Much has been said and written about the critical — and growing — shortage of truck drivers in the U.S.
Add to that a similar undersupply of men and women to keep trucks repairs on on the road.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), trucking will need to recruit 67,000 new technicians by 2022 due to growth or to replace men and women currently working in the industry. This does not include the more than 75,000 new diesel engine specialists BLS anticipates the country needing by 2022.
ATA President and CEO Bill Graves recently called upon the country’s policymakers, schools and trucking industry to do more to address the nation’s shortage of truck technicians.
“In our industry, we often talk about the impact of the shortage of truck drivers,” said Graves, “But we mustn’t forget trucking’s need to have many skilled technicians and mechanics to keep their rigs in working order and their wheels moving.”
