FreightWaves WHAT THE TRUCK?! Offers Insights on Driver Training Trends from 160 Driving Academy's Steve Gold

On a recent episode of FreightWaves’ WHAT THE TRUCK?!, Steve Gold, CEO and founder of CVTA member 160 Driving Academy, discussed the changing landscape of driver hiring and training. The conversation covered the challenges carriers face in finding safe, qualified drivers, the hurdles new CDL graduates encounter when building experience, and how employers are approaching wage growth and specialized opportunities across the market. References to industry research, including from NTI (Nat'l Transportation Institute), underscored how wide the gap can be between the pool of applicants and the smaller number of drivers carriers consider ready for the job.

Gold also highlighted the essential role of quality CDL training and recognized CVTA’s ongoing work to press FMCSA to remove non-compliant schools from the Training Provider Registry. This discussion reinforces the value of strong training standards, the responsibility our members carry in preparing students for lasting careers, and the need for consistent enforcement to ensure safe drivers enter the industry. CVTA will continue to press these priorities while supporting schools and carriers working to meet the industry’s growing demand for qualified drivers.