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Transcript/ScriptUS Women and Minority Truck Drivers
HEADLINE: More Women, Minorities Take Up Truck Driving Due to High Demand
TEASER:
PUBLISHED AT: Sunday, 01/23/2022 10:54 p.m.
BYLINE: Aunshuman Apte
DATELINE: New York City, New York
VIDEOGRAPHER: Aunshuman Apte
PRODUCER: Aunshuman Apte
SCRIPT EDITORS: KE(1st), MAS
VIDEO SOURCE (S): VOA Original | VOA Urdu Service
PLATFORMS (mark with X): WEB __ TV X RADIO __
TRT: 3:55
VID APPROVED BY: KE
TYPE: TVPKG
EDITOR NOTES: corrects script for Czerwinski sound bite – pre-trip inspection ))
((INTRO))
[[A shortage of truck drivers in the U.S. has led to all kinds of troubles for consumers and businesses. That has led to some trucking companies doing all they can to get new drivers on the road. VOA’s Aunshuman Apte has more from New York City.]]
((NARRATOR))
Karina Dejsus is practicing how to reverse park a tractor trailer, also known as a truck, on a quiet street corner in Bronx, New York. She’s a school bus driver who aspires to be a truck driver. To learn the parking technique, she enrolled in New York Commercial Driving School.
((Karina Dejsus, Truck Driving Student)) ((Female in English))
“I don’t see it as a challenge. I think the same way, as the men can do it, women can do it. I think equality is the most important thing right now. I know as a mom it will be a bit hard for me, but I am not planning to go to different states. I am planning to mostly do local work.”’
((NARRATOR))
According to data compiled by the American Trucking Association, there were approximately 167 thousand women truck drivers in 2001. That grew to more than 260,000 in 2020. Other minorities, such as African Americans, Hispanics, and Asians, saw their representation rise from roughly 26% in 2001 to 42% in 2020.
((Eliezer Taveras, Taxi Driver)) ((Male in Spanish))
“It is true that it is a bit difficult, but economically speaking, I understand that it is an opportunity to get a better way of life.”
((NARRATOR))
According to the group, the industry has had a truck driver shortage for several years and is now short some 80,000 truck drivers. Trucking companies and other businesses are increasing pay and benefits for newcomers.
((Wesley, Taxi Driver)) ((Male in English))
“Right now, I could probably make $1,000 clean as a cab driver. With a CDL, driving truck, I could probably make $2,000 to $2,500 dollars a week.”
((NARRATOR))
The schools are also benefiting from the surge in driving school enrollments.
((Daniel, Truck Driving Instructor)) ((Male in English))
“Maybe about 50 percent more. I wouldn’t be able to double that. But simply because of the propaganda out there and the offers to new drivers, yes, you have steady increase.”
((NARRATOR))
These are really big… and really dangerous vehicles and there’s a lot to learn before drivers can get on the road.
((Adam Czerwinski, New England Tractor Trailer Training School)) ((Male in English))
“Everything from how to do a pre-trip inspection, which is going around the vehicle to make sure that its safe before they go on the road to performing a brake test to offset backing. Different types of you know, both parallel and sight side backing up to how to alley dock a truck. And of course, going out on the road during all this time and learning how to shift and handle the vehicle on the city streets.”.
((NARRATOR))
To address the driver shortage, trucking businesses and industry groups are collaborating with policymakers on initiatives like lowering the interstate driving age limit. But, getting new drivers on the road isn’t just about getting the training.
((Mark Greenberg, New England Tractor Trailer Training School)) ((Male in English))
“There are literally hundreds and hundreds of drivers right now waiting for tests. And we are keeping our class sizes relative to the state’s ability to test them out. So that’s a bottleneck in the pipeline for new drivers.”
((NARRATOR))
According to industry insiders, the driver shortage will progressively ease as more people join the trucking business.
And it will also change the face of the trucking industry, which has been dominated by mostly white, male truck drivers for decades.
((Aunshuman Apte, VOA News, New York City))
NewsML Media TopicsLifestyle and Leisure, Labour, Economy, Business and Finance
NetworkVOA
Embargo DateJanuary 24, 2022 15:43 EST
Brand / Language ServiceVoice of America - English
