SUMTER, S.C. — A shortage in truck drivers continues to challenge our nation's supply chain.
It's one link that could be affecting the time products take to arrive on store shelves or to homes.
Courtney Tardogno is a regional recruiter for Stevens Transport. She was looking for talent in Sumter Monday at Palmetto Training school.
"Usually, I visit about five schools a day," Tardogno said. "It's been very challenging.... COVID definitely put a damper on our numbers as well. We saw classes that weren't allowed to have more than three students at a time. Usually, I'm seeing classes of 10 to 15."
While COVID-19 restrictions are loosening, industry leaders say the challenge to find drivers is multilayered.
Some haven't returned from the pandemic. Others have retired or changed occupations.
Poor driving conditions are also a factor leading companies to beef up incentive packages to attract talent.
"Employers are desperate so that they poach talent from other companies," SC Trucking Association President Rick Todd said. "There’s such competition for these workers that recruiters and working overtime and they’re just not getting the level of success that they’re used to."
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For years, Todd said truck drivers have been in short supply.
The pandemic is a breaking point he said he's unsure when the country will recover from.
"We’ve seen this coming and a lot of times governments don’t react until things get to the crisis stage and we’re right about there," Todd said.
While employers are searching for talent, some drivers have their own challenges joining the industry.
Jason Bradford has a week and a half left to complete his program, but, with a criminal background, he said graduation is bittersweet.
"That’s pretty much the biggest dilemma, getting the experience or finding a company that’s willing to give me a chance even though I’m on supervised release right now," Bradford said.
While the industry remains under strain, there is a bright spot.
Students continue to show up in increasing numbers to learn with the hopes of getting products delivered that keep America running.