According to the American Trucking Associations, Hispanics currently make up around 6% of the trucking industry’s workforce. This number is expected to continue to grow as the demand for trucking services increases, and the industry continues to face a shortage of drivers.
From Darth Vader to Cookie Monster, drivers can listen to directions in a buffet of varying accents. Perhaps the most humorous guide Google is currently offering for navigation is a Polish Grandmother that’s also extending good natured guilt along with trips.
But one of the most exciting and impactful aspects of the versatility in the GPS field is that it facilitates help for drivers that don’t speak the language of the country they are traveling. This is especially true for truck drivers in the United States.
Despite the many benefits of a more diverse workforce, there are still challenges that need to be overcome. One of the biggest challenges facing Hispanic drivers is language barriers. While many Hispanic drivers are bilingual, there are still many who struggle with English, which can make it difficult to communicate with customers and colleagues.
But with the rise of GPS tech that facilitates their needs Spanish-speaking drivers are rising to meet the driver shortage.
Fascinatingly, the Hispanic demographic skews younger than other comparative demographic sectors of the industry. According to Freightwaves, “Government data on the trucking population split into groups based on age brackets showcases a fascinating picture. Two realizations are evident – the average age of Hispanic drivers is lower than the industry average, and the percentage of young Hispanics joining the workforce is much higher than the industry average.
For instance, the number of Hispanic drivers in the 25-34 years age bracket is more than half of the number of white drivers. In contrast, in the 55-64 years age bracket, Hispanics are less than one-fifth of the total white driver population.”
And one of the main logical factors driving the rise of Hispanics in the trucking industry is demographics. Hispanics are the largest minority group in the United States, making up over 18% of the population. As the population continues to grow, so does the number of Hispanics in the workforce. In addition, Hispanics have a strong tradition of hard work and entrepreneurship, which has made them well-suited for the trucking industry.
“Bringing more of the Hispanic demographic into the trucking business is essential, as the number of people joining the trucking workforce is dwindling. The average age of a trucker is in the mid-50s, and with millennials unconvinced to take up the physically taxing trucking life, the trucking sector might be heading to a crisis.”