Next Generation in Trucking Association

Webster’s online dictionary defines an isotope as:  “ any of two or more species of atoms of a chemical element with the same atomic number and nearly identical chemical behavior but with differing atomic mass or mass number and different physical properties” ( “Isotope ”).  One way the Transportation Center of Excellence (TCOE) would modify that definition for ISA-TOPE is: any of two or more types of autonomous vehicles with the same general components and similar function of autonomous automobiles but on vehicles of higher mass and unique functionality.  ISA-TOPE is actually an acronym that stands for I nnovative, S emi- A utonomous T rucks and O ff-highway P owered E quipment.  It is an acronym that was coined and used in the submission of an NSF grant by the TCOE that was recently awarded.  We now begin the work of the project.  The project has 5 main deliverables: A training schedule and program for at least 8 OEM ISA-TOPE Professional Development training sessions A collec

  Say the word "technician" and immediately some people conjure up an unfavorable image of someone with a dirty uniform working in a decrepit building with junk cars and rusted parts everywhere. The stereotype is strong, and the industry is aware. While we know it’s not reality, the image is not one that leads parents to prefer it as a solid career choice for their children. It’s also not an image that young students see as leading them on a lucrative or rewarding career path, therefore, it leaves our field with a systemic gap of needing qualified technicians and no one wanting to explore those opportunities. I wanted to bring awareness to future technicians of what it’s really like to have a career as a technician with a reputable company and sought out to do something to address this image obstacle head-on. I first reached out to the local BOCES in Mexico, NY, where I met with Carol Taormina, work base learning coordinator, with the idea of introducing students to the e

ATS “Keeps on Trainin”™ Patented technology. P rogressi v e training. Re v olutionary results To train the next generation of trucking professionals, our industry must use the technology to which they are so accustomed.   Driving today’s heavy commercial vehicle requires knowledge of many high-tech, computerized components.   Not to mention that technology is the language of the next generation.   Technology must be included in the training of these new “Professional Drivers”.   Driver training simulators and interactive pre-trip apps are part of this training technology.     The industry believes the next generation of Professional Drivers needs to include 18- to 20-year-olds.   Presently they cannot drive interstate.   They are already permitted to drive intrastate, which in California can mean 800 miles from north to south; but they are not allowed to cross the border into Arizona.   From a safety point of view, this makes no sense.     The DRIVE Safe Act, a bi-partisan

  by:  Dylan Tinney, Partnerships, JOBehaviors “What do you want to be when you grow up? What’s your plan after school?” For high school students who aren’t sure of their next step, these questions can cause anxiety. The pressure is on from adults at home and at school. But the pressure comes with few tools that actually help students discover what career paths will bring them success and fulfillment. Without a predictive tool, the path to finding a student’s calling in life can be long and winding. JOBehaviors Shows Students which Careers will Deliver Success and Fulfillment Specifically for Them Enter JOBehaviors predictive career assessments. The laser-focused, online assessments show students in about 10 minutes how likely they are to find success and fulfillment in a specific career, including a variety in trucking and transportation. Unlike anything else on the market, JOBehaviors assessments are behaviorally-engineered to determine whether students will naturally seek

      Truck drivers are an essential part of what keeps America moving. Nearly every product that is sold and bought has been transported at some point via a commercial truck.  Despite the big demand for experienced truckers, there is a nation-wide shortage of people willing to take charge behind the wheel. To fill that gap, Hopkinsville Community College (HCC) offers truck driver training, as a certificate program.   The intent is to train students with little to no commercial driving experience and prepare them for a high-demand job.   The 4-week, entry-level course prepares students for the trucking industry. It teaches students to drive tractor trailer trucks, apply their knowledge of commercial driving regulations, prepare receipts for loads, maintain truck logs in accordance with state and federal guidelines, inspect the truck and equipment as well as load and unload. Most importantly, the program teaches students how to be safe and reliable drivers. The course is designed to

      Helping the next generation and creating a skilled workforce is something on the forefront of everyone's minds in skilled trades.  Boyd CAT was founded in 1913 and they have created a robust training and career program to train young people committed to working for them called Think Big. The Think Big program is a heavy equipment technical training program where students attend Illinois Central College (ICC).   The Think Big program involves rotating semesters of school work at ICC and in-person hands-on training at Boyd CAT for two years.   During these two years, Think Big program students learn to work on Caterpillar equipment and engines as well as take general classes of math, science and English.  During the hands-on training semesters, the Think Big students are working at their home Boyd CAT branch where they get to help in the shop and put the skills they have learned to work while also completing an internship checklist for ICC.   Students are assigned their own wor