With growth in e-commerce, demand for truck deliveries has grown exponentially and so has the demand for drivers. Ironically, the commercial vehicle industry is struggling to keep up with this demand and are facing the shortage of drivers.
The government has fixated a minimum education qualification of eighth standard for commercial drivers. There has been a call to relax education norm for drivers and to employ more technically skilled drivers. According to a survey conducted, many high-paying jobs do not require higher education but instead value experience, training, and skill.
Skilled Drivers
The requirement for availing a driving license are such that it keeps out less educated drivers with better driving skills, out of the system. Approximately 30 per cent of commercial vehicles are idle because of shortage of skilled drivers.
There is a need to re-examine the minimum educational qualifications required for drivers so that the would-be drivers are tested more on their driving skills rather than their educational qualifications.
Prasanna Patwardhan, President, Bus Operators Confederation of India, said, “Some of the best drivers in the market would not have been to school. While not many are willing to be a driver, the industry should tap the technically qualified not the educationally unqualified drivers for the industry.”
Major Issues
Many people, due to family issues or some problems, have to drop out from school. Thus, the minimum qualification norm is a big hurdle in attracting quality drivers.
Apart from this, owing to the poor service conditions and treatment received from the transport owners, restricts many people, who apply for clerical jobs, from becoming a driver.
Why Education is important
Education is important to suffice in today’s competitive world. Thus, driver education has become important in current time. With technology making its way into every industry, there is demand for educated drivers. This is because drivers with at least high-school degree will have the knowledge and skill required and transport owners would not have to spend on their training.
Introduction Of Driver Education
Education might prove to be effective but factors like experience and skills plays an important role in the vehicle industry. Novice drivers, especially young ones, have extremely high crash rates. A major reason that young drivers are over represented in road crashes is because they are inexperienced, lacking the necessary driving skills and capabilities.
Thus, drivers should receive a formal driver education/training before commercially driving. Formal instruction, which includes in-class education and in-vehicle training, can be used as a means to address the collision problem.
