According to ATA, there are more than one million truck drivers in the United States. However, this number does not include contractors, other transportation workers outside of the trucking industry, or port workers. Therefore, the question “How Many truck drivers are there?” is not a simple one. Luckily, there are ways to find out just how many truck drivers there are in the US.
The transportation industry is a key part of America’s economy. Truck drivers carry nearly everything we need, from food to fuel to healthcare supplies. In fact, nearly 70 percent of what we use each day is transported by truck drivers. These truck drivers are responsible for carrying these supplies, so a shortage of truck drivers is a real concern.
The industry is facing a retention crisis and must do more to make long-haul trucking an attractive career option. For decades, long-haul truck drivers have been struggling with stagnant wages. However, market forces are forcing employers to raise their wages.
What Percentage of America is Truck Drivers?
Truck drivers are a growing industry, with over 3.5 million needed in the US alone. According to the American Trucking Association, trucking will need 1.1 million new drivers over the next decade, and 110,000 new drivers each year. Truck driving is a high-paying career, but it can be difficult to get started.
The trucking industry is racially and gender diverse, but the industry is still overwhelmingly male-dominated. The percentage of women employed in the industry has increased only slightly in the last eighteen years, and truck drivers’ salaries still aren’t competitive with the average wage in other sectors. Another problem with trucking is that turnover rates are high. Minority drivers make up 41.5% of the nation’s truck drivers. According to the American Trucking Association’s Trucking Trends study, there are about 3.3 million professional truck drivers nationwide.
In order to combat this problem, trucking companies must invest in recruiting minority and women truckers. Currently, only 7 percent of truck drivers are women, while 40 percent of them are minorities. Other measures to increase diversity in the industry are being considered by some trucking companies. For instance, some companies have called for raising truck weight limits and permanently lowering the driver age limit. There are also plans to start a pilot program that will help recruit more drivers, though some representatives of the industry have expressed concerns about the safety and security of the program.
How Much is the Trucking Industry Worth 2022?
The trucking industry represents a massive part of the US economy. It is the largest revenue source in the country, and employs millions of drivers. However, there are several challenges facing the trucking industry, including driver shortages and the rise of self-driving trucks.
Recent tough market conditions have led to the closure of several trucking companies. The shutdowns have left at least three thousand truckers without jobs. This is largely due to the decrease in the amount of goods moving from point A to point B. However, this lack of work has also resulted in a drop in profitability for trucking companies.
Operating costs for a trucking fleet include wages for drivers and equipment purchases/financing. The cost of operating a fleet is estimated to increase by $0.72 per mile by 2022, a $0.08/mile increase versus 2019. Fuel is one of the largest operating expenses and can change rapidly. Higher retail diesel prices will raise the break-even point for carriers, while lower fuel prices will lower it.
Why are There Not Enough Truck Drivers?
The lack of truck drivers is a major problem, affecting a number of industries. The shortage has been going on for years, but it has really taken a toll in the past year. Demand for goods increased and congestion in roads grew. The problem has affected everything from grocery items to construction supplies.
One solution to this problem is to increase the pay for truck drivers. Many long-haul drivers work extremely long hours and have to spend weeks on the road. Besides the long driving hours, long-haul drivers often face difficult routes. Some routes can be extremely hazardous. According to the Transportation Department, approximately 300,000 drivers leave the industry each year. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the shortage by closing down training programs and limiting apprenticeships.
The shortage of truck drivers has also caused the prices of trucks to skyrocket. Dry vans – semi trailers enclosed from the outside elements – cost $35,000 to $70,000 a piece. This means that people who are interested in purchasing a truck after hearing about the shortage will pay higher prices.
Is There Really a Trucker Shortage?
There has been a shortage of truck drivers for decades, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The shortage is so severe that trucking companies have difficulty retaining drivers for their full careers. Many truckers are approaching retirement age, and the industry is struggling to attract younger drivers. Additionally, the industry is predominantly male, narrowing the pool of potential drivers. Women make up only about six percent of the industry’s workforce.
The shortage has not only affected the U.S. market, but also other parts of the world. According to the International Road Transport Union, truck driver shortages have affected supply chains in several countries. For example, in Eurasia, 20 percent of driver positions went unfilled last year. Although analysts have been warning about this shortage for several years, it has only recently become apparent that the shortage is getting worse as the world economy slows down.
The shortage has been caused by high turnover rates. As demand for drivers rises, truck driver turnover rates will continue to rise. Even the incentives offered by trucking companies can’t keep drivers from leaving the industry for other career opportunities with better pay and benefits. But such temporary solutions won’t address the problem in the long run. Moreover, the shortage of truck drivers won’t go away unless trucking companies acknowledge the real causes of the shortage and take steps to create real solutions to fill the positions.
How Much Do Truck Drivers Make?
The pay and benefits that truck drivers earn depend on several factors, including route classification, company, and experience. Generally, truck drivers earn more if they drive long distances or for a variety of companies. Some companies offer bonuses and incentives that are unique to their company. Other factors include the length of time they spend on the road, the type of truck, and the location of the company.
Typically, truckers make about $21 per hour, with the top 10% of drivers earning more than $65k annually, while the bottom ten percent earned less than $28,160 per year. While trucker pay fluctuates like many other industries, the demand for qualified truck drivers is increasing every year.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average truck driver salary is $43,680 per year. However, this figure does not include independent drivers who don’t work full time. It also does not compare the salaries of company drivers and independent truck drivers. Ultimately, your pay could vary anywhere from $28,160 to $65,260, depending on how many hours you work and what company you work for.
What is the Average Age of Truck Drivers?
The Conference Board of Canada released a study on the average age of truck drivers in 2011. The study used data from the Labour Force Survey and the 2006 Census to calculate the average age of truck drivers. The results show that truck drivers are older than the rest of the labour force, and the number of those aged 55 and older is even higher.
The average age of truck drivers is currently 49 years, and that number is expected to rise to around 890,000 by 2025. While this number may seem high, many drivers aren’t content with waiting until they’re forty. It is estimated that for-hire truckload fleets will have average ages in the ’40s, while LTL fleets will have an average age in the ’50s. Recruiting younger workers would help the industry to grow. In addition, trucking fleets are making efforts to recruit more women, as females make up more than 7 percent of drivers.
In contrast, the average age of truck drivers is lower in Alberta, where drivers are younger than the average worker. This is a result of Alberta’s labor force being younger than the national average. However, this does not mean that the industry should stop recruiting younger drivers. In fact, recruiting people in this age group can help the industry replace some of the older truckers.
What State Employs the Most Truck Drivers?
Many factors play a role in determining which state employs the most truck drivers. One of the most important factors is the cost of living. In states with low cost of living, truck drivers can expect to earn more than the national average. In contrast, states with high cost of living are likely to have a lower number of truck drivers.
The state of Arkansas has 32,560 truck drivers. The state is home to the largest concentration of heavy-truck jobs and the second highest concentration of semitractor-trailer jobs. Major employers include J.B. Hunt, PAM Transport, Walmart, Tyson Foods, and other national companies. Other areas with high concentrations of truck drivers include Joplin, Mo., and the Fort Smith area. Companies like ArcBest and USA Truck also have offices in this state.
Truck driving is a popular career choice in the United States. Nearly 80% of the things we buy and use have come in contact with a truck driver at some point in their lives. Drivers are responsible for hauling loads of up to 26,000 pounds, interstate, and even across several states. However, truck driving is not without its dangers. In addition to long drives, truckers also have to inspect their trailers, secure cargo, and report any problems to their dispatchers.
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