A shortage of long-haul truck drivers could lead to shortages for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holiday periods.

The trucking sector lost about 6% of its U.S. labor force during shutdowns last year, and it remains tens of thousands of jobs short of its pre-pandemic peak. In recent weeks, leading food distributors across the country have been forced to cancel or delay some orders because of understaffing and supply chain disruptions.

The labor challenges are short-term, but the resurgence of the pandemic has cast doubt on the speed of the recovery. Due to continued complications throughout the shipping process, stores are already warning shoppers of higher prices and limited inventories this holiday season.

Read more from FOX Chattanooga HERE