A shortage of trucks and drivers and growing regulatory and financial concerns rule out any quick-fixes to the jam-up in trucking

Aug 01, 2010 | 09:11 AM | Rory Carroll

The trucking industry's many moving parts appear to be in dire need of oiling as the sector struggles to align itself in a way that will best meet current and expected future demand. A recent trucking squeeze brought about by economic factors is a major issue—one that has few short-term solutions, according to trucking and logistics analysts.

Although manufacturing activity is said to be on the rise, trucking capacity historically has lagged production recovery and the resulting growth in carrier demand. This tendency has been especially pronounced in the recent upturn as the severity of the recession, as well as the reluctance of carriers to bring more capacity back online in the face of continued economic uncertainty, has resulted in an apparent domestic trucking shortage.

Shipments via truck, which account for 68 percent of the tonnage carried via all modes of domestic freight transportation, has climbed steadily this year. Unfortunately, the number and availability of carriers hasn't followed suit.....