Gasoline Shortage Looms as Fuel Truck Driver Shortfall Worsens
As the height of summer road travel approaches, the U.S. could face a shortfall of gasoline due to a shortage of professional truck drivers and high demand of fuel. Truck-driver training explains Brad Ball, President of Roadmaster Drivers School, offers a quick turnaround as most students graduate in 4 weeks.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., June 30, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- A widespread shortage of truck drivers is posing threats to delivery services and retailers across the U.S., as well as raising the possibility of higher delivery fees for consumers and higher prices at checkout. To offset demand, according to the American Trucking Association, the trucking industry will need to hire roughly 1.1 million drivers over the next decade, or an average of 110,000 per year.(1) "Trucking," says Brad Ball, President of Roadmaster Drivers School, "is an essential industry, and truck driving is one of the top-paying positions open to applicants without a college degree. People need jobs, and the nation needs drivers; what we need to do is bring them together."
Problems caused by unfilled driver positions, Ball says, may soon be exacerbated by gasoline shortages as the COVID pandemic continues to abate and Americans return to the road. The National Tank Truck Carriers (NTTC), an industry trade group, has warned that a worsening semi-truck driver shortage could lead to higher fuel prices and even shortages at the pump this summer. According to NTTC, about 25% of tanker trucks are currently off the road due to the unavailability of qualified drivers.(2)
Meanwhile, St. Louis, Missouri, which has a greater metropolitan population of more than 2.8 million people, has already been feeling some of the more beneficial effects of the national trucker shortage. Newly minted commercial driver's license holders in the city, which shares a river with neighboring Illinois and is known as the "Gateway to the West," report receiving multiple job offers upon completion of their training.(3)
In addition to ready acceptance, Ball notes that employment as a truck driver can lead in time to many other positions. "The management ranks of the industry," he says, "are full of people who started out behind the wheel." However, he notes, new drivers customarily spend six months to a year working for an over-the-road carrier, beginning with six to eight weeks of teaming with another driver before being given their own truck. As they gain experience over the road, many options open for them: regional and dedicated routes, driving fuel trucks (which requires a hazardous materials certification and additional training), becoming a trainer or taking on still other roles, depending on their goals for income and home time.
To help provide St. Louis and Eastern Missouri—as well as nationally with their 16 schools (and growing)—with much-needed new truckers, the St. Louis Roadmaster Drivers School facility is taking in students with classes beginning July 5th at 8000 Hall Street. A grand opening event for press, public, and prospective students, will take place July 30 from 10AM until 5PM.
"Trucking," says Ball, "is opportunity on wheels for thousands of soon-to-be-hired truck drivers. If you—or somebody you know—is looking for a stable, well-paid job, I urge you to come and talk to us. It might turn out to be the best thing you ever did."
About Roadmaster Drivers School:
Roadmaster, headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL, is a nationwide training organization for truckers. They have nearly 30 years of experience training more than 150,000 graduates with 16 training locations nationwide. By focusing on giving students the best education and maintaining high job placement standards, Roadmaster has gained a national reputation in the trucking industry for quality training of entry-level commercial truck drivers—noted for their training practices to be the most hands-on and safety-focused training in the country. For more information, visit http://www.roadmaster.com.
1. Genovese, Daniella. "Truck Driver Shortage Affecting Deliveries Nationwide." Fox Business, 13 Apr. 2021, foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/truck-drivers-shortage-2021.
2. "Shortage Of Tanker Truck Drivers May Lead To Higher Gasoline Prices This Summer." OilPrice.com, 4 May 2021, oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Shortage-Of-Tanker-Truck-Drivers-May-Lead-To-Higher-Gasoline-Prices-This-Summer.html.
3. Madaras, Michelle. "Truck Driver Shortage Is Impacting St. Louis Economy." FOX 2, 20 Sept. 2018, fox2now.com/news/truck-driver-shortage-is-impacting-st-louis-economy/.
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SOURCE Roadmaster Drivers School
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