Technological advancements continue to shift the landscape of what is possible for the trucking industry, opening our minds to new opportunities, connections, and ways of doing business. While it requires us to continue to adapt and learn new skills, the benefits of technology for our companies and our employees are worth staying ahead of the curve for. Improvements such as cloud-based software, information exchange, and even changes to the trucks themselves will continue to shift the way we operate as an industry in the future as well.
The driver shortage in the trucking industry is no secret. So much so that, “a report from the American Trucking Associations says more than 70 percent of goods consumed in the U.S. are moved by truck, but the industry needs to hire almost 900,000 more drivers to meet rising demand.” One interesting and exciting intersection of technology and the driver shortage issue is the future possibility of evolving medical and trucking technology paving the way for hiring more disabled veterans as drivers.
Veterans have much to offer in terms of skill set, maturity, dependability and more. It is equally true that as systems inside truck cabs continue to progress, the resume of skills that are required for CDL trucking continues to change as well, opening the door for disabled veterans to take advantage of improved safety systems, steering assistance systems and more. Where, “once upon a time, someone missing one of their legs could never even imagine driving a truck with manual transmission…[with] with modern automated transmissions and predictive cruise control systems today, that’s no longer an insurmountable obstacle for a veteran who [has] lost a limb.” Similarly, power steering systems and steering assistance systems, “like ZF’s ADAS, allow drivers to maneuver a truck around a lot at low speeds using just a pointer finger.”
While the systems and technology, and current regulations may not be there yet, that doesn’t mean we won’t see this become a reality in the future. Careers in trucking could empower our veterans and give them a new opportunity for employment where they are valued.
At Veltri, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer and we want our drivers to feel like they are part of our team. We understand the value of our entire operations staff and everything they contribute to our success. If you are interested in driving for Veltri, contact our team today!
Source: https://www.truckinginfo.com/334988/lets-put-our-wounded-warriors-behind-the-wheel