Almost half of all commercial truck carriers say a shortage of quality drivers is holding back business, according to an industry survey.

CK Commercial Vehicle Research recently announced the results of its first quarter Fleet Sentiment Report, which showed positive signs for medium and heavy commercial truck purchases.

The report includes a survey of commercial truck carriers and 43 percent said they are impacted by a shortage of truck drivers.

The report also showed that carriers are looking for professionally trained drivers for many reasons, including the belief that hiring trained truck drivers can lead to better fuel efficiency. “Driver education and experience” was chosen by the largest percentage of survey participants to have a positive impact on fuel efficiency, the report said.

The report highlights a growing trend in the commercial truck industry and that is that carriers are in high demand for professionally trained drivers. Those drivers with professional CDL training are not only more likely to be hired, but they also enjoy higher than average starting salaries and a better chance for future advancement.

One of the places employers look to for professionally trained truck drivers is the Diesel Driving Academy, which have one of the most respected training programs in the nation.

At Diesel Driving Academy’s CDL training program students learn the necessary skills to feel confident in their abilities as a professional truck driver. Students also enjoy small class sizes with individualized instruction as they prepare for a career in this growing industry where trained applicants are the most desired applicants.

The Diesel Driving Academy offer a CDL training program that is helping jobseekers start a long-term career as a professional commercial truck driver, which is especially needed in today’s era of high unemployment. Carriers all across the country are experiencing a shortage of qualified drivers, which makes professional training from a respected school like the Diesel Driving Academy the logical first step in getting work in this growing industry.

The commercial truck industry has been expiring rapid growth for the past few years and the future looks even brighter. Even before the economy began to show signs of improvement, the commercial trucking industry was already growing. Now that sectors like manufacturing and construction are starting to slowly grow, the truck industry is experiencing even more growth. The growth in the commercial trucking industry is causing many truck carriers to hire thousands of new drivers every month, but it is professionally trained drivers who are in the highest demand by carriers desperate to find more drivers.

Carriers continue to look for the nation’s best drivers and we believe that the best drivers are being trained at Diesel Driving Academy.