Healthy Demand for Truck Drivers

Your perception of the economy from the national press (be it TV, newspaper or radio) may have you doubting the need for Commercial Truck Drivers since fuel prices have been on the rise.  But you would be wrong. You may be thinking, well, I’m cutting down on my travel to save money due to high gas prices. But the trucking industry operates under a different set of assumptions. All of the goods you use – essentials to everyday life on the shelves of every local store – came to be there from a truck. The trucking industry has been considered largely invisible because most people expect goods to be on the shelf and do not always think about how they came to be there.

STC Instructor Tommy Wallace talks with students about Commercial Truck Driving.

“No matter how high the price of a good gets, it gets to the store by a truck,” says Jim Tower, Werner Enterprises’ Regional Manager for Georgia. “There are essential things people need to survive and trucks get them to your local store shelves.”

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has projected heavy- and tractor trailer driving jobs to rise as much as 10% in the next 8 years. The BLS’ 2008-9 Occupational Outlook Handbook reports, “Competing forms of freight transportation—rail, air, and ship transportation—require trucks to move the goods between ports, depots, airports, warehouses, retailers, and final consumers who are not connected to these other modes of transportation. Demand for long-distance drivers will remain strong because they can transport perishable and time-sensitive goods more effectively than alternate modes of transportation.”

So, the need for trucking and truck drivers is still strong in our economy. (Here is where it gets good for people looking for new and exciting careers.)

As reported in the American Trucking Associations’ 2007-2008 edition of Trucking and The Economy, the trucking industry is looking to hire more drivers. “An aging workforce combined with a decline in the primary demographic group that comprises the bulk of the driver pool has many fleets unable to seat trucks or add capacity at a time when freight volumes are growing.

“While trucking has cyclical ups and downs, there is one constant: Robust demand for safe and reliable drivers. Benefits are attractive and getting better and training opportunities abound. For prospective truck drivers, plenty of jobs are available and anyone who decides to become a truck driver could not have picked a better time.”

If you are interested in becoming a truck driver, Jim Tower of Werner Enterprises offers a few tips to help you choose wisely. “First, a quality education like that of Sandersville Technical College will help you learn a good, general knowledge of the industry to earn your Commercial Driving License (CDL). STC cares about its students’ success both inside the classroom and in their career.”

“Second, after earning your CDL,” continues Jim, “evaluate your career opportunities based on 3 key factors: future opportunity, benefits (in addition to pay), and quality training.”

As your needs change, you may want to change your driving schedule and routes or seek advancement within that company. And benefits offered in addition to your pay may offset a higher paying opportunity.

Quality training by the company that hires you, what Jim calls “real life training” can really be a huge factor in your success. The more you learn, the more you are equipped when you are on your own. It is the intricate knowledge of city traffic, mountain roads, and other roadside factors that can stress you out. By learning how to deal with these day to day occurrences, you can prevent the feeling of frustration and create a good work environment.

Roy Williams, the Director of Commercial Truck Driving at Sandersville Technical College, comments, “We still have the same carriers recruiting our students that we have had relationships with for years. We receive calls weekly with new carriers looking for drivers. In spite of the current economic slowdown we still have many companies looking for qualified drivers.”

Sandersville Technical College offers Commercial Truck Driving courses at all 3 of its campus locations – Sandersville, Louisville, and Sparta. Both day and night classes are available. The next class begins September 15th. Call Dale Anderson today at 478-553-2408 to learn more about class dates and times or visit www.sandersvilletech.edu to view a full schedule.

Werner Enterprises, Inc. is among the five largest truckload carriers in the United States, with a diversified portfolio of transportation services that includes dedicated, medium-to-long-haul, regional and local van capacity, expedited, temperature-controlled and flatbed services. Werner's fleet consists of more than 9,000 tractors, over 25,000 trailers, and over 14,000 employees and independent contractors.

For more information on the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2008-09 Edition, Truck Drivers and Driver/Sales Workers, visit http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos246.htm.

August 29, 2008

(2008, September 3). The Sandersville Progress, p10A
(2008, September 4). The Sparta Ishmaelite, p3.
(2008, September 5). The Warrenton Clipper, p3.