While the number of heavy trucks on the road has not reached prerecession levels, the Department’s Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there is an increasing demand for freight transportation.
“To meet the demand, companies are starting to invest in new trucks that are more fuel efficient and easier to drive. For example, some new heavy trucks are equipped with automatic transmissions, blind-spot monitoring, and variable cruise control,” the Bureau reports.
According to Department of Labor, the employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2014 to 2024, about as fast as the average of all occupations.
The economy depends on truck drivers to transport freight and keep supply chains moving. As the demand for goods increases, more truck drivers will be needed. Trucks transport most of the freight in the United States, so, as households and businesses increase their spending, the trucking industry will grow.
“Demand for truck drivers is expected to remain strong in the oil and gas industries as more drivers are needed to transport materials to and from extraction sites,” the U.S. Department of Labor reports.
Job prospects for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers with the proper training and a clean driving record are projected to be very good. Because of truck drivers’ difficult lifestyle and time spent away from home, many companies have trouble finding and retaining qualified long-haul drivers. In addition, many truck drivers are expected to retire in the coming years, creating even more job opportunities.
| Employment projections data for heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers, 2014-24 | ||||||||
| Occupational Title | SOC Code | Employment, 2014 | Projected Employment, 2024 | Change, 2014-24 | Employment by Industry | |||
| Percent | Numeric | |||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program | ||||||||
| Heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers | 53-3032 | 1,797,700 | 1,896,400 | 5 | 98,800 | |||
All figures sourced from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2016-17 Edition, Heavy and Tractor-trailer Truck Drivers