more difficult.<\/p>\n

An Unpredictable Future Now Unfolding<\/h2>\n

\u201cCoronavirus will likely divide trucking industry\u2019s strong and weak players,\u201d said Fieklow in an interview with Fox Business<\/a>. \u201cIn trucking, you have the haves and the have-nots, and [unfortunately] I think coronavirus is going to divide the trucking industry even more.\u201d When it comes to trucking and coronavirus it might not be the disease that slows industry down, but likely travel restrictions and layoffs. The halo of media attention surrounding trucking and\u00a0coronavirus has made the driver a public servant, much like nurses.\u00a0 Accolades aside, however, \u201cthis pandemic may break weak players.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Trucking<\/p>\n

According to Forbes,<\/a> KeepTrucking a multi-million-dollar startup \u201cunicorn\u201d is hitting a nosedive after launching its electronic logging devises ahead of new regulations in 2017. CEO Shoaib Makani sent an email to employees announcing layoffs, \u201cof 18% of its global workforces \u2013 effective immediately.\u201d Unfortunately, the relationship between coronavirus and trucking is affecting many owner-operations as well. In case you missed it<\/a>, the majority of American trucking companies are not large organizations but \u201cabout 97% of carriers in the U.S. operate 20 or fewer trucks.\u201d In the case of family-owned NWD located in Massachusetts<\/a>, \u201cbusiness is down almost 60 percent.\u201d In some states, businesses that order from or receive delivery are under heavy restrictions or are under strict Governor\u2019s orders to close down completely. This shortage in loads is leading to an upturn on layoffs throughout the industry.<\/p>\n

Trucking and Coronavirus: Healthcare Hauls are Saving Grace For Some<\/h3>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re in the right niche however, you might be alright\u201d according to Fielkow. Some companies with hauls involving Clorox, medical supplies and dog food, have their hands full with the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Tim McCormick, President, and CEO of FCC, \u201cI\u2019m sure that there are companies that haul different commodities that may not be seeing the increase in demand, but with our customer base, we\u2019re actually having to turn down freight because we just can\u2019t handle it,\u201d he told the Fremont Tribute.<\/a><\/p>\n

For those still driving, players big and small are also facing challenges in the most unconventional places. Precautions happen with simple things like paperwork. Truck drivers handle a lot of it and are now being encouraged to rely much more heavily on electronic devices, like load boards<\/a>. Drivers aren\u2019t leaving their trucks or use a facility’s restroom. Instead, they conduct business from through their cab window. Ingrid Brown told American Trucker<\/a>\u00a0as a result of social distancing her paperwork was wet with Lysol.<\/p>\n

How Are Trucking Jobs Affected by COVID-19?<\/h3>\n

Right now, we are seeing certain freight demands increasing and others dropping. Although we\u2019re sure these numbers will fluctuate over the next several months, we are all wondering when \u2013 or if \u2013 the industry will ever return to normal. Once COVID-19 started spreading in the United States and many places went into a stay-at-home order, people were impulse buying. Truckers could hardly haul fast enough to keep the shelves stocked. Once the panic wore off, it seems that now certain supplies are no longer needed \u2013 since everyone bought so much in the beginning \u2013 while others are sitting going to waste because people are consuming less due to being at home.<\/p>\n

However, in that first month of COVID-19, from February to March, we saw reefer trucking jobs increase by 135% – the biggest job in job demand that we\u2019ve seen so far. Flatbed jobs increased by 57% and dry van increased by 24%. On the other hand, we saw a slight drop in freight such as car haulers, tankers, and intermodal.<\/p>\n

Do you have experience in reefer<\/a> or flatbed trucking<\/a>? Consider applying<\/a> to these in-demand jobs!<\/p>\n

Shutdowns<\/h3>\n

Despite the changing job landscape that trucking and coronavirus have created, we’re unfortunately seeing a bunch of trucking companies close up shop amid a tough economy. Just recently, Action Specialized<\/a>, formerly known as Stone Trucking Company has shuttered its doors, leaving over 50 employees without jobs. Sadly, this has become a frequent occurrence across the nation as more and more trucking companies are forced to close down amid a declining economy.<\/p>\n

Rest Stops in Need of Rescue<\/h3>\n

\"Trucking<\/p>\n

At truck stops and rest areas, drivers are sharing a similar story. According to the Wall Street Journal<\/a>, \u201ctruck-stop restaurants<\/a> in some states have shut dining rooms and switched to takeout service to comply with health orders aimed at controlling the spread of the virus. Pennsylvania originally closed its state-run rest stops, cutting back significant parking space along key logistics corridors.\u201d Not to mention, the lack of places to eat! Pennsylvania is now, reopening some facilities on a priority basis, but only due to mass protests on social media! They still have nearly half of all state rest areas closed to prevent the spread of disease and non-essential travel.<\/p>\n

What’s Next?<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, what else should truckers be on the lookout for? Well, you’ve probably already heard about the possibility for a second wave, which could put truckers and the industry itself in a tough spot once again. While some states are opting to take a slower approach to opening back up, other states have already opened up retail stores and restaurants, which has created a spike in new cases. Some experts believe that a second wave could peak sometime in the early Fall.<\/p>\n

Another thing you should keep an eye one is your healthcare. One of the biggest concerns of industry experts is a spike in healthcare costs. Healthcare facilities have actually become hotbeds for COVID-19 cases, which has forced many away from these facilities. Instead, they are opting for telehealth or simply not seeking medical treatment at all. Trucking companies should expect to see a significant impact on healthcare plans. If truckers aren’t actually going to the doctor, or filling subscriptions, this is costing trucking companies thousands of dollars<\/p>\n

Don’t Forget to Focus on the Positive | Video!<\/h2>\n

Although we admit that things are a little uncertain right now, there are still positive things to direct our attention to. Check out this video to hear five positive things that are happening in trucking right now!<\/p>\n