The transportation industry is an important part of America’s economy, with nearly every industry relying on goods transported by truck drivers. In fact, almost 70 percent of the goods we use on a daily basis are transported on America’s highways. From food to fuel and healthcare supplies, truck drivers are responsible for getting these items to our homes. But, despite the importance of the trucking industry, there is a severe shortage of drivers.
According to the FMCSA, there are over 1.5 million truck drivers in the United States. Most truck drivers work for independent contractors or are owner-operators. In Canada, there are more than 250,000 truck drivers. Despite this large number of truck drivers, the number of trucking companies is much smaller. Ninety-six percent of trucking companies operate fewer than 20 trucks.
Truck drivers must have a CDL to become an over the road trucker. These drivers haul freight across the country and often stay in hotels or motels. Typically, they spend three to four weeks on the road.
What State Employs the Most Truck Drivers?
According to the U.S. Department of Labor, Pennsylvania employs almost 80,000 truck drivers. That’s almost one out of every four jobs there. In Florida, truckers comprise nine out of every 1,000 jobs. And in Ohio, there are seven thousand trucking jobs. But which states have the most truck driving jobs? Listed below are some top contenders. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at where you stand when it comes to trucking jobs.
Compared to other occupations, truckers make more money in the U.S. than in other states. The average tractor-trailer driver in North Dakota earns $54,000 a year. Non-metro areas in North Dakota also pay well, with far western and west-central counties offering the highest pay. In addition to high wages, North Dakota also has a high proportion of truckers per capita.
Despite the recession, truck driving remains a major part of the United States economy. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, truck driving is the top job in 29 states. The number of trucking businesses also increased last year. The number of trucking companies hit 711,000, up from just over 700,000 before the Great Recession.
What Percentage of Americans are Truck Drivers?
The transportation industry is an important part of the American economy. Almost every industry relies on the goods and services transported by truck drivers. In fact, about 70 percent of the items we use every day are transported by truck. This includes everything from food to healthcare supplies. However, there is a serious shortage of truck drivers. This shortage is partly due to a lack of women who wish to become truck drivers.
The trucking industry is increasingly focusing on attracting women. According to the American Trucking Association, women now make up 7.8% of the professional trucking workforce. This is the highest percentage recorded, and it represents a significant change from just a few years ago. Despite these statistics, the trucking industry is still predominantly male. Despite this, recent changes to the industry and equipment have made trucking more accessible for women. These changes have improved the working conditions and compensation for women.
Despite this, truckers still earn well above the average for workers in the United States. They are also less likely to be unemployed than the average worker. Many truck drivers work longer hours than other workers, and almost half of them work more than forty hours per week. Truckers also earn more than the median salary for full-time workers, at $43,252.
What Nationality are Most Truck Drivers?
The United States has 3.5 million truck drivers, mostly males. Despite the popularity of this occupation, truckers tend to be older and less educated than the general population. Only 7% have a bachelor’s degree. In contrast, a higher proportion of Hispanics and women drive commercial trucks.
While the majority of truck drivers are males, the proportion of women is smaller. Reasons for the imbalance may be based on changing interests over time, societal norms, and biases. While women aren’t represented in high numbers in truck driving, they are still a minority, and are often attracted to the job by other opportunities available in the industry.
Truck driving is experiencing an image crisis. Many people are wary of the industry due to the long working hours, long periods away from home, and high level of risk. In addition, pay is often low, relative to hours worked. In addition, the “driver last” mentality is widespread in the industry.
Do Most Truckers Own Their Trucks?
The number of truck drivers who own their own trucks is growing. Almost 50 percent of truckers are owner operators. This trend has increased as the trucking industry has become more competitive and companies look for ways to reduce costs. Owner operators enjoy more freedom and independence but also face increased risks.
Driver turnover in the trucking industry is high. The average annual turnover rate for a full-time truck driver is 92 percent. For smaller fleets, that number is 72 percent. This high turnover rate is related to the unpredictable nature of the job. Nevertheless, some people find trucking a rewarding career because it provides a steady income and a great lifestyle.
Owning a truck is a huge benefit for truck drivers. Owner operators have control over the equipment and have more freedom when it comes to choosing routes and load types. In addition to personal freedom, owner operators are also better able to manage the expenses and finances of their trucks. However, this doesn’t come cheap.
What Percentage of Trucking Companies Fail?
In the first six months of 2019, nearly six hundred trucking companies went bankrupt. That’s three times the number of bankruptcy filings in 2018. The number of trucking companies likely to file for bankruptcy is expected to continue growing through 2020. And it’s not just smaller operators that are suffering. Bigger companies are struggling as well.
One reason that trucking companies are struggling is the rising cost of fuel. As a result, many small fleets with one driver are shuttering. But those drivers will soon join larger trucking companies. Many of the revocations were filed before diesel prices started spiking. Even the drop in spot rates didn’t offset that increase in fuel costs.
According to a recent Wall Street Journal report, the number of trucking companies expected to fail in the U.S. in 2020 has surpassed the number of successful companies in the last several years. In fact, the failure rate is now higher than it was in the last decade. But the good news is that there are still ways to minimize the risk of failure and succeed in the business. If you have the right planning and help, you can significantly reduce the chances of failure.
What Country Has the Most Semi Trucks?
The United States and the European Union both regulate the trucking industry. In Europe, truck drivers are limited to nine hours of driving a day, while the US allows more than that. In the US, truck drivers are able to take breaks and rest during long hauls. In the EU, truck drivers have more rest days, but the US has more hours of driving per day. The US has better truck stops, too, as compared to its European counterpart.
The road system in Mexico is less than ideal, with potholes and most roads made of dirt. This makes for a dangerous road, and several fatalities occur every year due to poor road conditions. The roads are also incredibly narrow, and some are dangerous enough to cause a bus to roll off a cliff. Fortunately, the country’s government has added countermeasures to improve road safety in some areas, but there’s still plenty of danger on the road.
The average age of truck drivers is high, and the number of retired truck drivers is larger than new drivers. Brexit has affected many truck drivers working in the UK. Some of them returned to the European mainland. This opens up opportunities for drivers from many parts of the world.
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