According to February data from ACT Research’s For-Hire Trucking Index, the Driver Availability Index has tightened to another new low point in the past three years.

“The Driver Availability Index tightened to a new low in February, to 23.6 from 25 in January,” Tim Denoyer, vice president and senior analyst for ACT Research, said. “But as fleets often like to be gearing up for springtime volume growth in February, the tightness in the driver market feels acute. For the third straight month, this was the tightest reading in the three-year history of this index.

“The latest stimulus is yet another factor on a long list of driver constraints keeping the truckload market tight. Demographics and the FMCSA Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse are also factors inhibiting driver re-engagement, even in response to record spot rates and rising driver pay. Significant additions to capacity this year are unlikely.”