The rallying cry for patriotic truckers to keep the supply chains open during the height of the pandemic and 2021 bottlenecks raised awareness about careers in the freight hauling industry. And the news about companies offering qualified CDL holders good salaries and sign-on bonuses has resulted in a flood of people enrolling in truck driver training schools. It’s a trend that appears to be spreading across the country.
In Dallas, Vision CDL Truck Driving School has reportedly experienced a spike in sign-ups this year. The attraction for many is the splashy headlines they’re seeing about triple-digit salaries and freight carriers recruiting directly from truck driver training schools.
“People are looking for a way to increase their income and support for their family. This is a multi-billion dollar industry now,” instructor Daryl Monmouth reportedly said. “We have companies calling us and wanting to come and interview our students. And they’re coming a lot.”
A Texas outfit recently garnered headlines by offering qualified CDL professionals $14,000 per week. Jim Grundy, CEO and owner of Sisu Energy, noted that impediments do exist for truckers to earn upwards of $60,000 per month. Insurance carriers won’t always cover drivers under 25 years old and Congress continues to drag its heels approving the DRIVE-Safe Act allowing adults under 21 years old to haul loads across state lines.
In California, the record number of idle cargo ships has attracted a great deal of attention to trucking schools. GSF Truck Training School in Sylmar experienced a 20 percent spike in enrollment compared to 2019.
“Way more people trying to get their driver’s license. Our only issue is trying to get them past their driving test with DMV’s shortage,” GSF Truck Training School owner Edna Oliva reportedly said. “A lot of youngsters are getting into this industry. A lot of people are becoming owner-operators. The amount of money they make, it’s a lot.”
In Tampa Bay, Florida, Brad Ball runs Roadmaster Drivers School, one of the nation’s busiest. He indicates the country needed to significantly increase the trucker workforce before the pandemic. Shuttered driving schools along with normal annual attrition and retirements have thinned the long-haul trucker ranks. Ball’s perspective is that the industry is now playing catch-up.
“Twenty-twenty certainly made that worse,” Ball reportedly said. “Now, an entry-level driver coming out of Roadmaster can make $50,000 in the first year. Depending on where you live that could become $60-$70,000 real quick.”
Those are reasons why Gerona Godwin, an instructor at A-1 Truck Driver Training in Nevada, encourages teens to consider a career as a professional driver. There are a wealth of in-state positions available to help upstart truckers gain valuable experience before securing a high-paying over-the-road position.
Sources: wfaa.com, baynews9.com
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