Online Recruiting Helping Trucker Shortage

Driver Careers matches candidates with schools to reduce the shortage of truck drivers in the trucking industry.

Salt Lake City, UT (PRWEB) October 18, 2007 - Internet-based recruiting firms are doing their part to stem the persisting shortage of commercial truck drivers in the United States (http://abclocal.go.com/wjrt/story?section=local&id=3959285). Companies like Driver Careers (http://www.divercareers.com) specialize in placing prospective drivers with a trucking school or experienced drivers with a trucking company.

The American Trucking Association (ATA) estimates that the trucking industry will need to replace 539,000 truckers over the next seven years. That means that approximately 54,000 new truckers will need to be hired each year to keep up with demand.

"The driver market is the tightest it has been in 20 years," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "It's a major limitation to the amount of freight that motor carriers can haul. It's critical that we find ways to tap a new labor pool, increase wages and recruit new people into the industry that keeps our national economy moving."        

Factors contributing to the shortage include an aging workforce about to retire and high turnover. In spite of this, Tiffany Wlazlowski, Director of Public Affairs for the ATA believes things are beginning to turnaround.

"Business is good, freight tonnage growth is robust and the economy is growing," said Wlazlowski. "Professional drivers pay rates are increasing, benefits are attractive and getting better and training opportunities for apprentices abound."

Another contributor to the turnaround is prospective drivers utilizing the Internet sites, like Driver Careers, to get information about and apply to truck driver training schools.

"We're processing dozens of applications for new truckers every hour," David Freeman, Marketing Director of Driver Careers said. "But there is still a high demand from the trucking schools. There are plenty of opportunities available"

Driver Careers has been increasing the truck driver pool by pairing prospective drivers with reputable driving schools and trucking companies. At http://www.drivercareers.com, applicants submit their free profile information then are matched to a driving school meeting their individual criteria.

"Our system analyzes the client's information then instantly matches them with a specific school, like Roadmaster and Allstate Career Schools; or trucking companies like SMX and Marten Transport," said Felicia Romney, Driver Careers Account Manager.

Driver Careers clients are also given a contact name and number at the school to answer questions and assist them with their enrollment.

"We don't just give clients a list of companies in their area. The school or company will contact the driver directly," said Romney. "We make sure there's human component involved."

For further information, please contact Greg Graff, VP of Business Development at DriverCareers.com, 801-327-9090.

###