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A First Timers Experience at the National Truck Driving Championships

I was able to represent Next Gen Trucking at the National Truck Driver Championships in Indianapolis this year. It was a heartwarming, special event that left me proud to be in the trucking industry. I met so many great professionals that would draw Gen Zers to at least explore transportation.

So what is the NTDC all about? It is about excellence in a profession that is more than meets the eye. It is about a purpose and career that is essential to the country. It is about camaraderie, support, and relationships that have formed through work but morph into genuine friendships and respect.

What can I say except that we have a talented group of professionals on the road? One person that I met was Dion Saiz who works for FedEx and was America’s Road Team Captain from 2011-2012. He sang the national anthem in front of a full crowd of his peers. Celebrating the NTDC means meeting new and old friends and celebrating accomplishments and talents. There were spouses and children who were proud to see their family members celebrated for what they do to support the family, day in and day out.

If you don’t have it on your calendar, mark it for next year—August 16-19 in Columbus, OH. If you employ a professional driver that would be a candidate, contact your state trucking association to be involved in their TDC. Hope to see you at Nationals in 2023!

Lindsey Trent

President & Co-Founder, Next Gen Trucking Association

NGT In The News

Gen Z seeks tech, purpose from trucking jobs

Minnesota Department of Transportation At Melton Truck Lines ( Top 250, No. 84) drivers can take their home time anywhere in the country. That was a big selling point for Zeno B., a Gen Z driver from Texas that joined Melton at 21 years old in May 2021.

Apprenticeship pilot program introducing interstate trucking to younger drivers

Do teenagers belong in a big rig? That's the age-old debate. One side says yes, pointing to the driver shortage, while the other disagrees from a safety perspective. But it appears that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration is ready to put it to the test, giving those fresh out of high school a chance to prove they're ready for interstate commerce.

Strategies to recruit the next generation of drivers and address the national trucking shortage

Supply chain interruptions, the global economy, rising inflation and changing worker experiences have impacted many industries that need workers, especially trucking. In 2021, the industry was short a then-record 6 0,000 drivers , and the ongoing challenge of hiring workers will not be short-lived.

A First Timers Experience﻿ at the National Truck Driving Championships

A First Timers Experience at the National Truck Driving Championships