TRUCK DRIVER JOB FACT:
"Employment of truck drivers and Owner Operators is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2010, as the economy grows and the amount of freight carried by truck increases. The increased use of rail, air, and ship transportation requires truck drivers and Owner Operators to pick up and deliver shipments. Growth in the number of long-distance truck drivers and Owner Operators will remain strong because trucking transports perishables and time-sensitive goods more efficiently than do alternative modes of transportation, such as railroads. Average growth of light and heavy truck drivers and Owner Operators employment will outweigh slow growth in driver/sales worker jobs. The number of truck drivers and Owner Operators with sales responsibilities is expected to increase more slowly than the average for all other occupations because companies are increasingly shifting sales, ordering, and customer service tasks to sales and office staffs, and using regular truck drivers and Owner Operators to make deliveries to customers.
Job opportunities may vary from year to year, because the strength of the economy dictates the amount of freight moved by trucks. Companies tend to hire more drivers when the economy is strong and deliveries are in high demand. Consequently, when the economy slows, employers hire fewer drivers, or even lay off drivers. Independent owner-operators are particularly vulnerable to slowdowns. Industries least likely to be affected by economic fluctuation tend to be the most stable places for employment. " |
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