Truck carriers need drivers, but not just any drivers. They need professionally trained commercial truck drivers that have the experience and training necessary to help handle the tremendous growth currently being experienced by the commercial truck industry.
Commercial truck tonnage has shown a steady increase over the past year as the economy has begun to recover and economist and employment officials continue to believe that commercial truck driving will be one of the most in-demand careers for many years. Some estimates believe an additional 539,000 drivers will be needed just to meet current demand, and that doesn’t take into account the fact that shipping demands will increase in the coming years as the economy grows or the fact that many of today’s drivers are nearing retirement.
“The size of the white male population of ages 35-54 – a demographic group that currently provides over half of all truck drivers – will decline by over 3 million persons between 2004 and 2014,” according to a Global Insight report. The report also found that the growth of commercial truck drivers has slowed from 1.4 percent to nearly 0.5 percent because there is a shortage of properly trained drivers.
“Over the next 10 years, economic growth will give rise to a need for a 2.2 percent average annual increase in the number of long-haul heavy-duty truck drivers, or an additional 320,000 jobs overall,” the report said. “At least another 219,000 new truck drivers must be found to replace drivers currently of ages 55 and older who will retire over the next 10 years and to replace those in younger groups who will leave the occupation.”
So now you know there is a demand for more commercial truck drivers, but is the career right for you? Many have quickly trained, passed their CDL test and entered the industry quickly. However, by forgoing professional training these drivers often find that the profession is too difficult and they end of leaving their job.
Receiving the right kind of professional training can be the difference between a long and fruitful career and one that is very challenging.
The life of a commercial truck driver isn’t simply about sitting behind a wheel for several hours. It involves knowledge on how to operate different equipment, an understanding of the different regulations required of truck drivers and the ability to recognize mechanical problems and provide quick solution that don’t delay a critical load from arriving on time.
Possessing a CDL is the minimum requirement to driving trucks but a person that simply memorizes the CDL manual and logs a few hours behind a truck will find that the life of a truck driver is different than they had expected. It requires skill and concentration but with the right training it can be a great career.
The Diesel Driving Academy CDL training program provides some of the best commercial truck driver instruction in the nation and prepares students to not only meet the challenges of the job, but thrive in them.