Examination of Changing Truck Driver Demographics by ATRI Report
The American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) has recently released a comprehensive report titled "Evolving Truck Driver Demographics: Issues and Opportunities," which offers key findings and recommendations to attract and retain underrepresented groups in the trucking industry.
The report highlights the need for a strategic and inclusive approach, focusing on diversity, targeted recruitment, and tailored support, to meet the future needs of the trucking workforce.
### Key Findings
The truck driver workforce is aging, with the average driver age increasing from 42 in 1995 to 47 in 2024, due largely to baby boomer retirements and fewer younger entrants. Women are significantly underrepresented, comprising only 4.1% of truck drivers.
The industry faces pressing workforce challenges including an aging population and shifting employment models. Societal and labor force trends are reshaping the demographics of truck drivers, pointing to a need for modernized recruitment tactics.
The report identifies opportunities to engage formerly foster youth and justice-involved individuals, groups that face unique barriers but could benefit from trucking careers with appropriate support.
### Recommendations
ATRI recommends modernizing recruitment messaging to better resonate with younger generations such as millennials and Gen Z, incorporating values and communication styles relevant to these groups.
The institute suggests developing targeted outreach and training pipelines specifically designed to attract and retain women and other underrepresented populations. Implementing hiring practices that assess candidates on a case-by-case basis, particularly for individuals with backgrounds in foster care or justice involvement, is also recommended.
Offering support systems and reentry services to help historically marginalized groups succeed in trucking careers is another crucial recommendation. The report also emphasizes the importance of utilising these findings as a roadmap to build a more resilient driver workforce, improve retention, and sustainably address the driver shortage by diversifying recruitment.
### Other Notable Findings
The report also notes that racial diversity has improved since 2014, with people of color now constituting 37% of drivers versus 28% of the broader workforce. Education levels among drivers lag the general labor force, with only 6% holding bachelor's degrees. However, rising credentials signal potential for targeted upskilling.
The order intake in June 2025 was 144% higher than in June 2024, indicating a strong demand for trucks. Employment classifications show a surge in owner-operators and independent contractors, growing 67% since 2003 to over 500,000.
The report also addresses the need for policies like pre-release CDL training, second-chance policies, and tax credits like the Work Opportunity Tax Credit to attract former foster youth and justice-involved individuals into the trucking industry. Job fairs, mentorship, and scholarships are recommended for this purpose.
In conclusion, the ATRI report provides valuable insights into the evolving demographics of the trucking industry and offers practical recommendations for attracting and retaining a diverse workforce. By implementing these strategies, the industry can address its workforce challenges and sustainably meet its growing demand.
- To combat the pressing workforce challenges in the trucking industry, such as an aging population and shifting employment models, it's essential to focus on modernizing recruitment strategies, particularly by creating targeted outreach and training pipelines for underrepresented groups, including women, and those with backgrounds in foster care or justice involvement.
- As the American Transportation Research Institute's report "Evolving Truck Driver Demographics: Issues and Opportunities" suggests, the financial sector can play a pivotal role in facilitating this transformation by investing in support systems, reentry services, and policies like pre-release CDL training, second-chance policies, and tax credits for historically marginalized groups, thereby fostering a more inclusive transportation industry.
