What Would Happen If Trucks Stopped

Trucking is the beating heart of the U.S. economy. Truck drivers deliver 10 billion tons of every commodity consumed and transport over 671 billion dollars’ worth of goods every year. In fact, 70 percent of all freight moved in the U.S. ranging from the food industry to healthcare is done by trucks.

Many people may not think twice about a truck passing them on the highway, but that truck could be delivering essential medical supplies to save someone’s life. If trucks stopped, the economy and life as we know it would fall apart.

If this were to happen, Americans would be in life-threatening situations from major delivery shortages in no time. Due to their time-sensitivity, there are seven industries that would suffer immediately if trucks stopped moving. These industries include food, healthcare, transportation, retail, manufacturing, waste removal, and banking.

With increasing truck driver shortages, you can only be left to wonder what would happen without truckers? That’s why we compiled an exact timeline of events if trucks stopped today.

One Month without Trucks

Within the first 12 hours

  • Fuel becomes scarce
  • Manufacturing delays an product component shortages
  • Hospitals and nursing homes begin to run out of food and medical supplies
  • U.S. mail and other package delivery services come to a halt

Within 1 day

  • Fuel availability will decrease, which leads to skyrocketing prices and long lines at the gas station
  • Manufacturing comes to a halt and thousands are out of work
  • Food shortages start to develop

Within 2 to 3 days

  • Gas stations are completely out of fuel
  • Without fuel, police, fire, rescue, and other public service vehicles are unable to perform duties, which further endangers public safety
  • Container ships and rail transport is disrupted and comes to a standstill
  • Food shortages escalate, leading to consumer panic and hoarding
  • Essential supplies – such as bottled water, canned meat, and powdered milk – will disappear at major retailers
  • Garbage starts to pile up, which creates breeding grounds for insects and bacteria
  • Medical waste and hazardous material start to release toxins and infectious diseases into living environments
  • ATMs run out of cash and banks are unable to process transactions

Within a week of trucks no longer operating

  • Automobile travel will come to a full halt
  • Hospitals start to lack oxygen supplies

Within 2 weeks

  • Sources of clean water run dry

Within 4 weeks

  • The clean water supply is exhausted and water will only be safe for consumption after boiling
  • The number of gastrointestinal illnesses increases due to lack of clean water, which further exhausts the already weakened health care system

However scary it may sound, this timeline of a world without trucks only shows the direct effects of a freeze in the trucking industry. Secondary effects of a trucker shutdown can also be taken into consideration, such as reduced law enforcement, increased crime, inability to use telecommunications, increased illness and injury, higher death rates, and civil unrest.

When trucks stop running, it will only be a matter of time before all our nation’s regular functions stop, which would trigger a series of events that will change the way we live.

Hopefully, this timeline gives you some newfound appreciation for truck drivers. The country truly wouldn’t be the same without their dedicated efforts. If you’re a truck driver, you should pat yourself on the back. You provide a very important service to this country.

A trucker’s job is essential to the continuation of the modern world as we know it. However important they may be, trucks are still dangerous vehicles to be around. If you have been involved in an incident, you could consider speaking with South Carolina Truck Accident Attorneys.

Since we know the consequences would be great if trucks stopped, make sure that you keep yours on the road. Thankfully, freight factoring is a straightforward way for truck drivers to get paid sooner. Give us a call today to boost your cash flow, in order to keep performing your important work. After all, when trucks stop, America stops.

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