Under Pressure: The Driver Shortage & Its Impact on Loading Dock Safety

Guest blog by Virginie Durand, copywriter for MHI member GMR Safety

It’s just before dawn at a busy distribution center. The first trucks begin to roll in. Some drivers are seasoned professionals who know the drill; others are navigating their first week on the job, subcontracted at the last minute to fill urgent labor gaps. On the loading dock, the crew is already in motion. Everyone is in a hurry and wants to get the trailer loaded and unloaded as quickly as possible to keep freight flowing on schedule. This scenario plays out every day at warehouses across North America and puts the lives of many at stake.

As the industry continues to grapple with a worsening truck driver shortage, the pressure on distribution teams is intensifying. What used to be predictable, repeatable routines are now more fragmented and rushed, introducing new risks at one of the most dangerous points in the supply chain: the loading dock.

According to the American Trucking Associations, the U.S. faced a shortfall of 60,000 drivers in 2023. That gap is expected to reach 82,000 by the end of 2025, and potentially 160,000 by 2030 if current trends persist [i]. The numbers tell a clear story: the industry is struggling to attract and retain qualified drivers at a time when demand for freight movement remains high.

Adding to the challenge, turnover rates in long-haul trucking consistently exceed 90%, flooding facilities with a revolving door of new or temporary drivers, many of whom are unfamiliar with each site’s safety equipment, communication practices, or protocols [ii]. This lack of consistency at the dock increases the likelihood of miscommunication, unsafe departures, and critical oversights that can lead to serious accidents.

The Hidden Hazards on Loading Docks

1. Unfamiliarity with Site Procedures

When drivers rotate frequently, mandatory safety steps like setting wheel restraints, understanding dock lights, or following internal communication signals can be overlooked.

That’s when near misses happen or worse. One of the most common scenarios amongst them are early departures. This happens when a driver is unaware or in a hurry, pulls off before the loading is complete. It’s a scenario dock teams know all too well, and one that’s entirely preventable with clear procedures and awareness.

2. The Pressure to Move Faster

In the race to meet delivery deadlines, the pressure’s on. Tight schedules sometimes push teams to skip checks or rush processes. A study from Travelers shows that around 30% of trailer accidents occur during docking, backing, or yard maneuvering [iii]. Even though the truck’s not on the road, the risk at the dock remains dangerously high, especially when speed takes priority over safety.

3. Detention Delays and Fatigue

While some trucks rush in and out, others sit idle for hours. According to MH&L, drivers spend 117 to 209 hours per year detained at docks, often unpaid.

This waiting game increases fatigue, frustration, and the likelihood of mistakes. And when drivers finally get moving, they may be less attentive, both on the road and at the dock.

4. Fatigue-Induced Errors at the Dock

Driver fatigue is a silent hazard. It doesn’t just affect drivers behind the wheel; it shows up when parking, setting brakes, or waiting for a dock signal. Fatigue is a factor in 12% of truck incidents, and truck drivers are five times more likely to die on the job compared to the average worker [iv] (NIOSH data). Overlooking it puts both people and operations in danger — and no warehouse manager wants that on their conscience.

What Warehouse Managers Can Do Beyond Compliance

Staying compliant is just the baseline. To truly protect staff and to ensure safe operations, warehouse managers must take a proactive, integrated approach to safety, one that embeds it into every layer of dock activity. It begins with clear and consistent communication. Every driver, whether a trusted partner or a subcontractor arriving for the first time, should be regularly briefed on site-specific procedures. Supporting this with visible signage, intuitive visual cues, and multilingual materials ensures that safety expectations are understood and applied without confusion.

But communication alone isn’t enough. Investing in reliable safety equipment, such as vehicle restraints paired with visual and audible alert systems, helps reinforce expectations and reduce the chance of human error, especially when the pressure is on. These tools act as an extra layer of control in an environment where the pace is fast and room for mistakes is slim.

Still, even the best equipment can’t replace culture. A safety-first mindset must be lived and modeled at every level of the organization. This includes creating an environment where employees feel confident reporting near misses, and where leadership actively supports joint health and safety committees, particularly during seasonal surges or periods of high turnover.

Strong collaboration with carriers is another critical piece. When transportation partners are aligned on your safety expectations and understand site-specific procedures before drivers even arrive, it reduces the risk of missteps and fosters smoother, safer operations for all.

Finally, smart dock scheduling brings it all together. When appointments are well-managed and congestion is reduced, operations not only run more efficiently, but they also run safer. Less time waiting at the dock means less fatigue for drivers and less chaos for warehouse teams, setting the tone for a calmer, more controlled working environment.

A Team Effort

The truck driver shortage isn’t just a logistics headache; it’s a growing safety concern at the loading dock. Addressing it requires more than quick fixes. It calls for leadership, vigilance, and true collaboration between warehouse teams, carriers, and drivers.

As Landline Media stated, poor working conditions and stagnant wages are major contributors to the ongoing labor shortage in the trucking industry. If companies want to retain qualified drivers and keep this essential workforce engaged, they need to invest not only in safety equipment, but also in improving the overall well-being of the people behind the wheel. When drivers feel safe, respected, and supported, they’re far more likely to stay in the industry, and that stability benefits everyone along the supply chain.

With peak season on the horizon, now is the time to take a closer look at your loading dock operations. Standardizing procedures, investing in the right safety technologies, and building strong partnerships with carriers should be on your mind.

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ⁱ The Truck Driver Shortage: Statistics & Trends. https://altline.sobanco.com/truck-driver-shortage

ⁱⁱ Truck Driver Retention Problem Caused By Low Pay Working Conditions https://landline.media/ooida-truck-driver-retention-problem-caused-by-low-pay-working-conditions/

ⁱⁱⁱ Prevent Trailer Damage to Loading Docks with Dock Bumpers. https://materialhandlingsafety.org/prevent-trailer-damage-to-loading-docks-with-dock-bumpers/

^iv Truck Driver Detention: A Big Problem. https://www.mhlnews.com/transportation-distribution/article/55140053/truck-driver-detention-a-big-problem