What Everybody Should Know. About How to Get a Job in Truck Driving
Wednesday, April 8th, 2009
In the past, if you were a professional driver with a decent driving record, you would always be assured of a job. Just look at any industry publication and you’ll see countless ads for jobs in truck driving, for both experienced and new drivers. A study commissioned by the American Trucking Associations (ATA) projected a shortage of 110,000 drivers by the year 2014.
More recently, jobs in truck driving are becoming harder to find. It’s still relatively easy for an experienced driver with a good record to find a carrier, but these recessionary times are making those jobs fewer and more competitive. But the recruiting ads continue to populate the pages of the trucking industry magazines.
Driver turnover is at its lowest level in nearly a decade, which is a good indicator that jobs in truck driving are probably not as plentiful as the ads might indicate. According to the ATA, turnover at large truckload carriers (those with over $30 million in revenue) recently fell to 85 percent. This means that drivers are not as quick to leave a carrier when they’re not satisfied with their current position.
The lower turnover can be due to the reduction in the number of trucks on the road today. There are fewer companies producing shipments, fewer loads to ship and fewer trucks to deliver them. In a word, jobs in truck driving have been reduced because of capacity.
The number of bankruptcies in the trucking industry due to higher fuel costs, less freight and lower rates has reduced the number of carriers by five percent already. Nearly 2000 carriers closed their doors in the first six months of 2008, and more are expected to do the same in the coming year.
For a professional driver in today’s environment, it just makes sense to stay put for now. There will still be jobs in truck driving available, but the grass isn’t always greener, especially today. A steady paycheck with a stable company is more important than getting along with your dispatcher when your buddy has just lost his job because his carrier went out of business over the holidays.
The good news is that as the economy recovers from the downturn, the need for drivers will continue and carriers will again be forced to start finding ways to fill empty seats and empty trucks. The anticipated shortage of 110,000 drivers by 2014 is still a viable statistic and jobs in truck driving will become a priority in the board room when freight starts moving.
A report by the American Transportation Research Institute (ATRI) found that 55 percent of the executives surveyed felt that driver retention will remain a top strategy. This concern dropped to third in ranking from the last report, but is still foremost on the carrier’s goals. Drivers will be an important part of the economic recovery and jobs in truck driving will become more prevalent as we approach the forecasted growth.
If you’ve got a Class A driver’s license and a good driving record, you’ll become more valuable and hopefully, more financially rewarded soon. Jobs in truck driving will always be available for you. A little good news these days always helps!