Issues and strategies are listed in order as ranked by Idaho-based respondents.
State Top Industry Issues Report 2023
Idaho
44 Responses
1. Driver Shortage
• Advocate for expanding interstate CDL eligibility to 18-20-year-old drivers.
• Research the primary factors behind drivers leaving trucking careers.
• Support an industry-funded outreach program to improve the trucking industry’s image.
2. Equipment / Parts Shortages
• Quantify motor carrier business model impacts associated with equipment and parts shortages.
• Investigate the challenges and requirements of near-shoring and other truck parts sourcing practices.
• Analyze recent data on equipment costs, availability, and economic conditions to improve industry response to future shortages.
3. Driver Retention
• Research and promote the retention strategies of carriers that continuously experience low driver turnover.
• Evaluate the impact of truck driver benefits, including health insurance and retirement benefits, on driver retention.
• Conduct market research on truck driver experiences and perspectives mapped to truck driver tenure data.
4. CSA
• Work with FMCSA to update its carrier prioritization methodology, improve its accuracy, and enhance transparency in CSA.
• Advocate for FMCSA to speed up the DataQ process by improving internal processes for reviewing Request for Data Reviews (RDRs).
5. Driver Training Standards
• Work with driver training schools to develop and/or update “best practices” and model curricula.
• Evaluate the role of FMCSA’s Training Provider Registry in improving driver training.
6. Lawsuit Abuse Reform
• Promote state-level reform to cap damages paid to plaintiffs in truck-involved crashes.
• Advocate for elimination of “phantom” medical damages.
• Quantify the impact of third-party litigation funding on trial outcomes.
Issues and strategies are listed in order as ranked by Idaho-based respondents.
7. Economy
• Quantify the impact of increasing trucking operational costs on the supply chain and nation’s economy.
• Identify and promote reforming / repealing ineffective and burdensome regulations that increase industry costs without providing benefits.
8. Truck Parking
• Advocate for a dedicated federal funding program to increase truck parking capacity at freight-critical locations.
• Encourage local and regional governments to reduce the regulatory burdens limiting the construction and expansion of truck parking facilities.
9. Diesel Technician Shortage
• Research barriers to entry for new high school graduates into diesel technician careers.
• Encourage partnerships between motor carriers, truck dealers, high schools and local community colleges / tech schools to promote diesel technician training and placement.
10. Insurance Cost / Availability
• Advocate for lawsuit abuse reform to reduce nuclear verdicts and frivolous lawsuits.
• Develop framework for potential upfront insurance premium reductions when drivers and carriers adopt proven safety technologies.