Young Drivers

Driver Schools See High Numbers of Potential Drivers Amid Shortage, Some Offer Incentives

December 3, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

“It’s an exciting time to be a truck driver right now because there’s so much demand for drivers,” said director of the California Truck Driving Academy, Tina Singh. “Our yards are busy, and they’re very vibrant with a lot of activity.”

The truck driver school, based in Los Angeles, has seen more potential truck drivers walk through its doors recently than it has in quite a while, which can likely be attributed to the long-running truck driver shortage taking place across the country that has brought with it competitive pay and benefit offers from fleets desperate to onboard more truckers.

Since 2020, the California Truck Driving Academy has had a nearly 20% boost in enrollment and may even begin offering night classes to meet demands, according to Singh.

“Everything in this country runs by truck at some point or another,” she said. “And so, you know, you need truck drivers to move goods.”

Because the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a major increase in e-commerce and online shopping habits, consumer spending has risen 15% over the last year, with production numbers reaching numbers of 5% more than before the start of the pandemic as manufacturers step up to meet the demand for goods as efficiently as possible.

Additionally, many employees in a variety of industries decided to leave jobs during the pandemic that caused them to frequently come into contact with other people. Because of this, goods transport worker, retail staffer, and ship-unloading worker shortages skyrocketed, as did the overall shortage of truck drivers–which has reached about 80,000, noted University of Southern California’s Marshall Center for Global Supply Chain Management’s executive director, Nick Vyas.

The California Truck Driving Academy has also seen boosts in potential drivers showing up for training due to a clearly stretched-thin supply chain at ports in Long Beach and Los Angeles, where many ships are often waiting off the coast for unloading for long periods of time (the average wait is currently at 17 days, although port efforts are operating 24/7).

By filling these vacant roles, “you’re kind of helping the community out, and you’re making money at the same time,” said Academy student Thierno Barry. “It’s a win-win situation.”

Driving schools in other states are also doing their part to ease the exacerbated driver shortage. FleetForce Truck Driving School is now working with the Florida Trucking Association in an effort to bring more truckers into the industry.

FTA-affiliated companies are currently offering to pay full tuition for new truck drivers working to enter the trucking world and obtain their commercial driver’s licenses. Additionally, some students will be able to receive sign-on bonuses along with a full paycheck from the FTA-affiliated company once they’ve received their CDL and are continuing training.

“Trucking is a central part of growing and maintaining a strong economy, but it’s also a life-changing career opportunity for so many people,” said Tra Williams, CEO of FleetForce. “This new program is offering free training and guaranteed employment for applicants who meet the qualifications.”

Williams echoed Barry’s sentiments about how mutually beneficial entering the industry at this time really is for both the economy and the truckers themselves.

“There’s excellent earning potential in this industry right now, and there’s a dire need for entry-level drivers,” Williams said. “It’s a win-win.”

Covering these kinds of costs for new truckers is especially important, as training costs can often deter potential truckers from even beginning the road to employment.

“FTA is always looking for creative solutions to solve industry challenges,” said FTA President, Alix Miller. “The driver shortage limits capacity for trucking companies, and directly impacts the economy and Floridians’ daily lives. This collaboration matches some of the most well-respected companies in the state with well-trained drivers eager to get on the road.”

Right now, FleetForce is working on pre-hire screening checks to make sure incoming applicants are indeed qualified for this particular program. As for the California Truck Driving Academy–what’s currently needed the most is more truck driving instructors.

Recruiting Younger Drivers and Transitioning to EVs are Main Focuses of ATRI’s Recent Study

June 19, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Finger pressing an autopilot button in a self driving car. Composite image between a hand photography and a 3D background.

The American Transportation Research Institute’s Research Advisory Committee has determined the research topics to be prioritized by the group–a list that was recently approved by ATRI’s board of directors.

The list of topics was developed and given the stamp of approval at a recent Atlanta meeting, and committee members identifying the top industry priority list components included leaders of labor unions, government officials, academics and experts, as well as trucking company executives.

2021’s top research priority? How to best recruit and retain young truck drivers–between 18 and 20 years old–into the trucking industry.

To determine the best methods of recruiting, training, and retaining young truck drivers in the industry, ATRI plans to utilize an effective case study approach. This kind of focus is aligned with the entire industry’s efforts to ease the challenge of the current truck driver shortage–a top industry issue on ATRI’s list for the fourth consecutive year.

At the end of 2018, the overall trucker shortage was estimated to reach 60,800 drivers by American Trucking Associations.

However, ATRI’s recent top-ranking focus is not just to bring about additional truck drivers, but to incentivize young workers to join the industry in regards to a “whole host of career options in the trucking industry,” explained President of ATRI, Rebecca Brewster.

“I like that [this priority] is taking a more holistic approach [toward]: How do we just get more young people into this industry and keep them here?” Brewster said.

However, it doesn’t seem that it will be enough just to drawn younger people into trucking–a method that hasn’t brought much relief to the country’s driver shortage. What needs major focus, Brewster said, are overarching retention efforts.

“It’s not just enough to come up with messaging and understanding how to make this industry appealing to them, but, [rather], how do we effectively train that cohort of individuals and how do we keep them in the industry?” she said.

Environmental topics are also priorities of ATRI, such as the need to better understand the benefits zero-emission trucks and their impact on the environment. The research that will take place around this topic will include a comparative study in regards to the environmental impact and life cycles of diesel Class 8 trucks in comparison to those of electric trucks. The study will also involve analysis of methods of operations, disposal, and manufacturing.

Additionally, as more and more trucks transition to the electric engine, ATRI has prioritized research into how best to create better truck charging infrastructure capabilities. To study this, the group will research overall grid connectivity availability, charging requirements of trucks and other vehicles, and scenarios regarding power demand and supply.

As climate change challenges and other environmental problems gain more attention and focus within both state and federal agencies, according to Brewster, 2021 is the first year that the topics of electric vehicle charging infrastructure and zero-emission truck impacts have become top priorities for ATRI. Also adding to the need for focus on these subjects is the American Jobs Plan proposed by President Biden, which suggests the allocation of $174 billion into the electric vehicle market across the country.

“ATRI’s Research Advisory Committee has identified a number of areas that are having a profound impact on the trucking industry and will continue to for the foreseeable future,” noted Sean McNally, a spokesman for ATA. “ATRI’s research is invaluable to ATA as we advocate for solutions to these challenges, so we are looking forward to the results of their studies.”

Other major areas of focus which made ATRI’s Top Priority List include an update to the group’s report from 2019 which looked into how controlled substance law changes are affecting state workforces and roadway safety. The impacts of decriminalizing drugs such as marijuana on the trucking industry have still yet to be extensively studied.

Finally, the last prioritized item on ATRI’s list is analyzing the effects of driver-facing cameras. The group intends to study their impact in regards to litigation, workforces, and overall safety for both drivers and fleets as a whole.

Workforce Legislation for Young Drivers Introduced by Senate

May 31, 2021 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Logistics manager controlling truck driver schedule

“Today, 18-year-olds can drive more than 200 miles from New Albany to Gary and back, but they aren’t allowed to drive two miles from New Albany to Louisville,” said Senator Todd Young, who also serves as a member of the trucking policy-overseeing Commerce Committee. “The DRIVE-Safe Act will eliminate this ridiculous regulation and, in doing so, [will] address the driver shortage while providing new career opportunities for young Hoosiers.”

There have, until recently, been widespread restrictions for truck drivers under than age of 21 to operate trucks within interstate commerce, and many groups throughout the trucking industry have been working to relax those regulations in an effort to introduce more drivers into the workforce and help combat the national truck driver shortage. This shortage has been high on the list of trucking industry concerns for quite some time.

Recently, senators released legislation that would allow truckers younger than 21 to operate across state lines. The bill has been named the Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE-Safe) Act, and has been backed strongly by Senator Young.

“The DRIVE Safe Act, which has strong bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, will expand job opportunities in trucking while also enhancing safety training and technology standards,” said American Trucking Associations recently in a tweet.

Young first introduced a version of this bill at a prior congressional session, but the legislation did not make it to the desk of the president. He has now reintroduced this bill to Congress with the support of Senators Kyrsten Sinema, Tom Cotton, Jerry Moran, Angus King, Jim Inhofe, and Joe Manchin–all co-sponsors of the bill.

The bill will focus on boosting employment opportunities and safety training for these young truckers, and would work to implement specific apprenticeship programs that would help all commercial driver license holders who are younger than 21 become able to haul shipments between different states via commercial motor vehicles.

“Now, more than ever, young Montanans need more opportunities to get comprehensive job training, access higher-paying work, and grow their careers early on,” said bill co-sponsor, Senator Jon Tester. “This bipartisan bill will do just that, allowing younger truckers to get top-of-the-line apprenticeships that kick their careers into gear, all while providing a big boost to the thousands of communities across the Big Sky who rely almost exclusively on trucks to move goods in and out of the state.”

Besides the partial solution that this bill would bring to the truck driver shortage, one major benefit, according to the bill’s supporters, is the economic boost it could bring to the country’s supply chain.

The current driver shortage has been a major factor in the nation’s economic struggles, Young explained.

“A strong domestic supply chain is essential for a competitive national economy, and the efficiency of the domestic supply chain is contingent upon the efficiency of our transportation networks,” Young said. “I’m concerned about the trucking industry’s growing driver shortage and its impact on the resilience of our domestic supply chain.”

American Trucking Associations has warned that the driver shortage is likely to continue at an incline over the next few years, with the rising demand in e-commerce (which skyrocketed during the pandemic’s stay-at-home orders) and growing numbers of trucking retirees being the largest causes.

According to ATA, the trucking industry will need to bring onboard an additional 1.1 million new truck drivers–or around 110,000 annually–over the next ten years if it wants to meet the demands of the country.

“This bill has strong, bipartisan backing because it’s both common sense and pro-safety,” said President of ATA, Chris Spear. “It raises the bar for training standards and safety technology far above what is asked of the thousands of under-21 drivers who are already legally driving commercial vehicles in 49 states today. The DRIVE-Safe Act is not a path to allow every young person to drive across state lines, but it envisions creating a safety-centered process for identifying, training, and empowering the safest, most responsible 18- to 20-year-olds to more fully participate in our industry.”

Pilot Program Aims to Bring 18- to 20-Year-Old Drivers to Interstate Commerce

November 4, 2020 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced its intent to allow young drivers between the ages of 18 and 20 to operate commercial motor vehicles through a new pilot program.

As of early September, FMCSA will push for drivers in this age group with commercial driver licenses to be able to operate CMVs in interstate commerce efforts. Those drivers would, however, be subject to a 120-hour probationary period and 280-hour apprenticeship period.

Eligible drivers also include those of 19 or 20 years of age who have operated commercial motor vehicles within intrastate commerce for at least one year over 25,000 miles.

“The study group drivers would not be allowed to operate vehicles hauling passengers, hazardous materials, or special configuration vehicles,” FMCSA clarified in its announcement.

Study group participants will have their vehicles set up to include driver-assisting technology, such as speed limiters set at 65 miles per hour, active braking collision-mitigation systems, and forward-facing video capture capabilities.

“This action will allow the agency to carefully examine the safety, feasibility, and possible economic benefits of allowing 18- to 20-year-old drivers to operate in interstate commerce,” said Wiley Deck, Deputy Administrator for FMCSA. “Safety is always FMCSA’s top priority, so we encourage drivers, motor carriers, and interested citizens to review this proposed new pilot program and share their thoughts and opinions.”

This particular program aligns with the efforts of the DRIVE Safe Act, which worked to allow younger truckers to enter interstate commerce. American Trucking Associations and other industry groups have backed the legislation, which is also currently sponsored by 144 congresspeople and 34 senators.

“This is a significant step toward improving safety on our nation’s roads, setting a standard for these drivers that is well beyond what 49 states currently require,” said ATA President Chris Spear. “This is an amazing block of talent with unlimited potential.”

These 49 states allow CDL holders in this young age group to operate CMVs within state borders, and the new proposed pilot follows the 2018 announcement of the Military Commercial Driver Pilot Program, which would allow 18- to 20-year-old drivers with a military background to drive CMVs within interstate commerce. The pilot also comes after 2019’s notice by the Federal Register seeking public commentary regarding where and how a young driver pilot program could take place, including comments about training, limitations, operational requirements, insurance, research, and vehicle safety systems.

“As an industry, we need to find new ways to connect with potential new drivers,” said Randy Guillot, Chairman of ATA and president of Triple G Express and Southeastern Motor Freight. “By providing young people the opportunity to fully participate in the financially-rewarding and dynamic world of trucking, we will be in a better position to bring in a new generation of valuable talent to our industry.”

This month’s notice also requests public comment for a period of 60 days, and also approaches the 1,118 comments from 2019’s notice, which includes a nearly 50/50 split between those favoring and opposing the pilot program. More than 95 organizations and 1,000 total people commented.

Of these, 750 commenters submitted personal opinions, while the remaining pushed for a program focusing on shorthaul drivers instead. Those opposing the program included organizations such as Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways, Governors Highway Safety Association, Insurance Institute of Highway Safety, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Parents Against Tired Truckers, Trucking Alliance, and other private carriers and citizens.

Supporters of the program include ATA, Commercial Vehicle Training Association, DriverReach, National Propane Gas Association, National Interstate Insurance, National Association of Publicly Funded Truck Driving Schools, National Retail Federation, and Towing and Recovery Association of America.

The announcement for this pilot program comes as the country has long-faced a driver shortage, which worsened with the high demand brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Although the program’s supporters promise a focus on highway safety for these young drivers, it is difficult to ignore the fact that the trucking world just wants more drivers entering the industry, regardless of age or experience. Does allowing truckers still in their teen years to begin operating in interstate commerce bring more safety to trucking as a whole, or does it just allow more trucks to hit the road?

It’s Teen Driver Safety Week

October 17, 2016 by Levinson and Stefani Leave a Comment

Your kids are getting older and that means more freedom. There’s one perk that figures to be a prominent point of contention: driving.

Parents, here’s your opportunity to ease the anxiety. Through Saturday, educators are taking part in National Teen Driver Safety Week, an advocacy campaign designed to raise awareness among teen drivers about operating vehicles responsibly. The annual program began back in 2007 after a series of crashes in Pennsylvania prompted aggressive action by Congress to curb future accidents.

Since then, advocacy programs have taken a long-term approach to tackling poor habits by encouraging community-based support systems rather than using scared-straight tactics to prevent would-be drivers from making bad decisions. For years, conventional wisdom held that showing kids pictures and videos of mangled cars was a good way to prevent that.

Not so much. Motor vehicle crashes remain the leading cause of death for 15–19 year olds in the U.S. There were 2,679 passenger vehicle drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2014 alone, and an estimated 123,000 teens were injured because of things like texting while driving, which accounts for thousands of preventable traffic-related fatalities each year.

Teen Driver Safety Week continues to receive a swell of support from influential figures, including endorsements from celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and Jesse McCartney. Federal and local groups have also been eager to trot out new approaches to driver education by giving parents and teens alike an opportunity to ask questions or voice concerns from within a safe space.

Driver safety should be an ongoing conversation, but at the very least, you’ve got a full week when everyone is on the same page. Take advantage while you can.