There’s never been a better time to get into the trucking industry. Over the next ten years, the field is expected to grow at least 6% with no sign of slowing down. As Americans purchase more goods, drivers will be an integral part of transporting the freight from the manufacturing facility to companies and customers. If you’ve been considering becoming a truck driver, you’ve got nowhere to go but up.
Read on and learn more about your career outlook as a truck driver.
What’s the job outlook for truck drivers?
Currently, we are in the midst of a major truck driver shortage. The shortage currently stands at around 50,000 drivers now, but that number is expected to grow to 174,000 drivers by 2026. With the amount of freight that is transported by truck, it’s vital to the economy that we have enough truck drivers. The American Trucking Association notes that it takes 3.5 million truck drivers to transport the amount of freight necessary for the economy to continue to move. Simply put, the country does not function without truck drivers. If you are choosing to go into this career, you can be certain that there will be a career available for you if you are passionate and care about hard work.
What can I expect?
Before you get started, you should know that there are several requirements that must be met in order to become a truck driver. Some of these vary by company, but can include:
- Education. Some companies require that drivers have at least a high school diploma to drive with their company. Discuss this with your recruiter if you have not obtained your diploma, as there may be options available for you. At Prime Inc., they do not require a GED or high school diploma.
- Training. In order to obtain your CDL, you will need to complete training to pass your exam. This can be done through going to a private truck driving school, or you can get paid to earn your CDL through a company sponsored training program. Prime offers a one-on-one training program with new classes starting weekly.
- License. You must provide your driving history with your regular driver’s license before you obtain your CDL. Each state has guidelines on how many violations you are allowed before you are ineligible for a CDL. Each trucking company can also have their own set of qualifications. To see if you qualify, apply or call to speak with a recruiter.
- Age. The current law states that all truck drivers must be 21 to cross state boundaries.
Prime is doing their part to counteract the truck driver shortage by offering CDL training, top-of-the-line pay, and outstanding benefits to our drivers. We also offer bonuses for fuel mileage, referring new drivers, being a trainer, and safety and service. Benefits like health insurance, dental insurance, paid vacation, a matching 401k program and more are available to company drivers, as well.
Ready to join a thriving career field and start earning?
Sign up for Prime’s Student Driver Training Program and get your CDL training started. During the program, you’ll train with an instructor and get hands-on practice before you head out on the road.
Have more questions? Reach out to a recruiter and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
