This article examines how America’s truck-driver shortage, worsened by deregulation from 2016 to 2022, has created a hellscape in the trucking industry. It reveals how minimally trained drivers in small fleets face below-market pay and excessive 14–20-hour shifts, using tampered electronic logging devices to bypass regulations. The rise of freight brokers controlling a third of loads intensifies competition, pushing spot rates below legal operational costs, leading to safety risks, cargo theft, and financial struggles for legitimate carriers. Crucially, it explores the role of AI and autonomous driving as potential solutions, which could transform the industry by reducing costs, improving safety, and addressing labor challenges. This analysis offers deep insights into the intersection of policy, technology, and labor, making it highly relevant for AI and autonomous vehicle enthusiasts.
