| 539,000 Drivers Wanted |
| More than half a million new drivers
needed over
the next nine years. |
| From the RD
News Desk |
|
|
The American Truckers Association (ATA) estimates annual demand for truck drivers
outpaces supply by about 20,000 drivers, or 1.5 percent of the 1.3 million
long-haul truck drivers working in the United States. The number of long-haul truckers needed in the United
States will hit 1.62 million by 2014, the same time 219,000 drivers hit
retirement age. The industry says it will need 539,000 new truck drivers over
the next nine years.
|
| The US Department of Labor reports job
opportunities should be favorable for truck drivers. In addition to
growth in demand for truck drivers, numerous job openings will occur as
experienced drivers leave this large occupation to transfer to other
fields of work, retire, or leave the labor force for other reasons. Jobs
vary greatly in terms of earnings, weekly work hours, the number of
nights spent on the road, and quality of equipment. There may be
competition for the jobs with the highest earnings and most favorable
work schedules. |
| The American Trucking Associations’
advanced seasonally adjusted for-hire Truck Tonnage Index jumped 1.9
percent in November, marking its third consecutive monthly increase. The
latest boost follows gains of 0.3 percent in September and October,
respectively. November’s rise denotes the first time the index
increased in three successive months since the February through April
2004 period. On a seasonally adjusted basis, the tonnage index rose to
116.4 (2000=100) from 114.2 in October. |
|
|
|
| Report Sources: |
| http://www.truckline.com/index |
| http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos246.htm |
| http://www.truckline.com/NR/exeres/1A3B6853-C016-42FE-8DC9-A34858BA104D.htm |
