Late this winter I saw a clip on the KTVB news showing Governor Little trying out the new Idaho Trucking Association Truck Simulator. At the end of the piece, they said this opportunity would be available for schools in Idaho this spring, so I immediately went to the Idaho Trucking Association website and filled out the request form to have them visit our school. I am always trying to find opportunities for my students to explore various careers, especially hands-on opportunities, so this was exactly the kind of thing I am always looking for. Luckily, we were one of the schools chosen.
We hosted the simulator the afternoon of the state SAT Day. Despite being able to host for only a half day, we were able to run approximately 25 students through the simulator that afternoon. The simulator allows students to actually “feel” what it is like to drive a truck. Our students especially enjoyed testing their driving skills, especially when they encountered bad weather, traffic accidents, or road construction on the simulation.
While students were waiting to drive, they were able to talk with and receive information from employees of a local trucking company regarding the variety of jobs available in the transportation industry, training opportunities, pay and benefits. The representatives also talked to them about trucking as a part-time employment opportunity to help them pay for college if this wasn’t something they wanted to do professionally. Being located in a rural, agricultural community, this is a field with jobs readily available, so this was a great opportunity for our students to learn more about this industry.
Currently there is a nationwide shortage of truck drivers and in Idaho alone, we are about 5,000 drivers short of reaching needs. The U.S. government is setting up an apprenticeship program, called the Safe Driver Apprenticeship Pilot Program, for truck drivers at least 18 years of age, with a state-issued commercial driver’s license and a safe driving history, to drive interstate trucks under the direct supervision of an experienced driver. This program would allow these young drivers to cross state lines and no longer be limited to just driving in Idaho in hopes of filling our need for additional drivers.
This opportunity was not only a great learning experience, but it was also a lot of fun for our students and easy to arrange. I am hoping to host this program again in the fall and invite other small schools in our area to come and experience it with their students as well. In the meantime, enjoy your summer break, and “Keep Trucking!”
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Written by Kim Draves, Region 4 Next Steps Idaho Ambassador (2021-2022)
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