Life for truckers is going to get better in some states, with data from the recent Tech.co logistics report showing that better pay and improved work life balance are on the horizon.
The persistent trucker shortage in the US has caused logistics businesses a lot of trouble over the last few years. As a result, owners and managers have been scrambling to find solutions that can address the dwindling workforce.
The most obvious fix, however, is increasing pay and improving work-life balance, and some states are planning to do just that.
US States Planning to Improve Truck Pay & Work-Life Balance
According to data from the Moving Goods with Fewer Hands logistics report from Tech.co, 56% of US freight businesses plan to increase driver compensation and benefits to address the trucker shortage. However, there are some states that are clearly outpacing others when it comes to this kind of improvement.
Our data found that Texas is leading the pack, with 14% of businesses planning to increase driver pay and benefits and 13% of businesses planning to increase work-life balance through shorter hours and more reasonable routes. Here’s how other states in the US match up in both categories:
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States increasing pay & benefits
- Texas: 14%
- Florida: 8%
- Tennessee: 5%
- Georgia: 5%
States improving work-life balance
- Texas: 13%
- New York: 9%
- Virginia: 5%
- Illinois: 5%
Considering Texas has the largest percentage of truck drivers in the US — with around 200,000 truckers calling the the southern state home — it’s understandable that businesses in the state would be interested in attracting enough to ensure the shortage doesn’t get worse.
Why Business Need to Attract New Truckers
The trucker shortage might not seem as catastrophic as we’re making it sound, but the reality is that this kind of workforce discrepancy could have long-lasting impacts on businesses, the supply chain, and the US economy if it’s not appropriately addressed.
For one, 85% of logistics businesses in the US note that they are currently working near fully capacity, and a lack of drivers could make that infinitely worse. On top of that, a staggering 88% of businesses who say workforce limitations are a critical, operational risk have seen recruitment and retention worsen in the past year.
As for what kind of ramifications we can see if the workforce numbers dip even lower, our survey found that 43% of logistics businesses noted that on-time delivery is the most at-risk, with driver availability (42%) and cost control (39%) rounding out the top three.
Other Tactics Used to Attract New Truckers
While increasing pay (56%) and improving work-life balance (56%) were the most popular means of attracting new drivers in our research, they certainly weren’t the only methods that were moving the needle for logistics businesses.
The next most popular tactic for attract new truckers was providing better training and development opportunities (44%), which is good because 23% of potential applicants noted that limited career development was their biggest barrier to entry. Businesses are also trying to enhance recruitment efforts (43%) and improving company culture (27%) to attract new truckers.
Suffice to say, increased pay and improved work-life balance is a good start when trying to shore up your workforce numbers, but the reality is that, in 2025, attracting new drivers to the industry is a multi-faceted issue that requires a multi-faceted solution.
Logistic Industry Trends in 2025
The trucker shortage is one of the most pressing issues in the logistics industry, but it’s certainly not the only trend that requires the attention of businesses owners in 2025.
Luckily, Tech.co put together a thoroughly in-depth report on the state of the logistics industry, covering everything from technology usage to owner-manager differences, so that businesses can stay up-to-date on the facts that matter.
To stay successful in the logistics industry, make sure to check out the Moving Goods with Fewer Hands report from Tech.co and check back regularly to learn about news that may impact your business.
