-
Login
-
Digital Edition
-
Print Edition
- Most Commented
- Most Commented
- Most Emailed
- Most Emailed
- Popular
- Popular
« News Home
Trucking industry struggles to fill shortage of 100,000 drivers
TweetBy Karl Henkel
khenkel@vindy.com
YOUNGSTOWN
Bob Costello says the trucking industry could have big problems in the coming years.
It has nothing to do with high gasoline prices.
It has everything to do with employment.
Costello, chief economist for Virginia-based American Trucking Association, expects a shortage of truckers to surpass 100,000 in the next few years as economic activity continues to pick up.
“We expect it to get as bad as it’s ever been,” he said. “Which is quite amazing in an economy with 9 percent unemployment.”
The issues are threefold:
The average age of a trucker is quite old — mid-to-late 50s — compared to other lines of work.
There are strict qualifications to break into the industry.
The job requires long hours and extended travel.
But Costello says drivers with clean records and who are willing to spend weeknights away from home can quickly qualify for a driving position that could net them a starting salary of approximately $40,000 a year.
Wages are one reason why Jim Catheline, admissions director at New Castle School of Trades, says the school has seen an increasing interest in obtaining a commercial drivers’ license.
“In some of the other fields, entry-level wages aren’t really that plentiful,” he said. “And you’ve got a lot of unemployed guys around here.”
NCST offers two courses: A six-week weekday course or a 15-weekend course for approximately $5,700.
But strict guidelines on driving records end many people’s hopes of becoming a driver before they start.
Catheline said those interested need not worry about spending
unnecessary money on a class; NCST, like many driving schools, screens candidates before admission.
“That’s one of the first things we do,” Catheline said. “If we know we are going to have an employability issues, we don’t want to spin anyone’s wheels.”
Once a certified CDL, however, the restrictions continue. That’s another problem carriers have in retaining qualified drivers, said Rick Barringer, owner of Southwind Logistics, an Austintown subcontracting broker.
In Ohio, those who commit two or more serious traffic violations within a three-year period, trigger automatic suspensions of at least 60 days.
“In the last 12 to 13 years, we’ve had to let go too many drivers because of speeding tickets,” he said.
The more serious the offense, the more serious the penalty: First-time convictions for driving under the influence, leaving the scene of a traffic crash, using a vehicle during a felony or refusing to submit to alcohol testing result in a one-year automatic suspension.
The other growing problem, however, is that many don’t want a job with long hours and extended periods away from their families. “It’s a lifestyle,” said Rick Barringer, owner of Southwind Logistics, an Austintown subcontracting broker. “You live in a truck, you’re out on the road.
“A lot of people can’t handle that.”
For those who qualify and are dedicated to the job, Costello said the solid-paying jobs offer many opportunities.
“If you’re willing to work hard — within the limits of the law — it’s not a stretch to be making $50,000 within a few years,” he said.
Aside from the money, there are the location benefits. There are so few CDLs, which led directly to an annualized driver turnover rate of 75 percent in the first quarter of 2011, up from 39 percent a year earlier, according to the American Trucking Association.
With the demand for shipping expected to increase, carriers are more desperate than ever to find qualified workers, Costello said.
“They’ve told me, ‘If I can find a driver, I have trucks to put him in,’” he said.
Comments
This article is a load of crap. Drivers do NOT make 40k their first year. They are lucky to make 20k, especially if a trucking company foots the bill for their CDL classes. Secondly, Department of Transportation in almost every state harasses drivers non stop with vehicle and log book inspections. Trucking companies should be held liable for the condition of the vehicles they own and send down the road, not the truck drivers. Most of these rules do not make the roads safer, they simply provide states with a higher source of income and take away drivers from the trucking industry. If a driver is going to act stupid he is going to do so regardless of what laws are enacted. The current DOT regulations actually is encouraging accidents by forcing the industry to employ inexperienced drivers who have clean CAR driving records but no experience with semi's. It is a recipe for disaster, particularly during the winter months when ice and snow is present. They need to leave older experienced drivers alone and loosen some of these asinine physical requirements that cause experienced drivers to lose their jobs.
Don't worry they will come from 3rd World Countries, humm....or are we the latest 3rd World County? I got it! We have the Mexican Highway in the west, let us all relax now. I have solved the problem of getting 100,000 drivers for the future:) See youtube 911justasking part 4 for the BIG PICTURE.
CassAnn, you have told the truth. The reporter should have interviewed a few experienced truckers to get a balanced view of why the driver shortage exists. When people need jobs but don't flock to a particular industry that has them, there are usually good reasons for that. The old excuses that people are lazy, don't want to work for the wages offered, don't like the hours, etc. really don't hold water anymore. About the only truly valid excuse for a particular industry not to have the employees it needs in today's economy is that it can't find qualified people.
Cass and carl make great points. A train can take the load at a fraction of the cost. We should be investing in rail to move freight.
Actually, our governor turned down $400 million to renovate those very rails.
Ok, put all the freight on rail, do you have RR tracks at your delivery dock? And for every load hauled by train you will need another truck and driver to pick it up at the rail yard to deliver it. Can you imagine the long line of trucks at the yards waiting to pick up the load. Are you people shills for the RR? A good reason trucking is so much better than rail is the speed from pick up to delivery, trains that aren't two miles long or urban congestion. Why are you people so about putting even more people out of work in this economy? First a truck hauls up to 40,000 lbs not 30,000. So calculate how many JOBS would be lost. Fewer jobs hurt our economy or haven't you figured that out. It's about America folks, not your pocket book. Those of you that want cheaper are committing economic treason on America.
Save a couple bucks a put a dozen Americans out of work, now they and their families become the lazy no good bums living on your tax dollars.
So, there is a shortage of truck drivers but there is no shortage of generations collecting welfare and tons of people on unemployment. Hmmmmm! Makes you think....you know what I think? Lazy arse people with their hands out!
Actually, you've somehow confused our comments. It's a fact that we will run out of oil, probably within the next 20-50 years depending on which source you go to for estimates. It's finite.
Best use of such fuel is for engines getting maximum efficiency. Those would be trains, not diesel trucks.
Trucks would still be needed to transport goods from the rail depots to local spots, but those cross country routes are a huge waste.
It's not about putting anyone out of a job. In fact, making shipping more efficient would increase jobs in the transportation sector AND allow for those drivers to remain local, so families would not bear the burden.
As was also said above, drivers get a raw deal. It's time to find them better jobs.
No. I did not mis-understand, oil is not the only thing A diesel truck can run on fool, you suffer of a bad case of tunnel thinking. Also, if you not looked into the amount we sub the RRs, also you say "You need to be a trucker" like that is a bad thing.
"efficient" is code speak for putting people out of work.
You sound just like these dumb republicans that believe paying less taxes to the government will
increase somehow the funds in the treasury. So
do not come at me with the stupid double talk that brain washes most teaparty morons.
Mexican trucks: Agreement benefits US
El Paso Times Editorial Board
Posted: 07/11/2011 12:00:00 AM MDT
After nearly 20 years of "wait," now come the "see" as the Mexican truck provision of the North American Free trade Agreement has been agreed upon by Mexico and the U.S.
Both Mexican and U.S. trucks will now be able to operate throughout each other's countries, and the U.S. will no longer have to pay high tariffs on dozens of exports in to Mexico.
During the past years of bickering, the U.S. has not allowed Mexican trucks past a short buffer zone inside this country; we had truck-safety concerns.
Trucks from Mexico are scary! Most of their drivers do not speak or read english and they do not come anywhere close to meeting our safety standards. An American truck driver must be able to prove he can read and understand road signs and maps and complete a truck safety inspection before he can obtain a commercial drivers license. Not so in good ole Mexico!
We get a new batch of fraudulent "talent shortage" whining every couple years, but there are plenty of skilled US citizens in each of the fields mentioned: software engineers, nurses, tool and die makers, teachers, and now truckers.
What it boils down to is that they don't want to pay US market compenstion and US working conditions, but 3rd world compensation and working conditions.
And where will the differential in compensation go? To the fraudster shortage whiners.
excellent points iBuck
rant away Gizmo...rant away and continue to infer meaning that isn't within