PHOENIX – The American Trucking Association says trucks moved more than 70% of all freight shipped throughout the United States and generated 719 billion dollars in revenue last year.
The association also says that 51,000 more drivers are needed to meet demand from comapnies like Amazon and Walmart.
The shortage is already leading to delayed deliveries and higher prices for American goods. Amazon, for example, increased Prime membership fees recently, citing the 38% increase in shipping costs compared to last year as a factor in their decision.
Roger Scholl, training director for the Phoenix Truck Driving Institute, says it’s the worst he’s seen in a long time. However, he says companies are doing what they can to attract more drivers.
“They brought driver wages up, they’re increasing benefits, 401k, dental, medical, vision…they’re offering incentives,” says Scholl.
For people already looking into trucking, there are many options available to them.
Sean Lynch enrolled at the institute for a four-week course, noting the profession has “a lot of jobs and a lot of opportunity with various companies.”
Lynch has a job lined up in Houston. He’s says he’s certain it will be a great fit, but he also says he knows he can pack up and leave for a different gig anytime.
Anybody remotely interested in trucking for a job has incredible opportunities right now, dont let the immigrants beat you to it.
Man if I could stop drinking and smoking weed.
I would seriously give it a shot.
Even if I did…
Suffering from PTWSD.
Post Traumatic Work Stress Disorder.
I wouldn’t last very long.
I know I don’t have the patience or will power to not crush some stupid azz on the road.
I think the only job I could handle now is sampling weed at a dispensary. …doing a final QA/QC on the final product.
Well, as long as you do your job, nobody fks with you. My people leave me alone. When the phone rings too much, I jump all over them. I JUST TELL THEM, TOO MANY PHONE CALLS.
They keep upping the pay but not near fast enough to keep up with how fast our money is losing value and what it costs just to live out on the road.
After the Internal Rectal Slime gets done with me I’m only makin about 14.00 bucks an hour.
Then after I get done paying for all their other types of extortion it is even less.
On top of all of that, I swear the computers in the trucks I drive tells them every move I make and damn near every thought I have……I call it the cab rat.
It is amazing how a 70,000 a year job in the end doesn’t seem to pay much more than pumping gas.
And there is no hazard pay for white knuckle tight asshole winter driving on snow and ice covered passes.
I get really tired of feeling like nothing more than something to suck revenue out of everywhere I go. I think the gang members (cops) just sit and rub their hands together in glee at the thought of writing us as many tickets as they can write. They sit like buzzards waiting to feed all along the interstates.
Their damn HOS (hours of service) rules always have me racing the clock and forcing me to drive when I should be taking a break and forcing me to break when I could be driving. We are treated like little kids who are to stupid to determine when we should or should not drive.
I am convinced HOS does NOT make the roads any safer whatsoever.
And I should be able to take a toke of good bud after I’m done for the day……I could be a full on hard core alcoholic no problem but your driving days are over if you get a dirty piss test for weed.
yeah I know…..piss and moan, piss and moan………..