* Massachusetts - Drivers wanted, but what do they want?
-- The people who constitute the trucking industry are among the best examples of the American work ethic — they come to work every day focused on being a driver for the North American economy... Trucking is vital to economic growth and the pursuit of happiness, and while truckers themselves play the most critical role in this industry, it is their very happiness that often is overlooked. They keep on truckin’ — rain or snow, across mountain passes and into city ports — but now they are in short supply. Regardless of how plentiful the supply of fuel, freight, tractors or trailers, without drivers, somebody better call Houston because, “We’ve got a problem.” Without drivers, trucking stops... ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello recently said: “Fleets consistently report receiving applications for open positions, but many of those candidates do not meet the criteria to be hired. According to our research, 88% of carriers said most applicants are not qualified” ... Part of the problem, the report said, is the job’s very accurate reputation for long hours and weeks away from home. ATA believes the remedy to this shortage is higher wages, more time at home and better overall treatment... While all these things might be well-received (I mean, have you ever said “no” to more money?), I don’t believe they are going to create the necessary tipping point to this conundrum. The truckers I talk to feel like no one is actually asking them what it is they want... More frequently than not, the answer I hear is that they don’t want just to be paid the same as everyone else, they believe in a key tenet of the American work ethic. They want to be the best at what they do, and they want to be appropriately compensated for it. Drivers of all ages tell us they want respect, recognition, responsibility and a reward for good work. Isn’t that what American capitalism is all about? ...
Boston, MASS, USA - Transport Topics, by Jeff Baer - 4 April 2916
** DC - Some interesting driver initiatives
-- We’re all well aware of the driver shortage and how important it is to make certain that any new drivers we sign-up are able to safely operate their trucks... Last month, the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued two notices of proposed rule making that I think are steps in the right direction to help the trucking industry deal with what has become one of our biggest concerns... The first notice calls for making permanent the extension of the time veterans have to apply for a skills test waiver... The other proposal focuses on establishing a core curriculum for new truck drivers. It would include both a theoretical section and a driving requirement component... The theory portion would cover things like basic operation of a truck, the proper way to conduct an inspection, procedures to follow in the event of a crash, trip planning, and much more... The driving portion would require the CDL seeker to spend 30 hours behind the wheel of a truck with 10 of those hours on a driving range, and 10 hours on public road (or 10 trips of at least 50 minutes each on public roads)... Glad to see that the FMCSA is taking a leadership role on this. Now the rest of us need to continue coming up with more innovative ways to ease the driver shortage, help our veterans find good jobs, and help new drivers operate trucks as safely as possible...
Washington, DC, USA - Fleet Owner, by Jane Clark - Apr 4, 2016
*** Texas - Federal Regulations could worsen truck driver shortages
-- Driver shortages that are already hurting trucking companies could worsen as lawmakers propose new regulations that analysts say would exacerbate the problem... With unemployment low and many older truckers retiring, finding qualified drivers has become an industry challenge... Regulations that would require extensive commercial driver training and limit hours of operation – thereby increasing drivers’ time away from home – will only make things worse, industry analysts said... But they also acknowledge that limiting drivers to fewer continuous hours on the road and increasing their training would make the roads safer, something that also improves the industry’s image... Driver shortages affect more than just trucking companies, said Noël Perry, a trucking industry analyst at FTR Transportation Intelligence... Because transportation firms will likely have to pay more for training, wages and the procurement of trucks and trailers necessary to haul cargo, they’ll have to raise rates... “You can’t change the hours, you can’t change the equipment, and you can’t change the job,” Costello said. “So we’re going to have to find some way to recruit people into the industry … make the pay higher” ...
(Photo: life fanclub/Flickr - Truck Driver in the Bed of Semi Truck) -- Austin, TXS, USA - Trucks, by Tony Dreibus - April 5, 2016Labels: truckers shortage
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