Truck Technicians Needed

How fleets can help the industry and themselves get through a truck technician shortage

The very same innovations in truck technology that make a driver’s job simpler, can make the truck technician’s job more complex. The days of a mechanically inclined teenager tinkering with cars and do-it-yourself truck maintenance morphing into a career as a diesel mechanic are pretty well over. Today’s big rigs contain sophisticated electronics that require a unique set of skills and knowledge, and the pool of qualified technicians is shrinking.

The American Trucking Associations (ATA), noting that this shortage could have a negative impact on the industry, called for policymakers and the trucking industry to address the problem, noting that the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a need for 67,000 new technicians and 75,000 new diesel engine specialists by 2022.

Tackling the technician shortage before it reaches a critical level means nurturing the next generation of techs. The ATA ‘s Technology & Maintenance Council recently hosted 80 student technicians for the second annual TMC FutureTech skills competition for technician students. The goal is to encourage this next wave of technicians, and that’s something fleet managers can do in small but significant ways.

Develop a relationship with trainees while they are still in technical school.
Rather than wait for a newly trained tech to apply for a job with your shop, get out to the local technical school and find a way to connect with the students. Send a guest speaker. Start a mentorship program. Sponsor a classroom activity.

Encourage continuing education
Once a new tech has joined the company, support additional training and certifications. This is a win-win investment of time and/or money, since it shows the tech that they can grow with the company and the fleet will have a shop trained in the latest equipment and techniques.

Change minds
Promote the job and the trucking industry beyond the usual audience. Get out to career fairs, high schools, local events and change people’s perceptions about what it means to work for a trucking company. There are plenty of people who understand technology and don’t relate that skill to trucking — and fleet maintenance managers may need to adjust their own thinking when looking at candidates.