Amanda is a single mom and veteran who pursued a career in commercial trucking after her military service.
She first worked in logistics, but soon found another interest.
“I discovered in the process that the money really was on the road,“ she explained.
It is a critical industry. More than 70 percent of the goods used in the United States every day are transported by truck.
However, fewer people are choosing trucking as their career, and the industry has always struggled to attract female drivers. According to the American Trucking Associations just 6.6 percent of truck drivers in 2018 were women.
Laura Kingsland is the commercial driving program director at Pinellas County Technical College, in Tampa, Florida. She entered the industry when it was rare for a woman to choose a skilled trade career.
“Back in the day there weren’t very many opportunities for women. We had the normal jobs, we had secretary, homemaker, nursing or teacher. Those were the predominant jobs we had,“ she explained. ”I just didn’t want to do any of those jobs.“
She said her mother and father were shocked at her choice, as they wanted her to go to college.
“I knew I wasn’t cut out for that at that time.“
Trucking provided the environment she craved. “I can be out there on my own, I can be a little adventurous,” she said.
It’s an industry that has been struggling to attract new drivers for years, but with Baby Boomers retiring and new rules about licensing, companies are having even more trouble filling positions.
“There’s a shortage of drivers out there,” Kingsland said. “There has been a shortage for quite a few years. And I believe it’s going to get even worse.”
New requirements state that to pursue a CDL license, applicants must first go to a certified training facility. Once they complete their training and receive their CDL, they will most likely have a wide range of positions to choose from. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers is projected to grow 5 percent from 2018 to 2028. The average salary for truck drivers in the United States is $45,260, with some earning up to $66,000 or more.
Amanda completed her training program through Tidewater Community College in 16 weeks and was soon on the road in her new career. But she doesn’t plan to stop at just driving the trucks.
“I’d like to have my own truck,” she said, “possibly purchase maybe two or more, and run the operation.”
Skilled trades provide workers with skills they can use anywhere in the world--and even in economic downturns. Unlike industries like retail or hospitality that are influenced by the season or by regional economic stability, jobs for those working in skilled trades typically remain steady. To learn more about local training programs for trucking and other skilled careers, visit our Resources page.