Overdrive Magazine | Trucking Business News & Owner Operator Info
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/472327
PULSE March 2015 | Overdrive | 5 By Max Heine Editorial director mheine@randallreilly.com A recent report shows that trucking's problem with recruiting younger drivers is worse than most realized. According to the study by the American Trans- portation Research Institute, more than half of the trucking workforce is more than 45 years old. Among private carriers, the median age is 52. Over the last 20 years, the share of drivers in the 25-34-year-old group has dropped by almost half. It's long been known that trucking misses out on many prospects due to the ban on interstate heavy-duty commercial driving for those under 21. Many young adults have made career path decisions via education or work by the time they've reached that age. Insurance companies also have created some barriers by requiring minimum ages, such as 25, for certain types of hauling such as hazmat or even general long-haul. There are obvious safety reasons for oppos- ing a lower age for interstate driving. However, the movement toward stricter entry-level driver training could have bearing on the problem. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Admin- istration has formed a 26-member advisory committee to deliver the framework for a rule to improve pre-CDL training requirements for truck and bus drivers. It will examine things such as length of classroom instruction, behind-the-wheel experience and how training programs and schools are classified. Its first meeting was taking place as we went to press. Indeed, more stringent requirements would be good for today's new CDL drivers. The downside is that more rigorous training will filter out some newcomers entirely, a secondary reason for stricter requirements. For a variety of reasons, some people never would make safe truck drivers, so let's save everyone time, money and highway carnage by redirecting them early. The flip side is that some 18-20-year-olds could become excellent drivers. Many of the seasoned drivers on the road today started driving on farms before turning 21. Big fleets today already have programs in place that pair new drivers with experienced ones. Combine such programs with the kind of reforms the rulemaking committee will be proposing, amplify them for those ages 18-20, and it could produce the basis for a safe, practical graduated CDL program. The industry could gain more qualified drivers with long-term career potential, while screening out more of those who are better suited to four wheels than 18. Though the advisory committee isn't tasked with addressing requirements for a nonexistent group – new entrants under 21 – now would be a good time for FMCSA to seriously start talking about it. Lost drivers Via email: Kristin Ries, Dart Tran- sit: The generation wants purpose, connection and communication. Sid Rau, Blue Streak Transportation: I am the proud father of a 24-year-old who has had his CDL since he was 21. He is currently working for Western Container Corpora- tion here in Big Spring, Texas. He grew up with several of us being in the trucking business, and even though he holds two associate's degrees, he would rather be trucking. Via OverdriveOnline.com: Anthony Boyd: We live in a narcissist-induced coma. The younger generation, my generation, has absolutely no idea what sacrifice means but rather indulge themselves in instant gratification. Brandon M.: There needs to be a focus on professional growth emphasized. I am at a company where I am driving after years in management jobs and in my late 20s. I started driving because the economic crash hit my industry hard, so new/upcoming management talent was cut first, as we were the last hired. … I asked about possibly switching from driving at the small company I'm at to the operations side of things (I have three years as an operations manager) and was told "nothing on the horizon." Two days later, a person from off the street was hired as an assistant operations manager. Funny thing the older manager generation doesn't understand about 20-some- things with work experience ... there are not many of us, and we have little to no loyalty when brushed aside. Philip Frank: You hit the nail on the head, Brandon. 2.00% 1.75% 1.50% 1.25% 1.00% 0.75% 0.50% 0.25% 0.00% 20-24 years 25-34 years 35-44 years 45-54 years 55-64 years 65 years + Percent of Total Workforce 1994 2013 Two decades ago, truck drivers were spread fairly evenly in age groups younger than 65. Today, there's a shortage of younger drivers and lots of older drivers.