Trucking is a vital industry for the economy. It is the transportation method of choice for a majority of the cargo shipped throughout the country. In Canada, truckers transported over 251.4 billion-tonne kilometers in 2013; a 4.1 per cent increase over 2012 and evidence of a continuously growing industry.
As of December 2014, there were over 62,000 trucking companies in Canada, which makes a dispatcher’s job of managing their movement and keeping track of their inventory, among other things, very important.
If you’re interested in a career as a dispatcher, then you should check out these brief facts about the history of the semi-truck.
1. Students in Dispatcher Schools Might Know Why the First Semi-Trucks Were Invented
By the time trucks came around, trains were the most common method of transporting goods and equipment. The one drawback of using trains is that they have a limited reach. This was a problem for Alexander Winton, who began making automobiles in the late 1800s, because he couldn’t get his automobiles to clients through the train network. He couldn’t drive them to his clients because they would suffer substantial wear and tear throughout the journey. It was because of this need that he developed the first semi-truck.
Students in dispatcher courses know that this was a smart move. Within 20 years, the trucking industry had exploded to include a fleet of over half a million trucks!
2. Dispatchers Understand the Evolution of Semi-Trucks Over Time
The trucking industry boomed in both post-war periods in the 20th century, as infrastructure spending went through the roof and highways and interstates kept popping up that allowed truckers to deliver their cargo more quickly. From Winton’s original four-wheel design up to the eighteen-wheelers of today, the quality and efficiency with which trucks were manufactured improved exponentially.
Dispatchers, who help manage the massive number of trucks in their fleets and the cargo they carry, developed codes with truckers over the years to help plan routes more efficiently.
3. Dispatcher Courses Teach Students Where Trucking Is Now, and Where It’s Headed
Students who take a dispatch course know that trucking is still the major industry responsible for shipping cargo cross-country and cross-continent. However, despite the rugged cultural image that truckers have, changes have been implemented recently to help ease the workload and sense of distance that is inherent to the job. There are now set hours that truckers can work, in order to reduce fatigue. Industry professionals are also seeing an increased sophistication of big truck sleepers, which are the compartments in which the drivers can rest.
On top of that, there has been a recent push towards increasing fuel-efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Because of that initiative, almost a third of trucks on the road are close to zero emissions.
Getting into the trucking industry is a broad field, but starting out in dispatch allows you to take part in the culture, understand the history, and become comfortable with this rewarding career.
If you found the above interesting, dispatcher schools would be a good option for you!
Visit CATI for more information or to speak with an advisor.
