Employment
The Complacency Coach
Step Ahead of the Competition with Self Training
By Bruce Outridge
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re you as confused as the rest of us? First we are told there is a driver shortage, but as of late we have been told there are drivers, but many are not qualified for the companies they are trying to hire on with. So there are drivers in the schools, just not good drivers? In working with carriers all the time I believe there is a driver shortage as many carriers are looking for people, but unlike the old days they just aren’t willing to take a breathing body and put them in the seat. That is the way the industry used to do it and many are not willing to take the risk anymore. This is causing many individuals to get
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caught in the middle of the industry with inadequate training and no job. What if you are one of those poor folks that were told you would have a job without any problem, but cannot find employment? First, realize that the training is very important to establishing your career for the rest of your life. This is where we are going wrong: the industry has a demand, a school pops up and says we can fill that demand, but doesn’t fill the training requirements. Working with a qualified school is the first part of receiving adequate training. Never pick a school based on price. Many of the issues I have been hearing from carriers is not so much about driving but the other issues that are important in transportation, such as pre-trip inspections, trip planning, business principles, map reading, and more. These are the areas that many companies are saying the new driver isn’t qualified in, areas that will impede their ability to work within the industry. So let’s assume you can drive, you have the basics
of backing up a truck and driving it safely down the road. You made the mistake of training at a school that didn’t give you proper instruction. What can you do? The first place to start is by finding a recognized school and taking a road test to show you know what you are doing on the driving end. The other information would be your homework, such as finding appropriate courses online or from someone qualified in the industry to help create your own curriculum. Take note of what recruiters have been telling you and work on those areas. Keep receipts if the training was purchased online to prove you took the course. This will show initiative to the recruiters who may then decide to invest in you and hopefully give you a chance at employment. The industry is looking for self starters, they are looking for people that are willing to make an investment in their future and not just use certificates as a fast way in the door. Once you are on the road that training will come out and those that actually took in the
information and did that extra work will be the successful ones. The same goes for being an owner operator. If you thoroughly investigate the business and learn to operate properly you will be successful. If you just go to the closest dealer
and buy a truck, you may be an owner operator, but probably not a successful one. Stepping up your training is vital for a successful career and the world of online technology may be your best bet. Bruce Outridge is a transportation consultant
and author of the books Running By The Mile, and Driven to Drive. He is the creator of the course, Running By The Mile, for owner operators. For more information on the course and books please visit his website at www.outridge. ca.
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