How the Trucking Industry Is Expected to Change in 2021

Many industries have had to undergo transformations in the year 2021, and the trucking industry is no different. While plenty of changes are expected to take place this year for the trucking industry in Minnesota and all over the country, some of these changes are not expected to be permanent. That being said, there are some changes that truckers and other trucking industry professionals may want to get used to.

While trucking faces a transitional year in 2021, many people are predicting a positive outlook for the industry as a whole, although only time will tell. For more information on how the trucking industry may change in 2021, read on.

How the coronavirus has affected the trucking industry

As with most industries, the ongoing novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the trucking industry. Since more orders were placed online in 2020 due to the pandemic, the trucking industry has had to change up the distribution patterns of its shipping services.

Though the pandemic caused a lull in the need for trucking, many are predicting that the industry will see a surge quite soon. Those lacking in inventory will need to have their supplies restocked, and manufacturing is expected to increase, which means there will be an increased need for truckers.

There are fewer truckers

The trucking industry lost thousands of truckers due to the coronavirus pandemic. With fewer orders being made, there was less need for truckers, so many lost their jobs. Additionally, extra precautions at trucking schools have caused there to be fewer applicants. Now that the need is starting to pick up, some say there may actually be a shortage of truckers.

Are the changes permanent?

While nothing is set in stone, many people predict that some of these changes to the trucking industry will last long after the pandemic has ended. For example, many people have picked up the habit of purchasing everything they need online. This may not change after the pandemic ends, so these distribution patterns may stay the same for the time being.

Rates for truckers are also expected to rise thanks to this increased demand. Many truckers already saw an increase in pay during the latter half of 2020, and these rates may continue to rise. There is also more of a demand for truckers.

Truckers will also be needed to help deliver the COVID-19 vaccine during the ongoing pandemic. While the vaccine is extremely important in ending this pandemic, it won’t do much good if the vaccine can’t reach those who need it.

As mentioned before, it’s always possible that none of these changes may occur for the trucking industry in 2021, but experts seem to be hopeful. Even though the trucking industry took some hits in 2020, there will always be a need for truckers.

If you have trucking needs in Minnesota, contact K-Way Express, Inc. We’re based in Minnesota and offer the best service and competitive pricing to clients all over. In addition to shipping services, we also offer warehousing solutions, logistics services and much more. Reach out to learn more about how we’re approaching trucking’s transitional year in 2021!