The Baby Boomer generation is starting to retire, and Millennials are entering the workforce in droves. Truck fleets are experiencing driver shortages while the aging fleet manager populace is looking for their protégés. Why, with more people entering the workforce every day, are truck fleets still struggling to fill driver’s seats? Where are the energetic new employees for fleet managers to mentor?

According to research by A. Duie Pyle, a Northeast transportation and logistics provider that operates a fleet of more than 3,200 vehicles, including approximately 2% light- and medium-duty units, Millennials require a distinct leadership plan to hold interest and ensure employee retention. 

Yet, studies show that Baby Boomers are holding onto jobs longer and retiring at much older ages than their predecessors did. 

Combine this with an attitude of truck driving jobs being less-than-glamourous and ongoing driver health issues. The result is a current hold on opportunities for entry-level employees to advance, and a lack of enthusiasm for those holding higher-level jobs to mentor a protégé, with a lower number of people trying for the jobs in the first place.

A problem is evident and changes must be made within the fleet industry to attract and retain qualified talent for positions from drivers to technicians to management.

Pew research noted that in 2015, more than one-in-three American workers were Millennials (adults ages 18 to 34 in 2015), and represented 34% of the workforce, while Baby Boomers were down to 29% of the workforce.

If you are a retiring Baby Boomer, what do you think about the Millennials entering the workforce, either as drivers or fleet managers? Do you have someone you are mentoring to take your place when you retire, or a succession plan the furthest from your mind still?

Millennials, why aren’t you jumping at the chance to travel across the country at higher starting wages than typical entry-level jobs and driving trucks? Or if you work in the fleet profession already, are you talking to your fleet manager boss about how you can learn, grow, and become a fleet manager yourself someday? 

What do you think about this situation and are you doing anything to help make changes?

E-mail me and let’s chat!

Lauren Fletcher 
Lauren.Fletcher@bobit.com