The trucking industry is, and will continue to be, significant to the economy of the United States. For instance, some 10.77 billion tons of freight are moved by trucks annually these days. The industry generates more than $700 billion in revenue. And truckers travel about 450 billion miles a year in the U.S. alone each year– wow! Publicly traded trucking companies like Old Dominion Freight and J.B. Hunt perform well in the stock market.
Job Prospects
About 7.7 million people (including 3.5 million drivers) are employed in the trucking industry today. The number of trucking jobs is expected to grow by 6% by 2026. Median pay is about $42,000 a year, with wages expected to rise by up to 10% in 2019. Truckers can work up to 65 hours a week.
Trend-wise, there’s a shortage of available, qualified drivers these days. Could it be due to long hours and wages that aren’t what some would hope? Possibly. Could it also be that the increasing use and standardization of disruptive technologies has taken some of the fun out of the job? Perhaps.
Some companies are trying hard to recruit new blood into the trucking industry. For example, some are reaching out to women and minorities in order to increase truck driver diversity. Other companies are utilizing flexible shift options so the job is less demanding than it used to be– with more attractive hours for some people.
New Technologies
There’s an increased use of data technologies, electric trucking vehicles and even automated trucking, such that the trucking industry is becoming more automated and less personal than it used to be. Trucking is essentially becoming more high-tech.
Have you noticed more and more people are shopping online? Malls and stores aren’t what they used to be, with many people opting to buy online and having their items shipped to their door. With that in mind, as e-commerce grows, the demand for trucks (and deliveries) grows, too.
Platinum Drivers is a leading CDL driver staffing and placement agency providing truck drivers in Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas. Platinum Drivers exists to match experienced Class A and Class B commercial truck drivers with customers who have an immediate transportation need. For more info, call 844-800-1421.