INGLEWOOD (Calif.) — Tina Singh was one of the dozen students at a truck driving school in Los Angeles that watched as they drove their big rigs into parking spaces. Many of them had never used a manual transmission.
Singh, the school director, said that it was an exciting time to become a truck driver because there is so much demand. “Our yards are bustling, and they’re full of activity.
The California Truck Driving Academy is experiencing a boom in business due to a shortage of long-haul drivers. This has resulted in promises of high wages and job opportunities. Inglewood School has seen an almost 20% increase in annual enrollment since last year and now offers night classes.
Singh stated that “Everything in this nation runs on truck at one point or another.” Singh said, “And so, it is obvious that truck drivers are needed to transport goods.”
According to Nick Vyas (executive director of the University of Southern California’s Marshall Center for Global Supply Chain Management), there is a convergence of factors that has led to the U.S. being short about 80,000 drivers.
The consumer spending has risen 15% from February 2020, the date before the pandemic that paralyzed the country’s economy. According to the Federal Reserve, production rose by nearly 5% in the last year as U.S. factories tried to keep up with increased demand. The gap has been narrowed by imports.
Many Americans also decided to leave jobs that required frequent contact with the public. This led to a shortage of workers who could unload ships, transport goods, and staff retail shops.
California’s supply chain is stretched to its limits at the Ports Los Angeles and Long Beach. There, dozens of ships are waiting off the coast for their unloading. Despite the fact that port operations are open 24/7, the average wait time is almost 17 days.
The shortage of drivers at ports has contributed to the rise at California Truck Driving Academy. Instructors in reflective vests monitor students as they steer semis around a fenced-in parking lot.
Thierno Barry, a student, said that “you’re helping the community out and making money at the time.” It’s a win/win situation.
Barry, 23 years old, was happy to take the wheel for his first day, even though he had to roll over many orange safety cones.
He said, “I feel great during the pandemic.”
The school is currently facing a shortage of truck driving instructors.
