merican consumers have nearly always enjoyed relatively low prices for the fresh produce they eat. Production in the U.S. remains high, and transportation systems around the country deliver produce affordably.

But this scene could change in the near future. The fresh produce trucking industry in California and around the United States is facing problems that could weaken transportation systems and ultimately raise prices for consumers.

"It is said that the agricultural trucking industry is heading for economic trouble," stated Fresno State agricultural economist John Hagen, head of a research effort launched to help prevent a worst-case scenario. At a recent convention of the Product Marketing Association in Georgia, Hagen noted, leaders outlined a litany of transportation problems: equipment is wearing out and trucks are not being replaced because of low profit margins; refrigeration units are aging, and new equipment must be fitted with expensive non-chlorofluorocarbon refrigerant.

There also are personnel problems: Fewer drivers are willing to make transnational shipments which require them to be away from home base for extended periods; and rising costs of operations are making it more difficult for owner-operators of single rigs to compete.

"Increasingly, potential drivers are seeking careers in industries other than produce truck driving," Hagen said. If the industry falters, consumers would be affected by a spike in fresh produce prices.

The research effort, which is being supported by the California Agricultural Technology Institute (CATI) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will include direct surveys of industry representatives in order to learn more specifics about the problems.

Survey instruments will seek to obtain information in the following areas:

• Shippers’ perspectives of the trucking industry – data gathered will include availability, dependability, quality of service, and quality of the transport function provided;
   
• Truckers’ perspectives of hauling the nation’s supply of fresh fruits and vegetables;
   
• Concerns of the receiving firms who depend upon the trucking industry to deliver a high quality product in a timely manner;
   
• Seriousness of the problems confronting produce truckers;
   
• Possible ways in which the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other public agencies may assist the produce industry in solving these problems.

Once the survey data is collected and analyzed, Hagen will compile it into a report that will be presented at a special industry conference slated for the spring of 1999.

A similar survey and report process was undertaken several years ago to address problems in the California food export industry, Hagen noted. As a result, industry representatives formed a leadership coalition that has helped provide needed direction. Hagen hopes the same thing will happen with the produce trucking industry.

For more information on this project, Hagen may be contacted through the Department of Agricultural Economics, at (559) 278-3044.

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CALIFORNIA AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE - CATI
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