I'd guess anecdotally the driver shortage is real, given that I know three truck drivers, one of which is long haul, and is on track to retire in his 40's, the others are making quite good money after both jumping from company to company every few years since they started.
You don't see massive wage increases if you don't need additional talent afterall.
The downside is, if you can't fill your need for socialization, it's a very lonely life, and really isn't for everyone. That alone explains the shortage handily in my book.
In the UK I recall we have about 70k or more drivers with HGV licence who don't work as drivers and there is a "shortage". There are two main reasons they no longer work - first one is government changed the law, so they can no longer run a business (if you own a haulage company, you can't perform service as an owner) and so not many fancy driving without sense of working for oneself and expanding, the second reason are poor wages. So even if someone comes to terms that it is now a dead end job, the alternative cost of doing it is too high. E.g. spend years behind the wheel and in 10 years time, due to inflation you will probably be making less money than when you started. In that same 10 years time you could have learned a different trade and make up for the time spent on learning and have a view for progression.
You don't see massive wage increases if you don't need additional talent afterall.
The downside is, if you can't fill your need for socialization, it's a very lonely life, and really isn't for everyone. That alone explains the shortage handily in my book.