Keep Your Trucks Moving
The Mindful Trucker reminds us that there’s still plenty of good reasons to consider a career in trucking.
By Dana Smith
Being in the trucking industry for 32 years now, I have seen a lot of drivers come and go. Why do they stay and why do they depart? That’s the million dollar question. For some it’s not enough money, for others it’s poor working conditions, too many regulations, wanting more home time, and the list goes on.
For the most part the average age of a driver is increasing in Canada, and according to the Canadian Trucking Alliance (2016) is about 48-50 years of age. There are a large number of drivers upwards of 50-60 years of age. Also the share of younger drivers seems to be decreasing, and the share of older drivers is increasing. Immigrants make up for about 20% of drivers and non-permanent residents make up about 0.5% in Canada. (Canadian Trucking Alliance).
So as you can see the older drivers are soon retiring, and/or cutting back on hours to part-time work. Because of the Covid pandemic, some have left the industry altogether. The younger drivers do not see trucking as a very glamorous career choice. Yes, most companies will offer you a brand new truck to drive, others will try and entice you with more money or better runs, but at the end of the day you still have to endure the sector the way it operates: as a supply and demand industry.
It seems the Covid pandemic has changed things a bit. During the pandemic truckers were seen as heroes, delivering and keeping the supply chain moving. This is causing a renewed interest in trucking for people who otherwise may not have thought about trucking as a career. As great as this is, it’s still not enough to fill all the vacancies in the industry. Because of this renewed interest, I’m seeing more young people coming into the industry through the training schools these days.
Therefore, the labour shortage is still brewing. Trucking is at the top of that list. Trucking labour shortages were present before the pandemic and are a cause for great concern in the midst, and after the fact. The basic things you use every day may no longer be available, or are being delayed in getting to you. How will this affect your life? Stop and think about how this affects trucking companies, present truck drivers, and everything else that is reliant on the trucking industry. Air, rail, and sea shipping. This is known as the supply chain, which includes all of the things you purchase online as well as in-store.
So how do we find the people we need to keep the trucks moving? By looking in new geographical areas, or for people looking to change careers, women, and/or young people who are interested in trucking. Going into high schools and educating younger people on why they may want to choose a career in trucking and so on.
If you’re going to attract someone to the trucking industry, you may want to look at what will attract them to it in the first place. Company culture has a lot to do with this. If you have a rotating door policy, drivers won’t want to work for you. If you’re someone who can build trust, value, and lead them to be a better version of themselves, who are happier and more productive, then they will be lined up at the door to work for you. Also keep in mind that drivers talk to each other and know which ones are the good companies to work for, and which ones aren’t.
Training is another factor in recruiting people and having the proper training in the trucking industry is a crucial component. The Mandatory Entry Level Training Program is a huge step in the right direction to make sure that qualified candidates are trained in a way that will keep them, and everyone else safe on the road. Learning what they need to know because there are no shortcuts in training, no matter what industry you are in. The Humboldt bus crash was a prime example of that.
One such business that is helping is The Mindful Trucker, who has partnered with Green Light Canada as an authorized agent to offer small-to-medium sized Canadian trucking companies a new way to find the drivers they need for tomorrow, today!
It can be a daunting expensive task looking for drivers to fill your trucks. On average, it can cost thousands of dollars to replace a driver or find a new one. The Mindful Trucker offers an experienced, professional driver finder service which includes the following:
- Identifying your driver needs, (how many you need & for what runs).
- Advertising and marketing for the positions.
- Searching world-wide.
- Qualifying all leads coming in.
- Assisting with the application process.
- Assisting with the interview & hiring process if needed.
Added services may include, online training courses, pre-trip, coupling/uncoupling, and driving assessments at an approved Canadian training school as required. Also, further safety training to provide candidates with ongoing safe driving habits for their future in trucking.
If you’re a small or medium sized transportation, manufacturing/logistics, or warehousing business and are looking for help finding your drivers/workers of tomorrow, today, contact The Mindful Trucker at info@themindfultrucker.com to get started.
