How will the US deal with a shortage of 80,000 truckers?

"And then that way now your day is over and you're late on the load and your pay is docked," he says.

When he first got behind the wheel eight years ago, Mr Whitehead was under no illusion how tough the job was. His grandfather and two uncles were truckers before him. Still, he understands why so many drivers end up leaving the business.

The schedule often means long hours on the road, with extended periods of time away from family.

A father of five, he is only at home for four to six days a month.

"It's equivalent to being in the army because we're doing a service to America," he says. "Without the recognition, without the pride, without the respect and without the money."

The current crisis shows how heavily the US relies on these unsung key workers.

To help increase the number of available drivers, President Biden's infrastructure bill would let drivers as young as 18 drive a truck across state lines. - currently a driver has to be 21.

Over time the hope is this would significantly increase the workforce.

Increased focus on supply chain woes is leading to changes in America's trucking industry but they are not happening fast enough to reverse the current shortage of drivers.