What if Trucking’s Driver Shortage Isn’t About Drivers After All?
Summary
Magnus Technologies CEO Matt Cartwright argues the widely reported truck driver shortage is largely a systems problem, not a people problem. Fragmented tools, inconsistent workflows and disconnected data create daily unpredictability that pushes drivers away. Cartwright recommends unified operational data, standardised load assignments, automation that removes friction (not people), faster pay and clearer communication as practical fixes that improve driver experience and retention. He says fleets that combine technology with proactive, empathetic management will see retention improve faster than by constant recruiting alone.
Key Points
- The driver shortage is primarily structural: inconsistent systems and workflows, not a lack of willing drivers.
- Fragmented systems (dispatch, billing, telematics, safety) create conflicting information and stress for drivers.
- A single, unified data foundation and a modern TMS can create predictability and reduce surprises.
- Automation should remove repetitive tasks and enable managers to focus on human support and communication.
- Small process changes—faster pay, standardised load assignment, clearer updates—deliver outsized retention gains.
- Culture and empathy matter: use data to spot strain early and intervene before drivers quit.
- Cartwright urges a shift from perpetual recruiting to sustainable retention through operational modernisation by 2026.
Context and Relevance
With labour costs, turnover and service reliability high on fleets’ agendas, this interview reframes the problem. Instead of pouring resources into recruiting, fleets can invest in operational consistency — modern TMS, integrated telematics and standard processes — to stabilise driver experience. This connects to wider trends in automation, workforce management and digital transformation across supply chains and is immediately actionable for fleet leaders, 3PLs and transport technologists.
Why should I read this?
Short version: stop throwing money at job ads. This piece gives clear, practical ways to make drivers’ days less chaotic and keep them longer — tiny tweaks that actually work. If you run or advise fleets and you’re fed up with churn, this is the sort of no-fluff, fix-first thinking you’ll want on your radar.
Source
Source: https://www.supplychain247.com/article/qa-matt-cartwright-magnus-technologies