The American Trucking Associations’ advanced seasonally adjusted (SA) For-Hire Truck Tonnage Index increased 2.9 percent in January after jumping 2.4 percent in December. The growth means that truck tonnage has increased at least 2.4 percent every month since November and January’s index was the highest on record, the ATA reported.
“The trucking industry started 2013 with a bang, reflected in the best January tonnage report in five years,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said. “While I believe that the overall economy will be sluggish in the first quarter, trucking likely benefited in January from an inventory destocking that transpired late last year, thus boosting volumes more than normal early this year as businesses replenish those lean inventories.”
Because the commercial trucking industry represents nearly 70 percent of tonnage transported in the nation, the trucking sector serves as a barometer of the U.S. economy. According to the ATA, trucks hauled 9.2 billion tons of freight in 2011. Motor carriers collected $603.9 billion, or 80.9 percent of total revenue earned by all transport modes. The growth in trucking has created a demand for drivers, especially those with professional training. For many jobseekers the commercial trucking industry serves as a great option for long-term employment and job stability. Add in the fact that the truck industry offers higher than average starting pay and it’s easy to see why many jobseekers are turning towards a career as a truck driver.
However, while carriers are looking for drivers to help meet the growing demand, they are especially interested in drivers with professional CDL training from a respected school.
Diesel Driving Academy offers a CDL training program that is helping job seekers 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 Diesel Driving Academy the logical first step in getting work in this growing industry.
The quality of education at Diesel Driving Academy is so good that many students graduate from the CDL training program with multiple job offers and opportunities. Recruiters also work with students to help them find the right commercial truck-driving job.
If you are looking for a new career then the commercial truck industry might deserve some attention. As one of the fastest growing job fields in America, the commercial truck industry offers not just stability but also a higher than average starting pay. Carriers are desperately seeking new driver and those with professional training from a school like Diesel Driving Academy are in particularly high demand.
