Is There a Trucker Shortage?

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There are three times as many people in the united states who have a mercial drivers license required to drive a truck as there are of working truck drivers. Truckers get paid by the mile, they're on the rod 21 days out of every month and often nowhere near home or their family. There may not be a place for them to sleep at night because there's not enough berths at truck stops and rest stops so they mght have to illegally park down the side of the highway.

As the holidays approach, we are being reminded of the fragility of the global supply chain. But at the same time, the supply chain itself is a truly impressive and fascinating structure, made as it is from multiple components that must work together in synchrony. From building an item in a factory and shipping it worldwide to transporting it locally, processing it in a distribution center, and finally delivering it to an address, the system is simultaneously awe-inspiring and deeply dehumanizing. I talk with Christopher Mims about how things are made, how they get to us, and what it all means for the present and future of our work and our lives.

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Christopher Mims received a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and behavioral biology from Emory University. He is currently a technology columnist at The Wall Street Journal. He has previously written for publications such as Wired, Scientific American, The Atlantic, and Smithsonian. His new book is Arriving Today: From Factory to Front Door — Why Everything Has Changed About How and What We Buy.

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