Apprenticeship, ELD assisting truckers

Truck drivers have seen a wealth of new technologies and educational programs come to fruition in the past decade, and the results have been largely positive. Although rising fuel prices, increasingly stringent legislation and a more prominent shortage of drivers have combined to make matters difficult for the average trucking company, professionals in this industry are getting more support. 

Two recent pieces of progress involve an apprenticeship program and the soft launch of the electronic logging device mandate. 

Bringing in new drivers
FleetOwner recently reported that prospective drivers who wish to undergo an apprenticeship to learn the skills they need to become professionals will now be able to enlist with the Commercial Vehicle Training Association. In conjunction with the U.S. Department of Labor's FASTPORT, Inc., the program seeks to not only prepare the drivers who were already planning to gain skills, but also attract more talent into the industry's depleted pool. 

According to the news provider, shipping and logistics will be the focus of this particular apprenticeship, while other skills relevant to professional driving will also be involved. CVTA Chief Executive Officer Don Lefeve has high hopes that the program will have a major and positive impact on the industry at large over time. 

"The apprenticeship designation is an important step to have truck driving recognized as an in-demand career by workforce investment boards across the country," Lefeve told FleetOwner. "Our carrier and school members are dedicated to safety, professionalism, and meeting the demand for drivers within the trucking industry. This public-private partnership is a win for students and our country."

Drivers who wish to learn more about the apprenticeship should visit CVTA's website, and keep an eye on it as this is still a very new program. Those who wish to participate from a teaching perspective can also find information on the site. 

ELD's soft launch
Despite having some pushback during the conceptual stages, the ELD rule from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has appeared to have largely positive impacts on drivers and the industry at large. For example, Freight Waves recently explained that roughly 90 percent of carriers were already compliant with the mandate in April, and that it caused a shift in the ways they track hours and productivity. 

As a result, the site stated that average daily productivity hours rose from 6.52 to 6.8 out of the 11 hour shifts. This means a higher percentage of paid hours are being devoted to actual driving rather than other tasks. Additionally, Freight Waves argued that its analysis would indicate more than $50 in savings per driver per day, which represents a tremendous figure for a larger freighter over the course of the year.

Although the industry is still working to find its footing in the modern economy, a combination of training programs to attract talent and more support structures for existing drivers could help to turn the tide on the negative trends soon.