With so much freight being shipped by air and sea these days, it’s easy to forget that trucks and trains still manage much of our cargo. We’ve all seen massive 18 wheelers and other over the road trucks hauling huge loads of cargo. Sometimes they have cylindrical storage containers for liquids or gasses, and sometimes they carry gigantic boxed shipping containers full of goods and other items.
The trucking industry is not only as healthy as it’s ever been, but it’s projected to get even stronger over the next several years. Manufacturing and industry are still rapidly growing parts of our society, and as demand for those goods increases, so will the demand for vehicles and companies to move them from place to place.
In the next 10 years, for example, the trucking industry is expected to grow by another five percent — an above average jump for any industry.
It may also come as a surprise to you that the trucking industry is doing so well that their drivers are paid handsomely. In 2014, the average pay for truck drivers was around $40,000 per year. For a job that many would consider difficult because of the length of time spent on the road, shipping is perfect for many. There are professionals across dozens — if not more — industries that are struggling to find that level of pay.
The Department of Labor has projected that truck drivers will account for nearly half, or 43%, of all the growth in jobs related to logistics in coming years.
Truck driver jobs are here to stay. If you or someone you know is looking for truck driving jobs, know that the pay is good and that it very well may be perfect for your personality type. The benefits of becoming a truck driver and settling into a dedicated trucking job are many. Long trips on the road, challenging driving scenarios to keep your skills sharp as a knife and being in control of a large, powerful vehicle that provides a vital service to society might be a few.
If you’d like to learn more about how to become a truck driver, it’s simple. Carriers typically recruit in the same way any other type of job would — you just need the appropriate driver’s licenses to proceed in your hunt for truck driver jobs.
Best of luck!