So how is it possible that there are well-paying jobs available without qualified candidates to fill them? And during a recession? Here are a few of the factors that contribute to the industry need for more truckers.

Increased Regulations

The change in laws to hours-of-service by the Department of Transportation’s Fedral Motor Carrier Safety Administration in December 2011 has made trucking paychecks insufficient for covering the expenses of potential employees. New regulations aimed at making the roads safer for truckers and other drivers also changed how many hours a trucking professional could log weekly. They were no longer afforded the ability to drive continuously, making their positions less profitable.

In addition, the changes required that new drivers be hired on to meet the demand created by the reduced work week. These new positions, in many cases, were only part-time or offered less hours than the current drivers were allotted. So instead of filling them, truckers took their talents elsewhere for more money.

Better Paying Jobs

After hitting disastrous lows, the housing industry has been slowly returning to pre-recession values. This means a need for new houses, in addition to existing ones.

The State public works departments are also beginning to rebound, meaning more public projects are being started, such as bridges, tunnels, road improvements, new buildings, etc.

Both of these fields open up positions for people with construction backgrounds, or people able to haul heavy materials. With State funding behind them, many truckers have chosen these well-paying positions over those in the trucking industry.

As an added perk, the employee can remain closer to his/her family, rather than spend weeks on the road, important to young men and women.

Difficult to Attract Newcomers

So why doesn’t the trucking industry target drivers that do not have experience? Well, it is hard to convince them towards the lifestyle and it is more expensive for companies.

Truck drivers work crazy schedules, don’t get to regularly see family and friends, and have to endure grueling drives alone. This is not very attractive to a twenty-something used to the luxuries of cell phones, tablet computers, and big screen, Hi-Def TVs. Selecting a stable, financially beneficial job over one with long hours and sporadic schedules is a no-brainer.

Furthermore, new drivers typically are more expensive to the commercial trucking company. How do you attract a new workforce to a demanding, high risk, career? By offering them enough money that they cannot reject the offer. But then you have to pay the veterans more, which is difficult to budget even without the rising fuel prices that are hurting the industry. Plus, new truck drivers often cost more for truck insurance because they do not have the experience to be granted discounts.

What is the Solution?

Unemployment in America is still hovering around 10% and a double-dip recession is a distinct possibility, especially with European financial troubles and high gas prices skewing the value of items. As long as these conditions remain, there will be people in need of jobs and willing to try out something new. So just keep advertising the job openings and the bait will eventually attract the right fish. Hopefully the recovering economy will grant trucking employers extra capital to properly pay drivers and create desirable positions.

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Royalty Truck Insurance knows that the truck driving industry represents one of the largest work forces in the United States. There are over 3.2 million truck driving jobs in the country according to the US Department of Labor statistics and the industry is projected to grow steadily in the coming years higher than the rate of new drivers are developing.

With over three million drivers that need commercial truck insurance out there, we at Royalty have come to understand the business pretty well.  Unfortunately the trucking industry was no exception to layoffs and job closures at the dawn of our current recession—the biggest in this country since the Great Depression.  Shipping needs dropped by about 20% almost immediately with the recession, but recent statistics and quarterly business earning published by the big shipping conglomerates seem to suggest that the industry is picking back up, so much so that they are suggesting a current shortage of truck drivers.

While it’s no cause to throw a parade yet or call the recession over by any means, this is a great sign, as the earnings of trucking companies tend to go hand in hand with the fluctuation of transportation needs, and increased transportation needs tend to go hand in hand with a spiking economy.

According to an article published by Reuters this past month, UPS, CSX Corp, JB Hunt Transport and Landstar System all reported higher than expected earnings for the first quarter of 2010 that reflect improved shipping demands.
Additionally, the logistics firm FTR Associates seemed to hint at a shortage of truck drivers at a trade forum earlier this year.
“As the marketplace expands, even slowly as we are forecasting, there will be a driver shortage,” said FTR Associates representative Noel Perry. He went on to forecast a driver shortage of 180,000 truckers in 2010 and upwards of 500,000 in 2011 if the economy rebounds as expected.

A spokesman for JB Hunt alluded to experienced driver competition increasing between companies, as all major trucking companies seem to be hiring at a much higher rate than they have in the past year and a half.
“While masked by a poor economy in recent years,” JB Hunt rep Greg Smith told Reuters, “these factors, combined with fewer new entrants coming through driving school and carrier training programs during the recession, will limit the ability of the industry to add capacity.”

New safety regulations imposed by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will take effect in 2010 as well and also affect the pool of capable truckers.  Programs are in place to monitor trucker’s driving records and history, threatening fleet suspension if the company’s drivers aren’t up to par with new standards.  The plus side is that safe drivers will definitely have an impact on commercial truck insurance rates and of course, overall highway safety.

Additionally, UPS is projecting some 25,000 drivers will retire in the coming five years.  So make sure your truck insurance policy is up to date and keep your driving record safe, because all signs are pointing to increased available opportunity for a slew of qualified truck drivers in the coming months.  With an unemployment rate of about 10% still in the US, the news for truck drivers couldn’t come at a better time.