There’s certainly a need for more truck drivers, but industry rules and regulations may be preventing more drivers from joining the industry.
Interestingly, enrollment at truck driving schools is on the upswing across the country, so that is good news, right? But it will be a while before those new recruits are actually able to drive their own trucks and do their jobs as needed, since training takes some time.
Here’s where it gets hairy: the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has new regulations that took effect February 7, 2022, and here’s the deal: prospective truck drivers are required to receive training through a school that is nationally registered with FMCSA. So, instead of companies providing their own internal CDL training, new hires can’t be trained that way. This is so frustrating for private operators!
Industry Implications
So what does this mean for the industry? There will be fewer training program options along with long waiting lists just to get into overcrowded, backlogged FMCSA schools.
Basically, regulations, coupled with an aging population (with fewer young people in the population, in general) and many long-time truckers retiring out of the industry means that the trucking industry will continue to see shortages for the foreseeable future.
In these unprecedented times, where can you go for driver staffing help and/or driving opportunities? Luckily, Platinum Drivers provides quality service for both drivers and customers in the form of CDL driver placement assistance. Platinum Drivers is a leading CDL driver staffing and placement agency providing FMCSA-qualified commercial truck drivers in all areas of Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Colorado, North Carolina and Texas. The staff’s expertise is in the areas of recruiting, qualifying, staffing and placing commercial drivers.
Platinum Driver’s goal is to match experienced Class A and Class B commercial truck drivers with customers that have an immediate transportation need. The result of this commitment is that customers’ products are delivered on time and drivers are provided with a great job opportunity.
For more info, please call 844-800-1421.