East Bound and Down: Lack of truck drivers can mean late deliveries, higher transportation cost for newsprint

Reprinted with permission of the National Newspaper Association/Publisher’s Auxiliary

By Tony Smithson

Tony Smithson For those of us who grew up in the ’70s, the Smokey and the Bandit movies painted a pretty glamorous portrait of long-haul truckers. Of course, like most movie glamor, the reality is a lot different. The long hours away from home, stagnant wages and growing demands combine for a shortage of over–the–road drivers.

The shortage of truck drivers can impact publishers in a very real way when it comes to receiving newsprint. While some very large metropolitan newspaper printers like the Chicago Tribune and Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel can receive newsprint by rail, the vast majority of us receive our newsprint by truck.  Read more.