Trucking industry professionals throughout Malaysia and Asia are facing several issues. Some are new, while others have been persisting for years.

Addressing the impending driver shortage, increasing carbon footprint and other concerns are paramount to staying afloat within the sector and continuing services.

1. Increasing Workload
Truckers already face several heavy responsibilities when delivering goods at a high speed. While fulfilling those core roles, some come across additional responsibilities with vehicle maintenance and loading items.

Malaysian government policy states that a declaration of customs form K2 is now mandatory before entering the free trade zone area in Port Klang. While the new directive makes sense, it creates extra waiting times when accessing the port and causes delays for truck drivers.

2. Financial Health
Balancing the increasing costs of running a trucking business and meeting wages can prove to be challenging. On one hand, drivers have a desire for higher compensation. Failing to meet those needs has already boosted employee turnover throughout the industry.

However, inflation ramps up capital costs and impacts companies’ financial stance. It’s important to cover expenses like purchasing trucks, equipment, insurance plans and more. Trucking services need to be rigorous in managing their cash flow.

Have a proper budget to work around. Accounting and bookkeeping can assist with recording how much is spent and earned from quarter to quarter. You can analyze the data to see what can be adjusted to meet everyone’s needs.

3. Driver Shortage
Driver income is only one of the reasons why Malaysia has been on the verge of a trucker shortage for a while. A 2021 study finds that psychographic factors like an aspiration to excel are to blame for hiring difficulties. Young generations have a negative perception of the career, which can discourage them from considering it.

There are still people who opt to work in the truck driving industry because of their interest in and satisfaction with the business. A more positive image can ignite more regard from other people within society toward the sector.

In terms of retention, incentives like medical insurance and paid vacations can make quite a difference in matching what other industries are offering. It can also be empowering to have better amenities at truck terminals and good equipment for operations.

4. Carbon Footprint
The trucking sector has always had a problem with its environmental impact, and businesses are called upon to manage their carbon footprint better. Malaysia is going to transition to Euro 5 Petrol to further minimize emissions. Drivers must be aware of this shift in industry standards to assist in these changes.

Practices like truck platooning can also be helpful. This method involves connecting trucks in the convoy in terms of communication, allowing different units to follow one another at closer distances. You could enhance fuel efficiency since there’s less wind drag involved, which lowers carbon emissions in the long run.

5. Maintenance and Repair Costs
The roads may be challenging for drivers to navigate, with their focus set on finishing their miles no matter what. Unfortunately, they may overlook the terrain’s impact on the vehicles. Businesses within the trucking industry are also responsible for covering maintenance costs, which can affect both financial health and the timeliness of operations.

Repairs and replacements are even more costly. The average life span of trucks in Japan is about 16.08 years at the time of registration cancellation. It can be even less depending on the wear and tear they go through while in service.

6. Gender Inequality
The trucking industry has been quite male-dominated, which discourages women from joining. The level of inequality in this field can even foster negative attitudes toward the other gender and create a level of superiority. Thankfully, some businesses are attempting to break the stereotypes.

For instance, the Volvo Iron Women Programme is collaborating with the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry to help women qualify as heavy-duty commercial truck drivers for more representation. Five graduates have already proven that they have the passion and determination to stand within the same space as men.

7. Work-Life Imbalance
Anyone within the trucking business understands the level of commitment and time that the job demands. Malaysia was ranked as the worst Asian country in terms of work-life balance, especially if you operated from Kuala Lumpur or Selangor.

Companies can face these issues by regulating drivers’ working hours. Addressing the staffing problems behind the scenes can also help. By rotating through different employees, individuals will have enough time with their families and friends to rest from operations. It would increase employee satisfaction off-hours and improve productivity levels when clocked in.

Address Industry Issues
Truckers within Malaysia and other surrounding countries are subject to numerous responsibilities and strict work conditions. Companies must be considerate of these situations and empower their drivers with further support and training.

Author Bio: Oscar Collins is an auto writer with over five years of experience in the industry. He has bylines at Carwash, Global Trade Mag and InAutomotive. Follow him on X @TModded for frequent updates on his work.