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Truck Driver Jobs – Non-Traditional Recruits Wanted for Truck Driving Jobs

For many of the largest trucking companies in this country, reducing churn and retaining truck drivers is a key ingredient in remaining profitable. The job market for professional truck drivers is the tightest in 20 years, with the turnover rate at large trucking companies exceeding 100%, according to the American Trucking Association.

Recent statistics indicate that the long-distance segment of the trucking industry has a national shortage of 20,000 drivers. It predicts the shortage will increase to 111,000 by 2014 given current demographic trends. A severe driver shortage could hurt the US economy. Trucks transport more than 75% of the domestic products we consume on a daily basis, and without enough well-trained truck drivers to transport the products from the country, consumers will be subject to unexpected delays in the items they want and need. And if the supply / demand ration continues to result in continued shortages, the compensation will continue to increase for finding and keeping good truck drivers. As a result, we will all see higher prices on everything we buy.

The trucking industry admits it has a critical problem and has focused on new and creative recruiting strategies to improve CDL truck driver applicant levels and recruit new people for the industry that keeps our national economy moving. To meet the growing demand for CDL truck driving jobs, trucking companies and truck driving schools attract demographic groups, such as women, retirees, and husband-and-wife teams, who traditionally do not fit the trucker stereotype. Women are perhaps the fastest growing group in the field. Since 2002, when only 5% of the nation’s truck driving positions were held by women, most of the nationally known truck driving schools are experiencing a 50% growth rate in the number of women applicants compared to men applying for the same positions.

Another niche job group that is being tapped to fill part of the truck driver shortage void is former factory workers. Today, there are 2.7 million fewer manufacturing jobs in the US than 10 years ago. With factories expected to make few hires in the coming years, many former workers are looking for a new career. Truck driving jobs provide these often displaced workers the opportunity to start a new and productive career.

Often times, people with the ability to retire after 20 to 25 year careers in the manufacturing industry often take advantage of financial assistance programs offered by the government. The bottom line is that the government provides displaced workers with free school tuition and CDL training opportunities. This is a golden task force for trucking companies, as many of these new recruits are trustworthy, trustworthy, and often in very good health.

Minorities have also become a favorite recruiting target for trucking companies. Well structured programs are producing good results. A recent training program sponsored by a Latino community organization tracked its results and found that 70% of the 50 students who attended these classes found CDL truck driving jobs that earned an average annual compensation of $ 47,580.

Good luck finding a truck driver job. Be patient, persistent, wait for good results and you will see positive results much sooner than you think.

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