Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/661417
Lesson Learned 20 www.studentdriverplacement.com April '16 By Lucas Deals T he annual tech shortage dis- cussion at the Technology & Maintenance Council (TMC) Annual Meeting, held in March, was humorously titled "Oh no, we're out of technicians." But for those in attendance when the session began, it was clear the demonstrative headline was no joke at all. It was the refl ection of a truly dire situation. With thousands of positions al- ready open and tens of thousands more anticipated by 2021, Wheel- Time's George Arrants says truck- ing's long-term future is at risk. The industry is leaking people faster than it can replace them, Arrants says, and if that's not enough, the safety valves in place to support the indus- try aren't working anymore. "What education is teaching now is not what we need these kids to learn," says Arrants. "These gradu- ates don't have the skill set we need." But he says he's not surprised. The industry can't expect technical training schools to build proper cur- riculum without any input from the industry itself. Kenneth Calhoun agrees. As Vice President of Customer Relations at Truck Centers of Arkansas, Calhoun says he's been the "loudest voice" in discussions within his state on the importance of building relationships between the trucking industry and schools attempting to support it. Calhoun also says he's dumb- founded by trucking's willingness to accept negative perceptions about its technical careers. A simple poll of attendees at the March session showed an overwhelming majority entered the trucking industry turning 'Oh no' – Trucking's out of technicians