Wallace State Steps Up To Ease Commercial Driver Shortage
HANCEVILLE, Ala. — A nationwide shortage of long-haul truck drivers is hitting home for trucking company owners. To help address the problem, Wallace State College-Hanceville has a plan to assist individuals needing training and companies who need drivers trained.
“The college made a decision to increase the number of trucks, instructors and to build a training lot in order to accommodate a large number of students,” said Melinda Edwards, Dean of Institutional Outreach. Speaking of a new large training lot, she said, “there is a critical shortage and we expect to be able to assist with training for many years to come. The lot needed to be durable so we constructed it with concrete and equipped it with lights for evening training,” said Edwards.
In order to expand offerings, Wallace State is also introducing a new evening/weekend program for those who work other jobs during the normal work week. Edwards said the college is also seeking contracts with companies seeking a training partner.
The driver shortage is expected to reach a record 47,500 by the end of 2015. It’s on pace to grow to 73,500 next year and approach 175,000 by 2024, according to an October 2015 report from the American Trucking Associations, the industry’s trade group.
“Most all our motor carrier members are looking for drivers,” said Tim Frazier, Director of Safety and Member Services of the Alabama Trucking Association. Frazier, who has been in the industry for 30 plus years says, “A lot of our fleets have as many as 10 percent of their trucks open, and parked trucks don’t generate revenue.”
Some companies are making trucking more attractive offering programs by which the driver can be home more often. Operations that offer regional runs, relay programs, week on/week off, and newer equipment, are companies that are more successful attracting new drivers, said Frazier.
One issue in our industry is that most insurance companies will not insure new drivers due to inexperience. “Some companies are beginning to provide mentorship programs whereby companies hire students straight out of training programs but the new driver performs under the supervision of a seasoned driver for a period of time. I support such a program and a few of our members are successfully conducting these type opportunities today,” said Frazier.
The shortage of drivers threatens to put the brakes on an industry that moves over 70 percent of the nation’s freight, the American Trucking Association said in its report.
“If the trend stays on course, there will likely be severe supply chain disruptions resulting in significant shipping delays, higher inventory carrying costs, and perhaps shortages in stores. It will eventually trickle down to the public,” the report stated.
Truck driving can be high-paying field. For tractor-trailer drivers, the median pay — meaning half made more and half made less — was $38,200 in 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Frazier said, “drivers that are willing to work and conduct themselves in a professional manner have the opportunity today to earn quality pay. We see many of the reputable companies with the opportunity for drivers to earn $50-$70,000 dollars annually. There are specialized operations that actually can exceed these numbers.”
The median starting salary for graduates of Wallace State Community College’s truck-driving program is $19.87 an hour — more than $41,000 a year, said Ben Matanane, CDL Instructor.
Despite the relatively high pay, there are a variety of reasons why trucking firms are struggling more than ever to find drivers, industry experts say.
Baby boom-generation drivers are reaching retirement age. The median age for long-haul drivers is 49. Meanwhile, experienced drivers are switching companies, lured by newer equipment, better pay and perks such assigning bonuses that can range up to $5,000.
Rules that bar drivers younger than 21 from doing interstate routes have caused people coming out of high school to gravitate to construction or service industry jobs, the American Trucking Association’s report noted.
But the recovering U.S. economy has made the shortage more severe.
During the Great Recession, which ended in 2009, and in the years immediately after, demand from consumers for goods and by manufacturers for parts and components was weak. Trucking companies weren’t delivering as many orders, so they could get by with fewer drivers.
The economy has picked up since and so has the need for drivers, according to the American Trucking Association’s report.
Wallace State’s CDL program, which is four weeks for those who attend during the day, or six weeks for those who attend on nights and weekends. “The state picks up the cost for jobless people looking to get back into the workforce through WIA funding made available through the Alabama Career Center in Cullman. There are loans available through banks if a student qualifies and some local trucking companies are willing to pay for tuition for students who cannot afford it,” said Edwards.
“Most of those in the program are between the ages of 35 and 55 and have lost their job or want to change careers. More than 90 percent are men. We are also interested in veterans and women who want to pursue this field as a career,” said Matanane.
A free informational session is planned on Wednesday, February 24 at 1 p.m. on the 2nd floor of the Bailey Center at Wallace State. All interested in hearing about funding to pay for tuition for the CDL program and job opportunities as well as the day and evening/weekend program are invited to attend.