Low salaries and aging drivers have created a talent shortage in transportation, causing the trucking industry as a whole to face a crisis. 
 
One solution to the talent shortage involves coordinating the pool of 350,000 independent owner-operators that exist within apps like Uber Freight. Uber, known for its independent ride service, recently launched its new app aimed at the trucking industry.

What Uber Can Do for Truck Drivers
Available throughout the U.S. and Canada,  the app lets owner-operators search for loads based on destination, equipment requirements, and delivery dates. The benefits to carriers include managing their own hours, saving money by not going through a broker, and getting paid more quickly.
 
Uber isn’t the first to recognize the potential of matching loads and carriers using technology. In fact, there are at least eleven other companies looking to grab a piece of the freight-on-demand pie. These companies seek to replace the middleman, allowing truck drivers to book their own loads with the click of a button. 

Addressing the Driver Shortage With Load-Matching Technology
One of the biggest factors contributing to the truck driver shortage is driver retention. Turnover rates in the industry can  represent a disconnect between drivers and employers but load-matching technology can help boost the industry’s image by building trust.
 
Apps like Uber Freight help drivers find loads close to home, manage their hours, and get paid on time. Those factors are particularly important to younger workers,  a demographic that is largely untapped by the trucking industry.
Apps like this can also help address lingering problems like long hours on the road, negative perceptions among workers, an aging workforce, and relatively low salaries. Load-matching technology also helps foster  increased independence and transparency between carriers and shippers. 
 
For companies in the transportation and trucking industry with hiring and employee growth goals, Hire Velocity’s blog offers valuable content for recruiting and talent management. Read more here >