Truckers have sat for 50 years worth of collective idling at US ports in 2021, data shows

Truck drivers working at US ports have sat idling for a total of 50 years in 2021 so far, a recent study shows. 

The “idle time” data was collected from the Port of Los Angeles, and the Port of New York and New Jersey by Lytx, a transport telematics company. 

2021 isn’t even over yet and truckers at these two ports have collectively sat in a stopped truck with the engine running for an average of 24 hours a day total, which amounts to around 50 years worth of waiting when you consider each individual trucker’s wait time. 

Business Insider reports that this idling time has increased by 50% per truck between early 2018 and October 2021, a fact that can be at least partially attributed to the recent west coast port issues and subsequent supply chain disruptions. 

So far, the only notable steps the administration has taken to alleviate the port congestion is to expand port hours to a 24/7 schedule, but truckers and supply chain experts alike say that this move will hardly make a difference in the backlogs. 

“It’s great that they’ve chosen to do something, but we’re talking about a less than 1% to 2% change here,” said supply chain analyst Brian Whitlock. “The work that they’re talking about here is going to be immaterial. It probably won’t even be visible.”