Is Trucking fixing itself from the inside or even better innovating to protect itself? There has been a push lately to correct the industry from everyone whether industry veterans or new to the system. Changes have been talked about for years as training has declined and more bad actors enter the system. That became more fruitful during the pandemic which allowed some to profit from low enforcement and other particulars that stopped people from doing the basic background checks on industry that had always been required. Associations stopped meeting and momentum for change that had happened in the past began to slip with initiatives being put on hold. The lack of enforcement and expansion of opportunity for bad actors in the industry has increased and the pace of decline that we now experience to this day is starting to affect our safety and the people on our roadways. It has now come to a head!
No matter where you are in the industry whether it be a driver, insurance, training, or operations you have seen the issues that we are experiencing in trucking. More accidents with trucks on the roads, freight fraud, chameleon carriers, undercutting of rates, and do we even mention cargo theft have all gone through the roof. We have waited for Governments to take care of the enforcement which has not happened but talked about for years. The discussions finally stopped and action has begun! On both sides of the border there have been changes and recently we have seen increased enforcement in motor vehicle inspections. Associations are starting to align with other sectors of the industry on important items such as training and regulations.
Drivers are getting into the fight, many with technology upgrades in a battle to change things that have been headaches in the industry for years. On the podcast we have talked with people developing technology to track and help drivers get paid detention time which has been a big problem in the industry since the 70s. We have also seen technology to help verify load brokers helping to stop fraud on the freight side of the industry, and organizations working to keep carriers accountable through self guided systems. We have even seen products to help drivers look and feel more professional while on the road.
Over all what we are seeing are people inside the industry beginning to take the reigns and try to correct the direction and slow the sliding slope that we have been on for a long time. For years we waited for change from the outside to help us stay stable in trucking, but we have now seen a change beginning from the inside. The convoy in Ottawa whether you believed in it or not showed people that the trucking industry was at a turning point. The industry will always have to fend off unscrupulous characters but it must police itself. Let’s hope the changes will bring lasting change for the better. Our industry needs it, but more importantly the safety of our roadways are at stake. Enjoy some of the conversations on these and other important topics on The Lead Pedal Podcast.
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About the Author
Bruce Outridge is an industry veteran for over 40 years with 25 of those behind the wheel as a professional truck driver. For the last 15 years Bruce has been working in training and media for the industry and is currently the host / producer of Lead Pedal Media, The Lead Pedal Podcast, and Lead Pedal Radio. He is a member of a number associations in the industry and can be found covering and attending many industry events within Canada. Learn more about Bruce Outridge and Lead Pedal Media at www.leadpedalmedia.com
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