With the new increased regulations on the trucking industry, especially limiting the amount of hours per day a trucker is allowed to drive, this could actually increase trucking costs and tighten the industry even more.
(Anecdotal Evidence) Father-in-law is head Diesel mechanic for trucking company. They cannot find enough drivers because they cannot make decent money for the hours worked so they are switching industries. With the new electronic tracking systems that must be installed, DOT has the ability to actually turn off the truck they are monitoring if it drives over 10 hours. This includes ALL breaks, lunch and/or dinners.
One actual issue regarding the new rules. A trucker earns $400 per load of sand(one load a day), they leave home base, drive 3 hours, sleep for 4-5 hours while waiting in line to unload sand and then drive home. The trucker was 30 minutes from home base but had to pull over on the side of the road, wait 8 hours and then continue on home. Needless to say, the trucker was very unpleased with the situation and quit the next month. Not enough money in the load and the customer was to far away.
Just something to ponder. I am wondering if the money will be made with the logistics companies vs the actual trucking company.