Sure, you might notice them on the interstate, but the role of America's truck drivers is largely overlooked. Maybe it's just too hard to conceive of the nearly 10 billion tons of freight they haul. That's how much they moved last year. That's almost 70 percent of all domestic freight.
And maybe we don't recognize how many people are part of this army. The American Trucking Association estimates that more than 7 million people, including 3.4 million drivers are involved in this industry. Hundreds of them live in The Daily Journal readership area, and millions of them travel through the area, servicing the huge distribution centers being built in the Midwest.
As Labor Day nears, it seems fitting to take a look at the isolated life of these workers. It might seem like a comfy gig in that air-conditioned sleeper cab, but ATA statistics reveal a troubling turnover rate among drivers. Trucking companies are adjusting driver schedules, raising pay and offering new bonuses to retain good employees.
In fact, ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello reported the efforts to fill all of the driver's seats in America's trucking fleet are falling short. He estimates a nationwide driver shortage between 35,000 and 40,000 drivers.
"We're always looking for drivers," said Steve Hoekstra. "We have some older guys retiring and there aren't many 19-and 20-year-olds who want this job.
So in advance of National Truck Driver Appreciation Week, which starts on Sept. 13, I decided to spend a day in the cab of a 2015 Peterbilt tractor. I rode along with driver Steve Collins and made five stops across Indiana in a 13-hour day. See the article concerning getting my hands dirty for more on this eye-opening week.
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