By Ahsan Ali
The trucking industry plays a huge role in keeping the economy moving, but lately it has been struggling. Missouri’s trucking sector, which usually helps keep store shelves stocked and businesses supplied, is now facing fewer loads to haul and ongoing labor shortages.
The Missouri Department of Transportation says more than 985 million tons of goods move through the state every year, worth about $1.1 trillion. Trucks carry roughly 87 percent of those goods.
“If we’re doing our job right, you don’t notice us,” said Tom Crawford, president and CEO of the Missouri Trucking Association. “The shelves are full, and life is good.”
Crawford explained that trucking closely reflects what’s happening in the overall economy.
“Our industry is a reflection of the economy,” he said. “A few years ago, the economy was running and gunning — everybody was spending like it was. So we got a lot of demand for goods.”
Consumer spending jumped sharply from 2021 to 2022, rising about 9 percent. It went up another 5.9 percent from 2022 to 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. At the same time, inflation stayed high, with the consumer price index increasing around 3 percent since September 2024.
“You’re buying less than you did in 2022,” Crawford said. “You’re probably spending the same amount of money, but you’re not buying as much.”
These spending changes affect how much freight needs to be moved. When consumers buy more, trucking companies scramble to find enough drivers. When the economy slows down, the challenge becomes finding enough loads to keep drivers busy.
Crawford said the construction industry is one of the clearest examples.
“When you see construction starting, with the ground being worked and foundations being set, you are also seeing a spike in freight demand,” he said. “All of the raw materials, like concrete, gravel, and lumber, have to be delivered by truck.”
He added that changes in construction directly impact segments such as flatbed trucking, which handles many of those materials.
Labor challenges
Across the country, trucking groups have warned about a shortage of drivers. Representatives from the American Trucking Association, the nation’s largest trucking organization, testified before Congress in July about this problem and others.
Labor shortages have been an issue for years, which led the Biden administration to launch the Trucking Action Plan in 2021. One of its main goals was to make it easier for people to get commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs). The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration provided more than $30 million to help states speed up the licensing process.
To get a CDL, drivers must pass a knowledge test, meet age and medical requirements, earn a learner’s permit, complete training, and pass a skills test covering vehicle inspection, maneuvers, and on-road driving.
The current Trump administration has moved to undo some of those earlier efforts. One major change was making the English Language Proficiency part of the CDL test an out-of-service violation.
“It’s really all about safety,” said Sicily Waters, communications director for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. “If someone cannot understand what a road sign means, then that could be a real issue. The actions that this administration has taken are rooted in safety, and that’s not a partisan issue.”
Missouri State Highway Patrol data shows that as of Oct. 21, 484 commercial drivers in Missouri have been cited and removed from driving because they were not fluent in English.
Crawford noted that many truck drivers in Missouri speak English as a second language, but said employers must ensure applicants meet the English requirements.
“I know several members who have drivers for whom English isn’t their first language, but they are conversant,” he said. “That’s what the law requires, and that’s a safe driver.”
Author Profile
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Ahsan Ali is a technology and business journalist who covers the latest developments in autonomous vehicles and innovative startups.
With a sharp eye for industry trends, he breaks down complex tech stories into clear, engaging insights for general readers.
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