In uncertain social and economic environments, state governments have declared specific industries to be essential and, therefore, able to continue operations. Among them includes construction and the services associated with it. However, difficulties have come about that have impeded the efficiency of construction projects. The lack of funding for the projects and the hindered supply chain of construction materials has proven problematic. Curt Bennink, the senior field editor for Equipment Today, went into great detail on these concerns.

 

Bennink stated that while the flow of construction material in ongoing, certain roadblocks have appeared affecting the trucking industry. The most impactful hurdles are the inability for new truck drivers to get their CDL (commercial driver's license), the difficulty for trucks to get permits for carrying larger than the regulator size limits, and the decrease in available truck services.

Aspiring new truck drivers will have to receive their CDL before hitting the road. However, according to Bennink, individuals have had issues getting tested by the DMV to earn their license. This effects construction as it may prove troublesome for contractors to expedite shipments without the necessary number of drivers. Furthermore, taking an alternative route by increasing the size of the freight of their trucks isn't viable. Larger sized shipments require over-dimensional permits. The states issue these permits upon request, but the weakened line of communication due to the pandemic has led to rare approval.
Additionally, trucks require 24-hour access to service facilities to receive repairs or replacement parts. An inability to provide the necessary maintenance can detrimentally halt their progress. Bennink noted that major truck manufactures have stopped the production of their manufacturing facilities but have still found ways to upkeep their service facilities to keep trucks on the road.

The construction industry is fortunate that the supply chain is ongoing, but the fragility of trucking cannot be understated. If any of the aforementioned factors make further negative progress, there could be severe consequences for construction companies and projects around the country.