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Little Rock continues to feel impact of nationwide truck driver shortage

Qualified drivers remain hard to find as the country copes with the impacts of a truck driver shortage. Here's how it's affecting Little Rock.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The nationwide truck driver shortage is lingering and even impacting some city services in Arkansas.

Qualified drivers with a commercial driver's license (CDL) remain hard to find, and Little Rock Public Works is familiar with that struggle.

"There's always a need for them," Little Rock Public Works Operations Manager Eric Petty said. "We're constantly filling those types of jobs."

Although the shortage has improved over the last several years, Petty said they're still struggling to fill open positions.

"We're actually making a little bit of adjustments on the size of equipment we buy," Petty said. "Some of our patch trucks for patching potholes are a little bit smaller, so we can do it with non-commercial driver's license people."

Petty said that must happen for city workers to get the job done. 

"We've got to address our drainage, keep our streets in the best condition we can," Petty said.

According to Petty, Little Rock is currently short about eight drivers, but he said they're happy to see more applicants than in previous years.

"If they actually show up and do an interview, there's a good chance of getting the job offer," Petty said.

The Arkansas Truckers Association said there's still a significant need for truck drivers despite the slight improvement in the shortage.

"We're competing against other industries, who are also very aggressively pursuing, you know, available workers," Arkansas Truckers Association President Shannon Newton said.

Newton said the nation is short about 60,000 drivers and approximately 2,500 short statewide.

"It's not just anyone you want to employ in that position," Newton said. "It's a shortage of qualified individuals with the characteristics and the certifications to do the job."

The shortage is several years in the making, and Newton said it's not an issue that will be fixed overnight. She mentioned other groups pushing for solutions.

"Compensation package, work environment, new equipment, desirable routes and predictable home time," Newton said. "All those things are part of the solution and attracting people to our industry."

According to the American Journal of Transportation, truckers retiring with a lack of new drivers taking their place is another big reason behind the shortage.

If you have a CDL and want to apply for an open position in Little Rock, click here.

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