The Economic Impact of the Labor Shortage in the Trucking Industry

Heavy-duty trucks and commercial vehicles play an exceptionally large role in the American economy, as trucks moved roughly 72.2% of the nation’s freight by weight in 2021, bringing in $875.5 billion in gross freight revenues . However, the industry has faced major setbacks in recent years, as there is a growing shortage of the truck drivers and diesel technicians needed to keep trucks on the road. With baby boomers making up between 40-50% of active heavy-truck technicians and experts predicting that most of them will retire by 2030 , there is a sizable talent gap that needs to be filled. Yet despite high demand and plenty of opportunities, the industry is struggling to find qualified workers.?

Some of this can be attributed to how truck drivers and diesel technicians are seen by the masses. Despite how important these jobs are, public perception surrounding them hasn’t changed much in the past forty years: it’s a greasy and unsophisticated profession where you spend a lot of time under the hood of a vehicle. This is largely not the case though: the technology surrounding heavy-duty trucks and commercial vehicles is changing rapidly, meaning these jobs are far more complex and require more specialized knowledge, from computer technologies to alternative fuel sources. Despite this, many schools are churning out technicians that lack the technical skills needed to address these high-tech concerns .?

If we want to solve the trucking industry’s growing workforce shortage, we must overcome the barriers to becoming a diesel technician. On the one hand, this means addressing the stigma surrounding the field, showcasing the field’s ample opportunities for learning and growth. As it stands, the people who guide students’ career paths tend to dissuade them from pursuing a career in the field, often based on outdated views surrounding what working in the field is like. Tackling these stereotypes is key to becoming more appealing to students.?

We must also make efforts to reach out to tactile learners and guide them towards the industry, whether through job shadows and internship programs or new training opportunities that create additional paths into the field. Universal Technical Institute is working hard to provide such opportunities, having formed strategic partnerships with leading trucking industry brands such as Peterbilt, Cummins Diesel, and Daimler Trucks to provide training and development programs for technicians and drivers.?

For example, there is UTI’s Diesel Mechanic School State-of-the-Industry Technician Training , a 45-week program with a blended learning model that allows students to experience what training is like in the workforce and offers more flexibility with schedules. In less than a year, students can become a certified diesel technician. There are also several specialized training programs, including the Peterbilt Technician Institute Mechanic Training program , a 12-week program providing advanced training on how to diagnose, repair, and maintain Peterbilt vehicles and products.

At Universal Technical Institute, we’re working tirelessly to solve the trucking industry’s workforce shortage for the country, providing the cutting-edge training and education that aspiring technicians and drivers need to succeed! So if you think you’d be interested in a career as a diesel technician, sign up today!?