Reasons Why CDL Training is a Smart Career Move

Did you know that our country is experiencing a considerable shortage of truck drivers? Trucking jobs are in plentiful supply, but there are not enough graduates of truck driver training schools to fill those jobs. If you have ever considered CDL training programs in Portland, read this article to learn more about why CDL training is a smart career move in today’s economy.

Trucking Jobs Are Not Being Filled
The American Trucking Associations (ATA) has found that the U.S. economy currently needs 30,000 more truck drivers. In other words, there are approximately 30,000 trucking jobs that are not currently filled, but should be. According to an ATA study, roughly 90 percent of carriers said they could not find enough truck drivers who meet Department of Transportation (DOT) criteria. One of the primary reasons for the shortage in truck drivers is that fewer and fewer young people are interested in the profession. Another reason is that the turnover rate for trucking jobs has been above 90 percent for four quarters straight. While a great deal of drivers stay with a carrier for years, many more drivers that stay at a carrier for a short time—such as a few weeks or months.

More Trucking Jobs Are Being Added
Because of recent changes to hours-of-service (HOS) regulations aimed at improving truck driver safety, drivers are not allowed to drive as much as they used to. To compensate for the reduction in driver productivity, carriers are forced to add more trucks and drivers to haul the same volume of freight.

Incentives to Obtain Trucking Jobs are High
Carriers with a high number of unseated trucks are losing money. To incentivize truck drivers while encouraging driver retention, many carriers are spending more on their drivers’ salaries, wages, and benefits. With the truck driver shortage expected to increase, the ATA estimates that the truck driving industry will need approximately 100,000 new drivers each year for the next 10 years.