Just the phrase “the future of trucking” is enough to strike fear into the heart of anyone connected to the industry. But that fear may be unfounded; according to a recent report from the Wall Street Journal, there’s good news: Trucking jobs are on the rise.
In June of this year, the industry created 2,500 new driving jobs on the heels of an even more productive May, when 3,600 new jobs were added. In fact, over the last year, trucking employment across the country has increased by 25,000 jobs.
In the longer term, the Bureau of Labor predicts a 6% increase in trucking jobs between 2016 and 2026, which is on par with the national average across all industries. With the shipping needs of the e-commerce industry constantly on the rise, the need for long-haul truckers will continue to grow – but will the jobs be attractive enough to attract new drivers?
For the most part, the onus is on trucking companies to keep pace with demand and ensure they have a content workforce – and many of them seem to be taking notice. According to the American Trucking Associations, annual truck driver salaries rose between 15% and 18% from 2013 to 2017. If companies can continue to offer competitive salaries and benefits, they will be able to offset the vacancies left by drivers who retire because of age or the demanding nature of the job.
But increased wages and better benefits aren’t the only meaningful measures being adopted in order to improve quality of life for truckers. A recent regional effort in the Midwest involves using roadside signage to alert drivers about parking availability at upcoming rest stops, allowing drivers to optimize their breaks and avoid wasting time (and losing mileage) looking for parking.
Another thing that makes life easier for truckers and trucking companies? Providers like The Permit Company that enable drivers and fleet managers to order permits online. From oversize, overweight and superload permits to trip & fuel permits to customized permitting and logistics coordination, we handle all your permits – so you don’t have to. Order your permit online today.