Diversity among New Drivers

Posted in Trucker Lifestyle by Brian ·  

The face of truck driving has changed in recent years. It used to be that most truck drivers were white males in their late thirties to upper fifties. Now you can find women of all ages, young and old men alike, and many ethnic backgrounds. Diversity among new drivers is what trucking companies are looking for to meet their driver needs.

The fact is that trucking companies currently have a shortage of qualified drivers. Thousands of drivers are needed to meet the truck driving needs and companies can’t afford to look where they’ve always gotten drivers in the past.

According to the American Trucking Association nearly 100,000 new drivers are needed each year. Some organizations list the need as being closer to 200,000 drivers. No matter who you listen to, it’s obvious that there’s a trucking shortage and companies are searching for new drivers to fill those needs.

To meet the driver shortage, many trucking companies are seeking potential drivers who are women, Hispanic, or immigrants from other foreign countries. Many new recruits are bilingual which has led to companies hiring bilingual trainers, recruiters, and dispatchers.

Hispanic drivers have increased by a large number in recent years. These drivers are very family-oriented, loyal to their employers, and less likely to quit. In fact, where other ethnic groups may have high turnovers, the number is lower in this group.

The number of female drivers is also rising, depending upon the driving school or company you speak with, the number could be as much as 20% in recent years. One reason, according to some companies, those women may be more inclined to drive trucks now than in the past is the fact that trucks have automatic transmissions that make driving easier. More and more companies are recruiting women and they are likely to continue that trend.

Another reasons more women have entered the truck driving field could be to spend time with their husbands. Their children are grown, their husbands are gone, and the choice is to learn to drive to be a help to her husband as well as work on their relationship that may have suffered while he was on the road alone.

Immigrants from Eastern Europe, Russia, and other countries have also been hired in recent years to meet the truck driver needs present. Companies cite a strong work ethic as the reason for hiring immigrants.

Experts have reported that there will likely be driver shortages for at least the next three years so they fully expect to continue hiring a diverse group of people to fill those positions. If you’re interested in truck driving, now may be the perfect time as there is more diversity among new drivers than in the past. Make your choice and then go for the dream of the open road.

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