Inglewood, CA (AP) —Last afternoon, Tinashin saw nearly 12 students backing up a large practice rig to a parking space at a truck driving school on the outskirts of Los Angeles. Many people have never operated a manual transmission before.
“The demand for drivers is so great that it’s an exciting time to be a truck driver,” said Shin, the school’s director. “Our garden is busy and very lively with lots of activities.”
At the California Truck Driving Academy, businesses are booming amid a national shortage of long-distance drivers, promising high salaries and immediate job openings. At Inglewood, annual enrollment has increased by almost 20% from last year, expanding to night classes.
“Everything in this country is trucking somewhere,” Shin said. “So you know, you need a truck driver to move the goods.”
According to Nick Bias, executive director of the Marshall Global Supply Chain Management Center at the University of Southern California, the convergence of factors has led to a shortage of about 80,000 drivers in the United States.
Private consumption is above 15% in February 2020, just before the pandemic paralyzed the economy. According to the Federal Reserve, production has increased by almost 5% over the past year as factories in the United States worked to keep up with rising demand for commodities. Imports have narrowed the gap.
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At the same time, many US workers have decided to quit jobs that require frequent public contact. This resulted in a shortage of ship unloading, goods transportation and retail store staff.
In California, a tense supply chain is shown at Los Angeles Harbor and Long Beach. Here, dozens of ships are waiting for unloading offshore. Despite the 24-hour port operation starting in October, the average waiting time is about 17 days.
The shortage of drivers in the harbor has spurred a surge in the nearby California Truck Driving Academy. There, a reflective vest instructor continues to monitor while maneuvering the cicadas around a paved area surrounded by a fence.
“You’re like helping the community and making money at the same time,” said student Tielno Barry. “It’s a mutually beneficial situation.”
Barry, 23, was happy to be able to grab the steering wheel on the first day, despite rolling some orange safety cones.
“I feel good, especially during a pandemic,” he said.
Meanwhile, the school is facing a shortage of truck driving instructors.
Copyright 2021 AP communication. all rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission.
Associated Press Photo: Tracker Schools Crowded Amid US Driver Shortage | Nation
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