Tulsa Truck Driving School Working To Help Solve Driver Shortage

The truck driver shortage happening across the country has brought a newfound demand for a secured spot in CDL training classes. Some local Tulsa training centers are meeting that need as quickly as they can.

The American Trucking Association says right now, the United States is short about 80,000 truck drivers, causing companies to have shipping delays.

The Arbuckle Truck Driving School has a steady flow of full classes that start weekly with new drivers graduating every four weeks.

Training Director Billy Wall says they are trying to combat the shortage by getting about 270 people a year into the trucking companies that need people to start working for them immediately. He says these companies are in desperate need of drivers, especially during the holidays.

“Grocery stores they have shortages, they don’t have enough truck drivers to haul the stuff to the stores, Amazon, car parts, auto parts, you just can’t get it shipped out it takes longer to get there,” Wall said,

Wall said many companies are even lowering their requirements just to get people in.

“Instead of having to have two to four years experience they are taking people with one year experience,” Wall said. “The ones who want one year experience are waving that and taking people straight out of school so they can fill their trucks.”

The ATA said they expect the shortage to get worse as more drivers get out of the field to pursue options that keep them closer to home and off the dangerous roads.