Trucking Industry Deals With Recruiting Challenges
Trucking Capacity and the Aging Driver Workforce
Trucking is facing many challenges in 2018. New ELD mandates are placing an enforced limit on hours of operation, and valuable, experienced OTR drivers are reaching retirement age. The overall US economy is booming, with the expansion of e-commerce adding to a capacity crunch at a time when virtually every consumer item travels by truck at one time or another along the supply chain.
With the average age of truck drivers now at 49, the scramble is on to recruit new drivers, but the industry is facing some regulatory obstacles.
Age Restrictions Hamper High School Graduate Recruiting
Transport Topics highlights the obstacles which rule out a wide pool of potential new drivers in their article "Michigan Trucking Companies Struggle to Find Drivers". In the article Helen Zeerip, president of Teddy's Transport in Holland, MI explains that high school graduates are ruled out of the recruiting process due to insurance and federal age restrictions.
Insurance company regulations require that drivers must be 23 with a minimum of 2 years driving experience and less than 3 points on their motor vehicle records. Zeerip noted that even if the insurance restriction was lifted, the federal age restriction on interstate driving requiring a driver to be at least 21 to cross state lines would mean that any driver in the 18-20 age group would be limited to driving only in the state where the carrier is domiciled
Trucking Shifts Recruiting Tactics
The trucking industry is adjusting recruiting tactics to attract two pools of potential recruits, young tech-savvy millennials, and female truck drivers. Trucks.com is reporting that traditional recruiting channels such as trade journals and job boards are giving way to social networking to attract young tech-savvy drivers. Over 60% of trucking companies with more than 500 employees are using social media to find new driver candidates.
Carriers are also adjusting tactics to attract a vast untapped resource of women in the truck driving workforce. Right now, women account for just 5.1 percent of US truck drivers. Female trainees are being offered more training simulator time, companies are adding female driver liaisons, and some carriers are letting existing male drivers train their spouses. Military veteran recruiting is promoting trucking jobs to women retiring from active duty.
Carolina International Trucks is the leading commercial truck dealer in South Carolina. We have a huge inventory of new and used trucks and the expertise to keep them in top condition. At this challenging time for the trucking industry, we realize the importance of minimizing downtime to optimize your fleet's capacity. With 6 service locations throughout South Carolina, we have over 70 service bays and the best-trained technicians to keep your truck on the road, so don't hesitate to contact us.
