NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Not too long ago carriers were parking trucks and telling owner-ops ‘don’t call us, we’ll call you.’

Now, two-thirds of carriers report they’re starting to experience a driver shortage, according to Transport Capital Partners’ Business Expectation Survey.

The demand for drivers reflects the increase in truck freight in the second quarter, TCP stated in the report.

"With volumes increasing and expectations rising, the old challenge of driver recruiting has resurfaced," said Richard Mikes, TCP partner.

And while carriers are ramping up recruiting, smaller fleets are having less trouble finding drivers," said Lana Batts, managing partner for TCP.

"In particular the supply demand dynamics have rapidly shifted to the truckers’ favor after the depressed years with current rates rising and expectations for better months ahead," said Batts.

The survey also found that carriers have become less dependent on brokers, with almost 80 percent indicating they’ve used brokers less often than in the last quarter.