What You Need to Know About the Truck Driving Shortage and Your New Career

Does the recent news coverage of the truck driver shortage make you want to change careers? Are you not satisfied with the job you have or what your employer pays? Are you not sure which industry you should transition into? If driving is something that appeals to you, take a look at what you need to know about this career choice and the trucker shortage.

Is There Really a Truck Driver Shortage?

Have you read recent articles citing a major truck driver shortage as one factor affecting the strain on the supply chain? Have you also heard that the shortage isn't as serious as some news outlets make it out to be? Does this leave you to wonder if a truck driver shortage really exists?

Professional shortages come and go. Sometimes, the industry desperately needs drivers, and a few short years later (or possibly sooner) it's saturated with professionals who are ready and willing to snap up any available job.

According to the American Trucking Association (ATA), the shortage was set to hit a historic high level of 80,000 drivers in 2021. This means there is an 80,000 (or more) driver difference between the number of truckers currently working in the United States and the number of drivers needed.

If the shortage continues along the line the ATA's statistics predict, it could grow above 160,000 by 2030.

Are Some Drivers More In Demand Than Others?

Yes. The ATA notes that the 2021 driving professional shortage has impacted the long-haul carrier category more than other areas of the business. If you enjoy driving long distances, don't mind being away from home for days or weeks, or are just in the market for a job that can literally take you places, you may want to seriously explore this industry option.

Why Has a Truck Driver Shortage Happened?

There isn't one reason for the shortage in drivers. Instead, a combination of factors work together to create this gap in the driving industry. High turnover rates are one of the primary issues some trucking companies face. The long-haul driver turnover rates are over 90 percent for large companies, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. This figure is lower (72 percent) for smaller carriers.

Some driver turnover is the result of truckers leaving one job for another within the industry. But part of the turnover number is also made up by drivers who leave the trucking field for another line of work. This creates new jobs for new truckers to fill.

What Does the Truck Driver Shortage Mean for You?

The current shortage may mean that you have an easy time entering this industry. If you're ready to start a career or need to change your professional path, now is the time to start training as a diver. Not only are there shortage-related jobs, but truck drivers also don't need to complete long four-year college programs to start a well-paying career. While driver training programs vary by school and area, most commercial trucking courses provide a hands-on or real-world approach.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2020 the median annual pay for a tractortrailer truck driver was $47,130. The median hourly rate for the same year was $22.66. Couple this with bonuses or incentives that carriers use to attract new talent, and driving is an attractive career for many men and women who are in the job market.