Land-based freight haulers today are experiencing heavy delays moving goods from port to point of sale. The economic uncertainty wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic has both industry insiders and on-the-road truckers pondering the future of the transportation industry.
While no one has a crystal ball, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts up to a 9 percent growth increase in jobs in this sector during the 10-year span from 2020 to 2030. That increase would account for roughly 1.1 million additional jobs transporting goods and materials on our nation’s highways.
Overall, that tracks as a respectable average in comparison to all other industries.
What Makes Trucking a Coveted Career?
We are living in a world where college graduates with advanced degrees are chronically underemployed — and often not even working in their fields of study. When you examine the heavy educational debt loads that can hinder college graduates’ upward mobility, it is easy to see why the trucking industry has a strong appeal to many.
Those who lack the aptitude or inclination to seek college degrees or encumber themselves with years of debt can instead be on the road earning in a very short time. From an economic standpoint, driving a truck makes good fiscal sense.
Trucking in Troubled Times
The financial reverberations from the coronavirus pandemic will continue to be felt globally for some time. But at some point, the backlogged supply chain will catch up to its pre-pandemic status. Then, motor carrier companies will need to hire more drivers to get manufacturers’ goods into consumers’ hands and homes.
When robust consumer spending lifts the economy across-the-board, there will be an uptick in available jobs in the trucking industry. Having the training, skills and experience to sign on with a reputable trucking company can be invaluable when other industries are still recovering and experiencing post-pandemic stutter steps.
Truck drivers come from all walks of life, including veterans and retirees looking to kickstart a second lucrative career. Learn more about life on the road to determine whether the industry is a good fit for you.
Source: bls.gov
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