A serious shortage currently exists in some segments of the trucking industry that could disrupt a significant portion of our fine-tuned distribution system. To solve this problem, trucking companies are offering better compensation and benefits to attract and retain good drivers. In fact, the trucking industry expects to need 80,000 new drivers each year for the next decade. The portion of the workforce segment which has traditionally provided most of the nation's truck drivers, males aged 20 to 24, will grow far more slowly than new truck driver job openings from 1994 to 2005, the study revealed. The population groups that continue to show the greatest labor force growth are women and minorities.
Specialized trucking involves operating trucks that handle unusual, oversized, or sensitive loads.
Drivers cover local, regional, and long-distance routes, and need extra training to operate this equipment. These drivers must know the content of the loads they haul, how to handle the load safely, and what to do in an emergency. Drivers who transport hazardous materials are required to take additional testing on HazMat regulations and safety precautions when applying for their Commercial Driver's License. An independent contractor owns his or her own equipment, anything from a straight truck to a tractor-trailer, and leases this equipment, together with driving services, to a trucking company to haul freight on a contractual basis for compensation, often on a percentage of revenue basis. Husband and wife teams are very common.