The trucking industry faces an uncertain age
President Trump’s 90-day suspension on tariffs could end early next month. For truck drivers in Southern California ports, that could mean even more economic uncertainty.
President Donald Trump’s 90-day suspension Customs It could end earlier this month. For truck drivers in Southern California ports, that could mean even more economic uncertainty.
Long Beach and Los Angeles ports are in peak season. Cargo ships from overseas are usually packed with supplies and holiday gifts back to school.
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Truck carriers say there has been a slight increase in containers coming in from overseas recently. (Sunny Tsai/FoxBusiness)
On both ports, they say containers are rising slightly ahead of the new tariff deadline. But some Trucking Company Fox is still concerned about the long-term impact these trade policies will have on their industry.
“They weren’t going to ship. They just say quarterly containers and are very expensive to bring here. So let me know that no one’s buying them.”
The ports in Los Angeles and Long Beach are two of the busiest in the country. But they say the business has been declining for quite some time, as truckers are tasked with delivering goods to their final destinations.
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“This is a tough trade, especially as the market has declined over the last two and a half years. We are in this freight recession,” Roya said.
Long Beach and Los Angeles ports are in peak season. (Sunny Tsai/FoxBusiness)
Loya added that trade tensions are at the expense of others His industry.
“Imagine losing 80% of your income. It’s pretty difficult for them to survive financially, right? So a lot of truck drivers actually started doing something else. And they didn’t know, so they left the industry.
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And experts say truck drivers continue to feel pain over time.
“Companies will invest less in the workforce that will reduce productivity in the long term, and economically, lower productivity means lower wages,” said Erle Economics Director Ernie Tedeski’s Budget Institute.
Truck carriers are cautiously optimistic, and this current surge continues until September. (Sunny Tsai/FoxBusiness)
Matt Schrap, CEO of the Harbor Trucking Association, said that future trade policies need to be clarified before truckers can bounce back.
“We can see more trucking companies going out of business without increasing volumes. So we need certainty to plan for businesses and make sure we can invest ideally,” Schrap said.
He added that trucking companies are cautiously optimistic. He added that this current surge will continue until September. But he also said a lot depends on what happens after a 90-day suspension at tariffs.