Demand for truck drivers creates richer opportunities for Hispanics --
The strong growth of freight traffic and huge demographic trends have created a severe shortage of truck drivers nationwide. Older drivers are retiring and other drivers are moving to different jobs. While it’s a huge problem for the transport industry, the shortage of drivers is very good news for many people looking to earn higher wages. An estimated 80,000 new drivers are needed every year over the next decade, according to the American
Trucking Associations.“The demand for drivers never goes down,” says Bobby Singh, manager at Bay Area Truck Driving School in Fremont. “The economy goes up and down but the freight has to move - global trade and the demand for moving freight never goes down. Especially in California, we have so much with the food industry and other products going overseas and so many imports.” Singh says the average wage for experienced drivers is $50k to 60k per year.
The potential supply of truck drivers is getting a boost from strong growth in all of the Hispanic male age groups from age 30 to 64; in each of these age groups, Hispanic males account for a higher percentage of truck drivers than they do of the overall labor force.
“It’s a very good career for many immigrant groups,” said Kevin Sandhu, owner of National Truck Driving School in Union City. Many of our students come from unskilled jobs and after one month they have their truck license and start making $17 to $21 per hour. “There is a strong need locally and nationally, but there is more demand for the long distance trucks, whose drivers can make up to a $1000 per week.”
Driver demand will push wages even higher, with increases over the next few years projected to average 6 to 7% per year.