From disruption, a new road for trucking

by Dave Earle

We live in times of turmoil and change. Climate, technology, demographics, and population growth all influence our lives. We can be overwhelmed by these changes or choose to redefine how we live and work.

The trucking industry must continue to be flexible and open to the opportunities disruption presents. National Trucking Week was a great time to consider where to go from here.

Wildfires, flooding, and other catastrophic weather events are forcing us to confront the effect of excessive greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Transportation generally is a scapegoat, and heavy trucks bear part of the blame. But trucks are also a testing ground – largely successful – for devices and strategies that reduce GHG emissions.

Fewer emissions mean increased fuel efficiency, and no one likes that more than trucking. The industry has been developing and adopting efficiency measures for years. Some are ubiquitous, like the aerodynamic profile of most highway truck tractors. Others have become more common in the past decade, such as trailer side skirts, boat tails, and wide-base single tires.

We’re also witnessing a race to introduce new electric or hybrid zero-emission Class 8 tractors, the highway workhorse that makers from Kenworth to Volvo and newcomers like Tesla, Nikola, and others are working to develop and launch across North America and globally.

These changes, along with automation and truck platoons, are rebranding trucking as “futuristic” and could do what the industry’s old-school roots cannot: attract a young cohort of drivers and technicians who want hands-on time with clean, sustainable, high-tech equipment.

Addressing licensing restrictions to allow 18-year-old high school grads access to commercial certification (currently only available to 19 year olds in B.C.) is a step out of the industry’s hands, but makes sense as newer, safer, better-tracked equipment reaches the market and the industry. The commercial driver shortage, a demographic challenge, could become less of a threat as a result.

On the horizon for years, the driver shortage is now a reality trucking companies are scrambling to address. The industry is changing the way it does business, not only in terms of its equipment, but also its HR practices. Companies are increasing truck driver salaries as a way to attract new drivers, but salaries alone are not an incentive for recruitment.

Given accurate tracking by ELDs, companies need to safeguard a truck driver’s time, and many are. Shippers need to work with the industry on scheduling and wait time expectations. And, where possible, companies should re-examine the long days permitted by hours-of-service regulations (in Canada, a maximum of 14 hours on duty/13 of those driving; in the U.S., 14 hours on duty/11 driving). Imagine asking the rest of the workforce to extend an eight-hour day to meet those standards, and, as long-haul service providers do, to spend the majority of their time away from their families and communities.

Companies are developing individual solutions for their operations. Ideally, they need to engage their current and prospective drivers in a meaningful conversation to ask what they need to balance their working and personal lives.

The job of a truck driver requires a level of professionalism that employers need to demand and support. That could mean calling for a truck driver training standard, requiring new hires to have adequate training and experience, and mentoring entry-level drivers. Truck drivers who take pride in what they do already operate with professionalism and skill – expertise we should respect and acknowledge.

Times of turmoil and change can be exciting for the industry, for trucking companies, and for the women and men willing to drive for a living. Thank you to everyone who’s already leading the way.

***

Dave Earle is the president and CEO of the British Columbia Trucking Association. In addition to his industry experience, Earle was vice-president of government relations and HR services for the Construction Labour Relations Association of B.C. and was an adviser, manager, and executive director with the provincial Ministry of Labour’s Employers’ Advisers Office.


Have your say


This is a moderated forum. Comments will no longer be published unless they are accompanied by a first and last name and a verifiable email address. (Today's Trucking will not publish or share the email address.) Profane language and content deemed to be libelous, racist, or threatening in nature will not be published under any circumstances.

*

  • You the B.C. T. A. Needs to look at truck drivers treatment and pay. You also need to push for more off peak hours delivery and truck parking. I have not delivered a load in B. C for 4 years now as parking is tight and you can loose the best part of a day to delivery to Vancouver. The rates do not justify the truck drivers time involved. Many companies like one based in Saskatoon that hauls class 7 are always looking for truck drivers. Some of your membership are paying experienced more (2 years) less than $25.00 per hour then complain about needing younger truck drivers. In Hensall Ontario one factory is starting new workers at $25.00 per hour after 3 months they are making $ 27.00 plus low cost housing apartment at $650. Per month.

  • BC never was a truck friendly city so going there with a load and trying to park near your customer say in Delta good luck with the parking and truck stop it is and still a non friendly city.
    Pay rate well most of the companies are reluctant in paying close to 50c per miles and it is what it is worthed.
    There is a growing new trend it is retired professional and qualified drivers that could be helping out with the driving as being doing trips at east two weeks per month, and being on the payroll as occasional workers it would most probably help and perhaps train new green drivers.
    I did that and loved it nice time off for myself and the owner of the truck and the unit still make a revenue monthly.