Danielle Cessna, one of our Little Rock graduates, traded in her day job as a preschool teacher to take to the highways with US Xpress.

When asked if she had any advice for potential students looking to train as a professional truck driver, her answer was simple. “Go in to it with an open mind and listen to your instructors.  They know what they’re talking about.”.

Congratulations, Danielle. We’re all proud of you!

When people think of the commercial trucking industry they are likely to think about the major company names that seem to dot America’s highways, but the majority of trucking companies are small operations that rely on a small, but dedicated group of drivers.

According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics, it is estimated that there are roughly half a million commercial trucking companies in the United States. Of those companies, an estimated 96 percent operate a fleet of 28 or fewer trucks, and 82 percent of all commercial trucking companies operate six or fewer trucks.

As many as 9 percent of all professional truck drivers are considered owner operators, another factor that means the majority of the commercial trucking industry is made up of small companies and small fleets.

There are advantages to working in both a large or small company. America’s largest commercial trucking companies have advantages, such as transfer opportunities, diverse shipments and the normal resources and support that larger corporation often provide. However, a small company provides many advantages as well, including a chance to have a direct relationship with your employer, tight-knit workforce and a greater chance for advancement. Small companies can also give drivers a closer look at the ins and outs of the commercial trucking industry in case they decide to someday start their own trucking company as many drivers have.

The commercial trucking industry is vital to the United States economy as it relies on the industry to deliver over 80 percent of all freight transported each year with a total value of $671 billion worth of goods. Close to another $500 billion comes from commercial trucking between the United States and Canada and Mexico.

The Diesel Driving Academy’s CDL training program prepares students for all types of cargo shipments, truck equipment and types of companies. The Diesel Driving Academy also works closely with truck driver recruiters from companies of all sizes to help insure students are able to find the job that fits them best.

Today’s trucking companies – both big and small – are looking for the most experienced drivers that have received the best training. The demand is too great for companies to simply hire drivers that just have a CDL but possess no additional training and skills.

Freight levels increased slightly in September for America’s trucks and the American Trucking Associations has released data showing the prospect for continued growth in the trucking industry is also good.

“I continue to believe the economy will skirt another recession because truck tonnage isn’t showing signs that we are in a recession,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said in a press release. “Tonnage is suggesting that we are in a weak growth period for the economy, but not a recession.”

Because the commercial trucking industry is so closely tied to the larger economy as a whole, after all, close to 85 percent of all domestic freight travels by commercial truck, many economists look to the trucking industry in an effort to predict the future. If trucking business is increasing it’s a pretty good sign that the economy as a whole is also growing.

Trucking freight also posted an overall average increase during the third quarter at 0.4 percent. The gains were small, but once again a positive sign that the economy is headed in the right direction as manufactures begin to ship more goods, putting more trucks on America’s roads and increasing the demand for more CDL trained truck drivers.

“Prior to the two previous recessions, truck tonnage was plummeting, but not this time,” Costello said in the release.

Compared with September 2010, the index was up 5.9 percent, also a positive sign for overall economic growth.

The one thing that might hinder the commercial trucking industry from continuing to grow as well as it could is the shortage of professional truck drivers. Trucking companies are in high demand for more drivers, especially those that have professional training and are able to meet today’s standards and regulations.

At the Diesel Driving Academy students are prepared for a career as a professional truck driver by completing a variety of training both in the classroom and behind the wheel of commercial trucks. It’s that variety of training opportunities that make Diesel Driving Academy’s students some of the best drivers entering the workforce and some of the most attractive drivers to commercial trucking companies looking to meet demand.

The economy is still facing its share of challenges and, overall, the economic environment is not back to where it was before the 2008 recession. However, signs of growth in the commercial trucking industry are giving many economist new hopes that the future is looking brighter. If nothing else, the future looks especially bright for the commercial trucking industry.

According to a recent American Trucking Associations report, the commercial trucking industry will be facing a shortage of 110,000 long-haul drivers by 2014 if current trends remain. Those trends include more truckers entering retirement and not enough professionally trained drivers taking their place.

Some believe the estimate is conservative and that the shortage may be even higher, especially as the economy continues to recover over the next several years and more manufactures increase their need for truck-based shipping.

“The driver market is the tightest it has been in 20 years,” Bill Graves, ATA President and CEO, said in a release about the report. “It’s a major limitation to the amount of freight that motor carriers can haul. It’s critical that we find ways to tap a new labor pool, increase wages and recruit new people into the industry that keeps our national economy moving.”

A shortage of drivers is taking place across all forms of commercial trucking, but it is highest among long-haul truckers, who make up 1.3 million of the nearly 3.5 million commercial truckers on America’s roads. Annual turnover rates of 121 percent for long-haul commercial truckers are also adding to the demand as untrained drivers find it harder to achieve long-term employment. In a report two years ago, the shortage was estimated to be at 20,000 drivers, meaning the demand for long-haul commercial drivers is expected to grow by 90,000 in just a few years.

The large demand for commercial truck drivers is one reason many people are considering this as a career. Trucking companies are desperate to hire but they are also looking for the best drivers possible in an effort to keep turnover rates low and insure that their cargo is being transported by the best drivers available. At the Diesel Driving Academy students are receiving hands-on training and experience that will lead to obtaining a CDL and becoming some of the best commercial truck drivers available. Students are prepared to drive both long- and short-haul routes and are given experience on a variety of different equipment.

However, in addition to the professional training provided by the Diesel Driving Academy, it’s the commitment to putting students in high-paying commercial trucking positions that also sets the school apart.

Trucking companies need more drivers, at least another 110,000 in the next few years, and students at the Diesel Driving Academy are in the best possible position to secure those positions. The data is clear, a career as a commercial truck driver is one of the fastest growing jobs and companies are looking for prospective drivers that have the best training and experience.

But is it right for you?

If you are considering a career as a professional truck driver its best to find out as much as you can about the job before you make the commitment. Riding along with a professional trucker, or at least talking to one, is important in determining if this is the right career choice for you. The industry is growing and the pay can be very good, which is why many people are considering a job as a commercial truck driver, but those that jump in too fast quickly find it’s not the right fit and in less than a few years they have left the industry.

If after conducting your own research and you find that commercial trucking interests you then the next step is to receive professional training for an established school, like the Diesel Driving Academy. Drivers that enter the commercial driving industry without doing their research don’t last long, but drivers that enter the career field without the proper training are also likely to eventually leave the industry.

At Diesel Driving Academy students are given in-depth classroom instruction covering driving standards, regulations and qualifications. Students also receive driver training and learn how to maneuver commercial trucks in all types of road environments. Students receive crucial road driving experience and are trained on both new and late-model equipment.

With such an all-inclusive training program, students enter the commercial trucking field knowing what to expect and are able to handle almost any challenge thrown their way. That makes students of the Diesel Driving Academy attractive to recruiters because they know these students will be great long-term hires that understand the industry.

However, students at the Diesel Driving Academy are also given instruction from some of the most experienced drivers in the industry. Diesel Driving Academy instructors come from a variety of backgrounds –ranging from mechanics, safety directors, drivers and management – and each instructor has a broad knowledge of the industry that will better prepare students looking to establish a long-term career in the commercial truck driving field.

Becoming a professional truck driver is much more than just getting your CDL. It’s about having a firm understanding of all that goes into the job and knowing firsthand that it’s the right fit for you. Diesel Driving Academy can help you get a job in this growing field but it can also help you begin your career with the best training available.

Truckers hold a special place in America, even beyond the game of honking a horn in response to children’s request. Over 80 percent of the country’s freight is shipped by trucks and nearly everything we use on a daily basis – from hamburgers to cell phones – found its way to us by a truck. Each commercial truck that rumbles along on America’s highways and byways is another symbol of America’s economy in motion. Possibly no other industry plays as important a role in moving the country forward than America’s commercial trucking industry.

There are lots of reasons to consider a job as a professional truck driver. It’s one of the fastest growing career fields in the nation and the demand for drivers is growing at a pace that few commercial trucking companies can keep up with. The pay is good and the opportunity to advance is also available for drivers that take care in their job. Hours can be flexible and some people find nothing more enjoyable than being on the open road.

However, another great reason to consider a career as a professional commercial truck driver is because you will be playing an important role in America’s economy. It’s true that truckers can often be overlooked by society and some of the stereotypes aren’t too flattering, but the reality is America’s truckers are what make this country go. The growth of America’s economy will only go as far as the commercial trucking industry and a shortage of professionally trained drivers, as is currently the case, will hinder the nation’s ability to undertake a full economic recovery. In addition to playing an important role in the economy by moving manufactured goods, the trucking industry will also play an important role in improving unemployment as some labor officials estimate that as many as 250,000 commercial truck drivers will be needed over the next several years.

The Diesel Driving Academy understands the importance of the commercial trucking industry and takes seriously its role in training the next generation of professional truckers. Students receive hands-on training and experience and are given employment resources to help secure some of the best trucking jobs available.

If you are looking for a growing career field that offers stability and good pay then commercial trucking is for you. But this is also a profession that offers an opportunity to play one of the most important roles in shaping the nation’s future.

The state of the commercial trucking industry is closely tied with other segments of the economy, including manufacturing, retail and construction. As more products are built and purchased the need for trucks to transport those goods also increases. Weak overall growth is a concern for trucking officials but other forecasts indicate that the future of trucking is as bright as it’s ever been.

The U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast compiled in 2010 predicted substantial growth for the commercial trucking industry over the next decade. The forecast predicted that overall revenue for the commercial trucking industry will see an increase of 66 percent by 2022. It also predicted that tonnage would increase by 24 percent in the same time period.

The forecast also predicted gains in boat and train shipping, but America’s trucking industry, which accounts for over 80 percent of all freight transportation in the U.S., was estimated to be the biggest winner of all transportation methods over the next several years.

The data supports the claim that many labor officials have made that one of the best careers in terms of growth over the next several years will be CDL commercial truck drivers. More trucks mean more drivers and as the trucking industry continues to increase in business it will be looking for more professionally trained drivers to help meet the demand.

At the Diesel Driving Academy of Baton Rouge, students are prepared to help be a part of this projected growth by becoming some of the most skilled drivers on the road. Students are provided with the best professional commercial truck driver training and the school works closely with trucking recruiters to help insure students are able to quickly enter the workforce.

With all the good news about trucking, the worst part is that many trucking companies are not sure how they are going to meet the demand.

“There is a shortage of drivers everywhere,” Bill Long, owner of an Oklahoma-based trucking company, said. “We need more drivers and every other company needs more drivers. Our challenges include rising fuel costs and a slow growing economy…but my biggest challenge remains finding drivers that have what we are looking for.”

Long said his perspective is shared with many companies across the country. Many are applying for jobs as a truck driver but few appear to have the necessary skills. Long said applicants that come from professionally trained programs have a much better shot at landing a job in the commercial trucking industry because companies are desperate to hire more drivers in an effort to keep up with rapid growth.

According to a new American Trucking Associations reported titled the “Trucking Activity Report,” the turnover rate for commercial truck drivers rose to 79 percent in the second quarter of 2011, making it the third quarter in a row that the turnover rate has risen for truck drivers.

“Even though the increase was small, we still believe the market for quality drivers is getting extremely tight and fleets are aggressively recruiting to fill their openings,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said in a press release about the recent report. “The slowdown of the economic recovery has affected the turnover rate, but if the economy continues to improve we’ll see further tightening in the driver market and a renewed risk of a severe driver shortage.”

The need for truck drivers with professional training is so great that students who complete the Diesel Driver Academy’s truck driver program in Little Rock are some of the most sought after drivers. The Diesel Driving Academy provides the best hands-on truck driver training available and gives students the skills necessary to meet the growing demand for drivers. The Diesel Driving Academy also works closely with recruiters across the country to help students secure employment as a professional commercial truck driver as quickly as possible.

Trucking companies are forced to hire drivers that lack solid training because they have too many jobs to fill, which leads to the high turnover rate currently experienced by the trucking industry. But applicants that have completed a professional CDL training program are finding that they are at the front of the line for some of the best truck driving jobs available.

Drivers that enter the trucking industry without professional training don’t last long. They can quickly become overwhelmed and are unable to meet the daily challenges that a truck driver faces. However, those with training from the Diesel Driving Academy are fully prepared to meet those challenges and are given the skills necessary to find long-term and satisfying employment as a commercial truck driver.

Drivers with professional training are also more likely to be paid higher salaries as companies are willing to pay good money for a truck driver they believe will be a long-term employee.

If you are considering a job as a professional truck driver don’t make the mistake of attending some fly-by-night program or jumping into the field without the right skills and experience. Investing in a professional training program like the Diesel Driving Academy offers will definitely payoff.

Without any growth in the commercial trucking industry the need for drivers will continue to grow as more and more of today’s drivers enter retirement. However, the number of drivers needed is also growing as shipping order increase. And, combined with a third of the workforce expected to enter retirement sometime over the next 15 to 20 years, the need for new drivers to enter the commercial trucking industry is almost as great as it’s ever been. A new generation of commercial truck drivers is needed and trucking companies are ready to fill positions immediately with the right candidates who have the right training.

A job as a commercial truck driver can be a steady career for drivers of any age, but there is a particular interest by many companies to find younger drives. However, trucking companies want drivers that have proper CDL training, putting students of the Diesel Driving Academy of Little Rock at an advantage when it comes to meeting the demand for commercial trucking jobs.

Currently less than 10 percent of commercial truck drivers in the United States are under the age of 30, and less than 20 percent of drivers are younger than 34 years of age. The industry needs new drivers of all ages and the Diesel Driving Academy of Little Rock is helping to meet that demand.

The Diesel Driving Academy of Little Rock specializes in providing the best hands-on truck driving training available. Students are put in a position upon completion of the program to enter the commercial truck driving job field and secure employment in some of the industry’s best positions.

Students of the Diesel Driving Academy also have the advantage of training at a school that works closely with recruiters from most all of the major trucking companies across the nation. These companies are looking for drivers that have the best skills and experience and the Diesel Driving Academy is producing students to meet that need.

Students are also prepared to obtain their CDL and gain the necessary skills to become a local driver or drive for long hauls.

The commercial trucking industry is desperately looking for a new generation of drivers that have training in the areas of maintenance, safety and driving that will help trucking companies meet the growing need for domestic and international trucking services.

Students looking to be a part of that next generation of commercial truck drivers should strongly consider the Diesel Driving Academy’s truck driving program.

With the right kind of training, driving a truck for a living can be a very safe job.

Over the past 25 years the amount of registered large trucks on American roads has increased by 41 percent and the amount of miles traveled by commercial trucks on American roads has increased by 84 percent, according to data from the Department of Transportation. However, over that same time period the number of large trucks involved in fatal accidents has decreased by 5 percent and the amount of accidents involving commercial trucks as dropped by 41 percent.

Simply put, commercial trucks are getting safer even as more and more trucks hit the road.

Over the past 15 years the number of fatal crashes involving large commercial trucks has dropped by 14 percent, further proof that the industry is getting safer and drivers are increasing in their skills and abilities.

The U.S. Department of Transportation also reports that in 2006 the fatal commercial truck crash rate was at an all-time low of 1.93 fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles traveled, a drop from 2.03 fatal crashes per 100 million vehicle miles the year before. Fatal crash rates for commercial trucks were first collected in 1975 when the rate was 4.58 per 100 million vehicle miles traveled.

In 2006 the crash rate involving large trucks was also at its lowest level since the U.S. Dept. of Transportation began collecting statistics.

Not only is the truck accident rate decreasing, but the majority of crashes involving trucks are caused by other motorists. Virginia Tech University conducted a study that found 78 percent of crashes involving trucks were caused by drivers of passenger car.

The Diesel Driving Academy provides students with the necessary skills to safely drive commercial trucks and obtain a CDL. While trucks are becoming safer the need for experienced and skilled drivers has also increase as more and more vehicles travel on American roads. Commercial truck drivers must understand how to safely maneuver wide open highways and traffic filled city streets. Commercial trucking companies have a growing need for drivers but they are often looking for those with the best training and can help them insure that their safety statistics remain positive.

Commercial truck driving is one of the safest jobs available, especially for those who have the right training.