ABSTRACT
This chapter begins with a description of the changes that have occurred in trucking labor markets over the last quarter century. It relies on the survey data from the Sloan Foundation Trucking Industry Program to develop a more detailed portrait of drivers' work. The chapter investigates four specific trucking labor market issues, namely the effect of deregulation on driver earnings, whether, as is often alleged, there is a shortage of drivers, whether truck drivers are underpaid and the role that owner operators play in this market. The work life of truck drivers is very different from that of most blue-collar employees. They also work longer hours, spend extended periods of time away from home, often are not directly compensated for certain components of their work, receive relatively few fringe benefits given their age and experience, and experience high levels of turnover. The driver labor force is aging.
