The latest The American Trucking Association report shows that the U.S. was short approximately 48,000 drivers in 2015.

Waste360 Staff, Staff

August 12, 2016

1 Min Read
Waste Haulers Seek Employees to Fill Ample Amount of Driver Positions

The waste industry has been faced with a national truck driver shortage for a long time now, and that problem isn’t expected to improve in the near future. To help fill these open positions, the waste industry is trying to spread the message that although the industry isn’t glamorous, it is good work.

Currently, waste industry leaders are stepping up to come up with creative ways to recruit drivers. The National Waste and Recycling Association, for example, is trying to find new ways to hire veterans and the Women in Trucking Association (WIT) is targeting Girl Scouts to help young girls learn about the important of freight hauling. WIT is even in talks with Walmart about possibility creating a truck driver Barbie.

Waste Dive has more information:

Waste collection isn't glamorous work, but that doesn't mean it's not good work.

That is the message the waste industry wants to send, as companies are faced with a national truck driver shortage that shows no signs of improving any time soon. In response to this looming crisis, companies and trade associations have stepped up efforts to recruit talent by finding new ways to reframe a job that most people have written off — or not yet considered.

Until this message is spread, the pool of qualified applicants with a commercial driver's license (CDL) will continue to shrink. The American Trucking Association (ATA) said this shortage has more than doubled since 2011. Their latest annual report said the U.S. was short approximately 48,000 drivers in 2015 and estimated that the number will likely be much higher this year.

Read the full story here.

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