California is a HUGE part of the problem. Making those ports 24/7 isn't going to do anything except pile goods up on shore with no way of getting to the interior of the country. And it's not necessarily a "shortage of drivers" in the way they say.....it's a shortage of drivers willing to go to California.
A lot of "Owner/ Operators" don't want to go anywhere near the state of California becuase of certain rules/taxes/regulations. Whether it's California's new "gig economy" rules for truckers (essentially bans owner/operators), or the heavy regulations on what types of trucks can be driven in California (engine must be from 2007 or newer), and their exhaust/emissions regulations.
I have two friends that are OTR Truck drivers (owner/operators), and they refuse to deliver or pick up anything from California.
One of them was pulled over a few years ago in California, and was given a choice of getting his truck "fixed" to meet California's bone-headed requirements at the cost of nearly $50,000.00, or pay the fines for operating a non-compliant vehicle and forfeit the ability to operate in California. He payed the fines, temporarily lost his privilege to operate in California, got the hell outta dodge, and has never returned!
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