The ongoing shortage of semiconductors along with limited availability of other parts and supplies, including rubber to produce tires, are causing delays for trucking fleets, a recent survey found.
Conducted by the Technology & Maintenance Council of American Trucking Associations, 73% of survey respondents said their operation has experienced delay in taking delivery of new vehicles due to the shortage of semiconductor chips. In 63% of these cases, the delay has amounted to 60 or more days.
“The situation is a perfect storm, since at the very time the pandemic restricted the ability of chip manufacturers to produce semiconductors, the demand for product increased substantially because of the large numbers of people working remotely and relying on personal electronic devices for online connectivity,” TMC Executive Director Robert Braswell said.
The pandemic is to blame for the shortage, the report states, and the shortage was worsened by U.S. trade sanctions imposed on Chinese companies in 2020.
In addition to semiconductors, supply chain interruptions have delayed the trade of natural rubber, a key material used in tires. With the global supply already running short after stockpiling by China and a devastating leaf disease, rubber prices are on the rise and some U.S. auto suppliers are rushing to secure shipments before the market gets squeezed further.
