This index helps fleet owners navigate hiring efforts successfully.
The Truck Driver Pressure Index tracks carriers’ need for additional drivers based on trends in the business cycle, demographics, and regulations.
At a high level:
- Business cycles create natural shortages (and surpluses) that stem from typical economic activity.
- Demographic changes in any given year are small and only add up after a significant time span.
- Regulations vary across the industry and are difficult to predict due to changing priorities and uncertain responses.
The index baseline is zero, representing balance in the driver hiring environment. Positive readings suggest greater pressure on rates and utilization; negative readings suggest less pressure helping fleet owners understand when to ramp up hiring efforts.