When i turned 21 years old in 1974 you didnt need a cdl. The trucking industry hopes to bridge the older driver demographics and lack of qualified applicants with continue reading drivesafe act. April listings for transportation industry jobs included 390,245 for delivery driver, 115,573 for driver and 48,723 for cdl class a driver. Trucking industry was short more than 60,000 drivers. Truck driving jobs with class a cdl swift transportation. Even so, trucking companies, especially truckload carriers, often have great difficulty finding, hiring and keeping drivers.
A class c commercial drivers license is required to operate a vehicle that is designed to transport 16 or more occupants including you, the driver or transport hazardous materials hazmat, materials that are classified as hazardous under federal law. Mar 25, 2019 class a cdl dedicated truck driver gms. As a truck driver, you can work for a local company, regional provider or a nationally recognized organization. Nearly every period of economic growth is accompanied by a driver shortage, including the recovery that began in 2009. With this, prospective employers know that youre a qualified professional truck driver, the training insurance companies increasingly insist upon, and can safely operate a truck with 26,000lbs gvwr. The shortage of truck drivers is not due to the lack of individuals interested in becoming drivers. You turn the radio on and just go, said kerry contas, a regional driver for jetco delivery. Fmcsa targets cdls in bid to reduce truckings driver shortage.
Bigrig truck driver shortage worsened by coronavirus marketplace. Hearing the phrase driver shortage thrown about so much also sometimes leads new drivers to believe, wrongly, that they will be treated like kings and given wide leeway when it comes to. And youre also probably aware that the us trucking industry is experiencing a widespread truck driver shortage and therefore, your chances of landing. The american trucking associations ata predicts that there will be a shortage of nearly 175,000 truck drivers by 2024. More than 60,000 truck drivers were needed by the end of last year the most ever to meet the countrys demands for freight services, according to a new driver shortage report by american. According to the ooida, among other arguments they make, the ata and the megacarriers cry driver shortage to get congress to approve the introduction of cdl drivers as young as 18 years old for. I drove a few years pulling tanker for my dads oil company. The term cdl stands for commercial drivers license. The federal motor carrier safety administration fmcsa wants to ease the process of obtaining a commercial drivers license cdl and also reduce costs for both potential drivers and licensing agencies within various states, american shipper reported. A class a commercial drivers license is required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating gvwr of 26,001 or more pounds, provided the towed vehicle is heavier than 10,000 pounds with a class a cdl and the proper endorsements, you may drive the following types of vehicles.
Dire driver shortages in us trucking companies could hit consumers. To register for this class, you must come into our cdl office. Just to live at the same standard as a truck driver in 1983, a driver would have to make about 65,000 now. The bureau of labor statistics estimates that the average age of a commercial truck driver in the u. The road transport industry is the backbone of the economy and plays an essential role in peoples daily lives. Facing a shortage of bus drivers, school districts scramble. We want to be sure you can obtain employment with the best trucking companies. The federal government just confirmed what americas 1. Heavy and tractortrailer truck drivers usually have a high school diploma and attend a professional truck driving school. An apparent shortage of drivers has been lurking in the industry news for a few years, now. In an article posted by reading eagle, bill warner writes that there is a shortage of truck drivers, locally and nationally. According to the american trucking associations, america will be short 175,000 drivers by 2026. The increase in the driver shortage should be a warning to carriers, shippers and policymakers because if conditions dont change substantively, our. With a class c cdl and the proper endorsements, you may drive the following types of vehicles.
Per the american trucking associations ata latest report, the u. Truck drivers are the basic unit of transportation capacity and the glue that holds supply chains together. In fact, walmart just reported that they plan to increase driver wages in 2019 in order to increase retainment. How to get a cdl license roadmaster drivers school. And youre also probably aware that the us trucking industry is experiencing a widespread truck driver shortage and therefore, your chances of landing a good job right after graduation are excellent. Facing a shortage of bus drivers, school districts.
To meet the nations freight demand, the report said the trucking industry will need to hire 1. Sluggish pay rises have contributed to the exit of drivers. Then it happens, a big red peterbilt with chrome from top to bottom passes by you in the hammer lane. Mar 28, 2020 a class b commercial driver s license is required to operate a single vehicle with a gross combination weight rating of 26,001 or more pounds, or tow a vehicle not heavier than 10,000 pounds. Hctc provides cdl classes at both the hazard and hyden locations. Current federal law does not allow this age group to drive class 8. Class b cdl training commercial truck driver school. Truck driver shortage is on course to double in a decade.
Trucking is a highdemand industry that offers rocksolid wages and job security. How the truck driver shortage became a selfinflicted issue. There are currently 3 million truck drivers working in the u. According to phillip gonzales of berks technical institute, the problem is that the supply is not keeping up with the demand for drivers. Cdl truck driver 3rd party testing nbi truck driver training. Local, regional and national employers cannot find enough commercial drivers. Hes right, drivers working for the big fleets are working for peanuts these days. Bigrig truck driver shortage worsened by coronavirus. The trucker shortage will undoubtedly continue into 2019, and there has never been a better time to train to become a trucker. The nations leading carriers, such as werner, fedex, schneider, averitt, and more, are hiring commercial drivers license cdl graduates by the handful. Here is a breakdown for each cdl classification and the examples of vehicles you may be allowed.
A class b cdl is usually the one that allows drivers behind the wheel of trucks like city buses, tour buses and courier vehicles. Below is a list of all commercial drivers license classes. In some aspects of general freight, one driver can go in and out of a truck, and if you got a cdl and its the right class, youre in business, novakovic said. Class a cdl trained truck drivers have a vital role in the economy and are. May 04, 2018 while virtually all states allow individuals to obtain a commercial driver s license cdl at the age of 18, these drivers are prohibited from operating in interstate commerce until they are 21.
Supply chain threatened by lack of new truck drivers as the closure of various state dmvs and cdl training facilities risks cutting off supply chain on a national level, the commercial vehicle training association is urging both states and the federal government to act. It is not difficult to get your cdl and make your dreams come true. Jan 09, 2018 an aging fleet of drivers is one of the main reasons for the driver shortage. Lfcc workforce solutions offers entry level driver training to obtain a commercial drivers license. The job pays a middle class wage, yet few people want it. If youre like the vast majority of students, youre interested in earning your class b cdl for one big reason. In the section below we will explain the differences between the two types. Truck driver shortage hits all time high roadmaster. May 28, 2018 america has a shortage of 51,000 truck drivers. But the report also admits that a more indepth analysis may reveal a shortage. The inability or unwillingness of trucking companies to keep driver salaries on pace with the rest of the workforce is also a big part of the shortage. Regardless, if youre looking for a cdl a job, make sure that the company values its drivers and gives them the support they need on the road and at home by. Theres a nationwide shortage of class a cdl drivers, and its affecting the transportation and truck driving industry in big ways. Class c cdl license any single vehicle with a gvwr less than 26,001 and any such vehicle towing another not in excess of 10,000 gvwr.
Facing a shortage of bus drivers, school districts scramble to get students to class the booming economy means a shortage of school bus drivers in many parts of the country. Pioneer for ladies getting their class a cdl licensea full time cdl class a driver in the 1970s for north american van lines inc, lillian watson will be turning 90 cdl pretrip inspection april 30, 2016 may 12, 2016 0 6338. The success of our oneofakind cdl driver employment agency is based on our unique approach to screening and hiring, using our driver dna hiring system. An aging fleet of drivers is one of the main reasons for the driver shortage. Drivesafe act aims to reduce driver shortage united states. A class a commercial drivers license is required to operate any combination of vehicles with a gross combination weight rating gcwr of 26,001 lbs. Many industry experts expect wages to continue rising as the shortage puts a continual strain on the industry.
Bls says truck driver shortage isnt real business insider. However, the second largest industry in the nation has been suffering from a truck driver shortage for decades now. I loved driving the big trucks but an opportunity came up to. Apr 19, 2019 according to the american trucking association, the current shortage of cdl truck drivers is expected to increase over 175,000 by 2026. Trucking industry was short more than 60,000 drivers in. To be able to be a truck driver used to be quite a good bluecollar, middleclass job, but over the past 40 years, it has kind of dwindled away, klemp said. Upon successful completion of your training and passing the cdl test you will earn your class a license. However, according to figures released by the federal motor carrier safety administration, there are 455,000 new entrylevel cdl holders5 and 98,0006 reinstatements every year, which far exceeds the number of new drivers required by ata. Cdl training and cdl school prep near you truck driver. While the shortage is not new, it has recently become a serious threat to the continued growth of our national economy. And you probably also understand that due to the widespread us truck driver shortage, earning a cdl is one of the quickest and most costeffective ways to land a job immediately. Even today, a lack of drivers is making goods more expensive and delaying orders. Feb 06, 2019 facing a shortage of bus drivers, school districts scramble to get students to class the booming economy means a shortage of school bus drivers in many parts of the country. A cdl2 allows a driver to operate a bus that has more than 24 passengers.
In order to qualify for training, you must meet our enrollment. May be a shortage of drivers willing to work for less compensation. Making safety a priority ensuring their rigs function properly and you. The cdl driver shortage has been a problem in the united states for a while now over 150,000 seats need to be filled with cdl drivers. During the great recession that started in 2008, the driver shortage was erased. The job pays a middleclass wage, yet few people want it. Driver shortagecdl training florida truck driver training. A class a cdl license requires a minimum of 160 hours of combined classroom and behind the wheel truck driver training. The first proposal involves military licensing and state cdl reciprocity, allowing state licensing agencies to skip redundant cdl. Lillian goes on record as the first commercial tuck driver for the corporation. Pioneer for ladies getting their class a cdl licensea full time cdl class a driver in the 1970s for north american van lines inc, lillian watson will be turning 90 cdl. Which enables us to provide you with the best selection of prescreened d. Cdl b driver staffing truck driver staffing agency. While virtually all states allow individuals to obtain a commercial drivers license cdl at the age of 18, these drivers are prohibited from operating in interstate commerce until they are 21.
A bus is less than 26,001 and has 16 passengers or more including the driver or vehicle hauling hazards materials. And you probably also understand that due to the widespread us truck driver shortage, earning a cdl is one of the quickest and most costeffective ways to land a. Freight rates are climbing, as theres more work than truckers can handle. If youre like most of our students youre anxious to earn your cdl for one major reason. The bls report also backed the theory of pay for new truckers. Bad press, high demand and a lack of skilled labor has led to a yearlong truck driver shortage, and it doesnt show signs of stopping. Class a cdl training commercial truck driver school. What you need to know about the new cdl license requirements. Youll need a commercial drivers license, specifically a class a cdl.
At clement truck driving academy, we dont just provide you with cdl training to get your class a, we ensure you become a professional driver. The ata points out the largest factor contributing to this shortage is the average age of forhire drivers is 49. The 53yearold got her class a commercial drivers license, or cdl, took a job with a longhaul trucking company and completed a 7,000mile training run accidentfree. Professional bus and truck drivers are the industrys. The truck driver shortage in 2020 the dirty truth no one. Pioneer for ladies getting their class a cdl licensea full time cdl class a driver in the 1970s for north american van lines inc, lillian watson will be turning 90 years old this year.
Lamar state college port arthurs commercial drivers license cdl class a training course can get you up to speed and on the road in under 3 months. Although driver pay rose 14 percent from july 2014 through january, that 19month period of pay increases is actually the shortest recorded in the 22 years the nti has been keeping track of driver pay. Lamar state college port arthurs commercial driver s license cdl class a training course can get you up to speed and on the road in under 3 months. In order to drive a commercial motor vehicle in the united states, the driver must hold a valid commercial drivers license, or cdl. Drivesafe act aims to reduce driver shortage united. Driver shortage in the united states as recently reported in usa today, there is currently a severe shortage of trained truck drivers to deliver manufactured goods to sales points.
The increase in the truck driver shortage should be a warning because if conditions dont change the trucking industry could be short 100,000 drivers in five years and 160,000 drivers in 2028. Why go to marshall cdl driving schools, inc did you know that right now the united states is facing a great shortage of truck drivers. Mar 22, 2017 the american trucking associations ata predicts that there will be a shortage of nearly 175,000 truck drivers by 2024. With a national and local cdl driver shortage, trucking companies are hiring. Trucking industry struggles with growing driver shortage.
Class a and class b are the two main types of cdl licenses. Ata expects that driver pay will continue rising as long as the driver shortage continues. Apply to truck driver, yard driver, delivery driver and more. Jumping on to these opportunities can be made possible by enrolling and completing. Trucking may come to mind as you drive down the onramp to the interstate and look in your mirror. With a class b cdl and the appropriate endorsements, you may drive the following types of vehicles. Bureau of labor statistics data dont back up the trucking industrys claims about a shortage of. The ata says the trucking industry needs to find ways to attract more and younger drivers, costello continued. In order to qualify for training, you must meet our enrollment requirements. Since 2005 the american trucking associations ata has been releasing reports on the driver shortage. The shine is glaring so much in your mirror you are temporarily blinded. Dire driver shortages in us trucking companies could hit. With the booming economy of the us, carriers are running across country nonstop to meet the increasing demands of store and households. No container or straight truck or trailer moves without, at some point, a truck driver.
According to the american trucking association, the current shortage of cdl truck drivers is expected to increase over 175,000 by 2026. Truck driver shortage gives opportunities to people in the region. The main reason is contributed to the astounding driver turnover rates, that have currently exceeded 90 percent for some time now. The bls report says that both longhaul and shorthaul numbers do not represent a current employment shortage. In some aspects of general freight, one driver can go in and out of a truck, and if you got a cdl and its the right class, youre in business.