The state of Hawaii is facing a shortage of truck drivers.
Hawaii Transportation Association (HTA) President Gareth Sakakida explained that the driver shortage had been a topic of discussion since 1981, but it became more severe as the number of immigrants to the US mainland increased after the COVID-19 crisis.
A shortage of truck drivers means a threat to the logistics supply chain.
Chairman Sakakida said that although he is adjusting the transportation schedule as efficiently as possible so that goods can be supplied to each store on time, it is difficult to meet everyone’s needs due to a fundamental shortage of workers.
For example, even if there are several companies requesting supplies, there is no driver who can transport the goods at the same time, so the order of driving the truck must be determined.
In addition, it is said that it is a big problem that there is no extra manpower to replace it when traffic jams or unexpected events occur.
The truck driver shortage is a national phenomenon.
An October 2021 report from the American Trucking Association (ATA) analyzed that the truck driver shortage in 2021 will reach an all-time high of about 80,000 nationwide.
Major factors include the occurrence of elderly retirees, the lack of female workers, the decrease in driving school graduates due to COVID-19, and the lack of drug test standards for drivers due to the spread of marijuana legalization.
According to Honolulu City Government Civil Service (DCS) data, the number of commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) on Oahu was 1,770 in 2022, down about 18% from 2,150 in 2021 and about 40% from 2,932 in 2019.
The number of new commercial driver’s licenses issued was 643 in 2022, up from 570 in 2021, 274 in 2020, and 629 in 2019. However, the number of renewal licenses in 2022 was 1,127, significantly reduced from 1,580 in 2021 and 2,303 in 2019.
Mainland truck drivers in the United States usually cite disconnection from family as a grievance due to long-distance driving. However, the state of Hawaii cited the lack of a highway network, narrow road conditions, and traffic congestion as difficulties.
It is known that there are many things to pay attention to for safe and efficient delivery in areas with a very high density of stores, such as Waikiki and downtown.
One of the reasons for the lack of drivers is that truck driving is not perceived as attractive to the younger generation as it used to be.
Professor Mike Scully, who oversees the commercial driver’s license course provided by the Leeward Community College’s Department of Continuing Education and Human Resources Development, said that the starting salary of a commercial driver in Hawaii is about $23 an hour, and that younger generations are encouraged to sit in front of computers and pay more. analyzed would be preferred. He added that traditionally truck drivers were poorly paid for the intensity and risk of the work.
Professor Scully said that since 2020, 125 students have completed the seven-week commercial driver’s license (CDL) training, and that most of the graduates are often hired immediately after training due to the current labor shortage in the industry.
Professor Scully’s curriculum is being operated with the support of about $35 million from the Good Jobs Hawaii program for human resource development planning at the community college affiliated with the state university.
Hawaii Transportation Association (HTA) President Sakakida pointed out that the age limit of 21 is also one of the factors that make it difficult to secure truck drivers.
The federal government limits the age of truck drivers traveling between states to 21. However, in the case of out-of-state truck driving within the state, it is known that younger age groups are also allowed.
President Sakakida explained that after graduating from high school, it would take three more years before he was old enough to get a truck driver’s license, and if that’s the amount of time, he would be more likely to find another job.
As Star Advertiser reports, some question whether an 18-year-old can drive a truck safely.
However, the truck industry believes that the risk can be minimized by strengthening training and regulations and accompanying experienced drivers.
In fact, the Federal Motor Vehicle Transportation Safety Authority (FMCSA) is said to have launched an apprenticeship program last year that allows commercial driver license holders aged 18 to 20 to drive weekly trucks accompanied by an experienced driver.