Thread: Help Wanted: 500,000 Truckers

Help Wanted: 500,000 Truckers

Updated: Friday, 22 Jul 2011, 6:27 PM CDT
Published : Friday, 22 Jul 2011, 6:27 PM CDT
GREG GROOGAN
Reporter

HOUSTON - Sit a while near the ship channel, where Highway 146 meets Barbours Cut Boulevard, and you will see lots and lots of trucks, thousands of vehicles piloted by a virtual army of drivers.

"Everything you see, touch, feel, eat, everything came on a truck," said John Stephens whose trained thousands of drivers at San Jacinto College.

Fact is, in these days of near double digit unemployment, transportation companies can't find nearly enough folks willing to take the wheel of their big rigs.

How many are needed? The industry says it could easily use another half million drivers.

"Every place that you pass is hiring drivers. It's amazing, people talking about the economy and that there are no jobs. It seems like the people ought to start going to truck driving school," said Andy Fields, a veteran driver for Pencco.

"Most of my students are hired before the end of class," confirmed Stephens who says his 6-week course is paying solid and immediate dividends.

"They can expect to make $35,000 to $45,000 the first year. I've had several of my students who've made over $60,000 the first year. It's according to how much you want to work," he said.

Henry Battles has been hauling freight for better than 20 years. He says those looking to join him on the road should know the job can be both grueling and stressful.

"The money is good, but you're not home to spend it," said Battles.

'It's a lifestyle change," confirmed Stephens.

But Fields says with 16,000 trucking firms in Texas alone, the key to a solid career is finding the right company.

"I've got a 401k and a savings plan. I've got a lot of respect for my company and they are hiring drivers by the way. We are looking for drivers too."

http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/lo ... z1SwtS99V9

So is this why they have opened up trucking to Mexico? More cheap laborers.

Over The Road Truck Driving is a great job, for some people.
What people tend to forget is that when a driver gets in a truck a leaves home they leave behind their family, friends, social life, church, sports activities, their beloved pick up truck, car or motorcycle, etc. EVERYTHING. And they might not get home but once or twice a month for a day or two, if that.
That's why 80 % of the people who get a class A license quit within the first 90 days.
Some people love it, most can't handle it.

JD2
A retire trucker.