The Construction Labor Shortage Is Not Over and GPS Can Help Crews Work Smarter
The Construction Labor Shortage Is Not Over and GPS Can Help Crews Work Smarter
The construction industry needs to attract an estimated 349,000 net new workers during 2026 to meet demand, according to Associated Builders and Contractors. The challenge is already visible in hiring data. Construction employers had approximately 259,000 open positions at the end of April, the highest level recorded during the first four months of 2026.
Construction companies cannot solve the national labor shortage on their own. They can, however, reduce the amount of time existing employees spend searching for equipment, calling drivers, locating trailers, and trying to reconstruct where company assets were left.
Skilled workers should not spend time searching for assets
Consider how often these questions are asked during a normal week:
Without a tracking system, managers may need to call several employees to find the answer. Each call interrupts someone who should be completing productive work. GPS location data gives managers a faster way to answer basic operational questions.
Different assets require different GPS trackers
Construction trucks and service vehicles can use hardwired or OBD GPS trackers that provide real time locations, routes, stop and start reports, mileage information, and vehicle history. GPS and Track’s fleet platform can also help dispatchers determine which vehicle is closest to a new assignment.
Equipment and trailers without a continuous power source can use battery powered trackers. Depending on the tracker and configuration, contractors can receive scheduled locations, movement alerts, geofence notifications, and more frequent reporting during a recovery situation.
This allows the company to monitor mixed assets without trying to force the same device onto every application.
Technology should support the workforce
GPS tracking is not a substitute for experienced operators, drivers, mechanics, foremen, or project managers. It helps those employees spend less time on avoidable administrative work.
A foreman can check whether the trailer has arrived instead of calling the driver. A dispatcher can see the closest service vehicle instead of contacting every technician. An equipment manager can verify whether a machine is still at the assigned project before scheduling transportation. The result is better visibility across the operation.
When qualified workers are difficult to find, construction companies need to protect their employees’ time. GPS and Track helps owners locate equipment, trailers, and vehicles without creating another chain of phone calls across the company.
Want to try it out?
See our platform and trackers in action by checking out our live demo below.