Amid The Great Resignation, job seekers are looking for new career fields that satisfy their need for increased flexibility, steady pay, and job security. Roadmaster Drivers School President Brad Ball explains how a career in truck driving could be fulfilling, lucrative, and a unique opportunity to experience the open road.
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- With a growing national need for truck drivers amid supply chain disruptions and driver shortages, Roadmaster Drivers School, the leading Class A CDL (commercial driver's license) truck driver training program, is opening a new Houston, Texas location. The new school is Roadmaster's fourth location in Texas and could be a tremendous opportunity for Houston residents who may be unemployed, underemployed, or looking for a career change. Brad Ball, President of Roadmaster Drivers School, explains that the demographics of the greater Houston area are well-suited to a truck driving career.
Ball says, "The national economy relies on a new generation of trained truckers to help meet the needs of the country's biggest trucking state, Texas." The state of Texas employs over 170,000 truck drivers, which equates to 15 of every 1000 jobs, and that number continues to grow year after year. (1) Because Texas is centrally located from the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, the average turnaround time is only 48 hours for truck drivers to reach most parts of the U.S. As one of only four states bordering Mexico, the Texas trucking industry facilitates 85% of the trade between Texas and Mexico. (2)
The pandemic created a massive disruption in the traditional job market. In 2021, people started to re-examine their work-life balance and began seeking new jobs that provided better pay, increased flexibility, and more personal fulfillment. This career uncertainty contributed, in part, to The Great Resignation. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, over 47 million people opted to willingly quit their jobs. (3)
Supply chain disruptions and driver shortages were already problematic before the pandemic, but COVID-19 certainly exacerbated the issue. Studies predict a shortage of 240,000 drivers by 2023 driven by factors such as truck drivers retiring (the average age of truck drivers is 55 years old), new regulations and qualification requirements, and truckers who never returned to the industry after pandemic-related layoffs. (4) As a result, 2.6 million global positions remained unfilled in 2022. (5)
A truck driving career offers job security, competitive pay, and benefits. According to Indeed.com, the average entry-level truck driver's salary in the U.S. is $73,907 per year! (6) Ball states, "We've proudly trained more than 160,000 men and women to build a career in truck driving, positively changing their families' lives in the process. There's a growing diversity in truck driving with no wage gap tied to race or gender." Once considered an almost exclusively male occupation, the industry is experiencing record growth among women now choosing truck driving as a career. (7)
More than 90% of truckload fleets gave raises in pay to drivers in 2021, with an average increase of 10.9%. A majority of fleets are also offering significant sign-on and referral bonuses. (8) Ball says wage increases look promising over the next few years.
Ball explains, "On average, completing CDL training classes takes about a month. We thoroughly prepare you every step of the way, including hands-on experience driving a truck and classroom training. Financial assistance is available for those who qualify." He adds, "We encourage you to stop by our new facility and let us show you what life on the road could look like. Taking a few hours out of your day could be the first step to a fascinating and profitable new profession. We're excited to meet the Houston area residents and support them on their new career path."
On May 18th, between the hours of 11:00 am and 3:00 pm, members of the press, prospective students, and the general public are warmly invited to the grand opening ceremony of Roadmaster's new training facility at 1224 Normandy Street, Houston, Texas 77015.
Ball remarks, "Trucking is an essential and increasingly well-paid and respected profession. If you — or someone you know — are in the market for a better future, I urge you to come and talk to us. It might turn out to be the best thing you ever did."
About Roadmaster Drivers School
Roadmaster, headquartered in St. Petersburg, FL, is a nationwide training organization for professional truck drivers. The organization has over 30 years of experience training more than 160,000 graduates with 24 training locations nationwide. By focusing on giving students the best education and maintaining high job placement standards, Roadmaster has gained a national reputation in the trucking industry for quality training of entry-level commercial truck drivers — noted for their training practices to be the most hands-on and safety-focused training in the country. For more information, visit http://www.roadmaster.com
References
1. What states have the most truck drivers? Fremont Contract Carriers. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2022, from fcc-inc.com/what-states-have-the-most-truck-drivers/
2. Texas Trucking Industry. TheTrucker.com. (n.d.). Retrieved September 10, 2022, from thetrucker.com/truck-driving-jobs/resources/states/texaB
3. Fuller, Joseph, and William Kerr. "The Great Resignation Didn't Start with the Pandemic." Harvard Business Review, 25 Mar. 2022, hbr.org/2022/03/the-great-resignation-didn't-start-with-the-pandemic.
4. "Supplying Your Hauling Needs." Haulink, haulink.com/blog_post/the-truck-driver-shortage-in-the-united-states#!
5. Kerriou, Anne. "The Truck Driver Shortage Has Got Worse in 2022." Market Insights, 29 June 2022, market-insights.upply.com/en/the-truck-driver-shortage-has-got-worse-in-2022.
6. Entry Level Truck Driver Salary in United States - Indeed. indeed.com/career/entry-level-truck-driver/salaries.
7. Bisaha, Stephan. "Truck Driving Has Long Been a Man's World. Meet the Women Changing That." 19 houstonpublicmedia.org/npr/2021/09/19/1037513003/truck-driving-has-long-been-a-mans-world-meet-the-women-changing-that/#:
8. McNally, Sean. "Trucking Wages Jump in 2021 as Shortage, Supply Chain Issues Increase Demand." American Trucking Associations, 10 Aug. 2021, trucking.org/news-insights/trucking-wages-jump-2021-shortage-supply-chain-issues-increase-demand.
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SOURCE Roadmaster Drivers School
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