Nationwide Trucking Workforce Challenges
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The trucking sector has been grappling with a significant worker shortage, and new federal regulations are likely to exacerbate the difficulty in recruiting drivers.
K & J Trucking’s Perspective
Shelley Koch, President of K & J Trucking Inc., has been involved in her family’s trucking operations since childhood. For years, K & J Trucking has managed to train some of its drivers in-house.
Changes in Training Regulations
Starting February, this in-house training will no longer be permissible. Koch explained, “Many of these individuals come from small communities where they may have driven on farms or worked with agricultural goods. Now, those individuals cannot join smaller trucking companies, like ours, in South Dakota.”
New Requirements for CDL
Aspiring truck drivers will now need to obtain their Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) through accredited programs, such as those provided by technical schools. Koch supports driver education but is concerned about the added restrictions.
Concerns Over Driver Pool Size
Koch worries that these regulations may further diminish an already limited pool of drivers. “This is removing people from the industry who help transport goods,” she stated.
Industry Support and Financial Implications
The South Dakota Trucking Association is rallying behind Koch and her colleagues. Christine Erickson, Executive Director, highlighted that the new rules add another obstacle in obtaining a CDL. Existing training programs can cost over $5,000, which may lead businesses to share costs, bringing additional financial strain.
Timing of New Regulations
Erickson emphasized that while safety is crucial, the timing of these regulations is problematic since the nation is already short by 80,000 truckers. “Imposing strict regulations now is ill-timed when we’re experiencing shipping bottlenecks and delays in getting products out of ports,” she noted. Koch warned that the repercussions could extend beyond trucking, affecting industries such as bus services, snow removal, and waste management.
