Friday, June 19, 2009

The Trucking Industry Is Vital To Our Nation's Economy

Economy of American SamoaImage via Wikipedia


The trucking industry is vital to the economic structure of our nation, and it is currently experiencing a critical shortage of qualified drivers. The trucking industry is crucial to the American way of life and has been since about World War II when they begin using bigger trucks to ship needed supplies to the war fronts. The Trucking Industry is one of the strongest industry's in the United States, Simply because of the demand for products and resources that trucks provide. The trucking industry is ever-growing and ever-expanding. The trucking industry is one of the fastest growing and largest employment sectors  in today's economy. The trucking industry is experiencing a slowdown due to the current economic climate and most trucking companies have a large supply of drivers and a decrease in driver demand. The trucking industry is facing more challenges than ever. The trucking industry is a diverse and highly competitive industry providing a broad spectrum of services to a variety of agricultural and food operations, markets, and interests worldwide.
Trucking is blue-collar work, the workplace can sometimes be a bit rough and tumble, and the work itself can be demanding. Trucking is the vital transportation link not only for domestic goods, but also international products. Trucking companies are the modern day mules. The trucking industry exclusively serves an outstanding 80 percent of all communities in the United States for the goods they receive, according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA). Trucking is the largest sector of the economy's vast transportation and warehousing industry, beating out transportation modes such as air, rail, water and pipeline. Trucking companies want to hire good, honest truck drivers that have attended an accredited truck driver training school, however, CDL training can be very expensive and time consuming. Trucking companies (and truck drivers) earn money by providing service to customers with many drivers paid entirely on the basis of their productivity. Common sense tells us that a job in trucking will not satisfy everyone. Class 8 trucks drove a total of 114 billion miles according to Martin Labbe Associates.
Drivers are typically permitted to determine their own schedules and routes as long as they can ensure that their load is delivered on time. Drivers are limited driving/working 70 hours in 8 days, with a maximum 14 hour work session before an 10 hour break. Drivers are away from home an average of 1-4 weeks. Driver wages have failed to regain pre-2000 levels when they averaged 6% to 7% higher than construction wages. Driving allows me the freedom to travel, see God's country, and meet God's good people. Commercial truck drivers earn $50,000 annually on average; some, however, earn a salary of well above $100,000 per year.
Companies today need drivers like never before and they're willing to pay the price to find and keep the good ones. Companies are offering benefits such as signing bonuses ranging from $250 to $5000. Companies (and drivers) who fail to provide satisfactory service don't survive for long.
ATA estimates indicate that private trucking firms handle more than five billion tons of cargo every year. ATA, the national trade association for the trucking industry, is a federation of affiliated state trucking associations, conferences and organizations that includes more than 37,000 motor carrier members representing every type and class of motor carrier in the country before Congress, the courts and regulatory agencies. ATA said finding drivers will grow more difficult in coming years as adverse demographic trends limit the size of the pool of workers that traditionally fill truck driving jobs.
The trucking industry is the back bone of the American economy. The trucking industry is a major employer in the United States, providing work for nearly nine million people, more than one-third of whom are truck drivers. The trucking industry is a vital section of the US economy; many States depend on the efforts of our excellent drivers to transport their goods and raw materials. The trucking industry is indisputably the life blood of the American economy and the standard of living we all enjoy. Trucking is one of America's most important industries.
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

No comments: