More trucks will be hitting the road over the next few years, according to the firm ACT Research, which predicts production of Class 8 trucks in North America in 2012 and 2013 will equal the amount of trucks that were built from 2007 to 2010.
Part of the growth in new commercial trucks is an effort underway to update aging fleets with more fuel efficient models, but the prediction is yet another indication that the commercial trucking industry in America will continue to grow. That’s good news for the industry but also good news for those thinking about starting a career as a CDL trained commercial truck driver to fill the thousands of vacancies that exist across the country.
The Diesel Driving Academy truck driving school of Shreveport is helping to ensure that those new trucks hitting America’s highways over the next few years are operated by quality trained and skilled drivers. The truck driving school focuses on preparing students to become CDL trained drivers that understand the rules of the road and the safest way to operate a commercial truck, especially the new models that are being created.
Recently developed fuel efficiency technologies are allowing the builders of trucks to offer trucking companies new vehicles that save money with lower fuel consumption. Commercial trucking is already on the raise as manufactures continue to turn to trucks as their preferred form of shipping, but better fuel standards will also help commercial trucking companies remain competitive and retain high demand with attractive shipping rates.
In a recent National Geographic article exploring the change in commercial trucking fuel standards, Glen Kedzie, vice president of environmental affairs for the American Trucking Associations, said the changes in commercial trucking technology are not only leading to better fuel consumption, but also lead to improvements in safety and productivity.
“The sky’s the limit as to what information you can get out of technology,” Kedzie told National Geographic.” It’s becoming possible, for example, for a truck to be programmed to shift at just the right time for maximum fuel efficiency and minimum wear and tear. Braking can be automated, with the proper distance calculated based on road conditions, weather, and load weight. Other systems, using retinal observation, are being marketed to detect signs of driver fatigue.”
That’s good news for the trucking industry and for those entering the commercial trucking field. CDL training is in high demand with the need for more commercial truck drivers, but attending a quality program at a school like Diesel Driving Academy is becoming critically important as future truck drivers will have to understand the new technology being introduced to the trucking industry and understand how to drive the trucks of tomorrow.
