Wednesday, January 04, 2006
A SOON U.S. WORK OPPORTUNITY
Our local men and women (even without college degrees) who are longing to go to America for a better paying job may soon have the opportunity to do so and earn as much as $80,000.00 a year. That is, if they know how to drive and are willing to work as interstate long-haul truck drivers.
According to industry figures, eighty-five percent of American products move by truck, and there is a shortage of truck drivers in the country. Furthermore, costs increase whenever production bottlenecks occur due to non-delivery of merchandise. The American Trucking Association (ATA), in its May 2005 report, pointed out this growing dilemma. It also acknowledged that demand for truck drivers outpaces supply by about 20,000 drivers.
Saratoga Transportation in New York vigorously attracts drivers by offering a minimum salary of $42,000 per annum plus benefits. It has also been increasing the mileage that drivers are eligible for. With more miles, some drivers are making $80,000 annually.
There are also driving schools to fill the shortfalls such as Harry Kowalchyk’s National Tractor Trailer School in Syracuse, New York. His school provides new candidates for trucking companies across the Northeast. Mr. Kowalchyk claims there are hundreds of job openings for truck drivers in America’s Northeast area alone.
The ATA attributes the shortage mainly to young workers who have more career options, as well as unwillingness by those with families to stay away from home for long periods of time. However, a surprising number of older workers — retirees and those who have been displaced from another job — are taking up trucking. One driving school student holds an MBA; another student is a scientist formerly at Bristol Myers. IT workers who lost jobs as their work was outsourced are learning to be truck drivers as well. The traditional image of a brawny and brutish truck driver is long gone, so trucking is open to women as well.
According to ATA, the number of long-haul truckers needed in the United States will hit 1.62 million by 2014, the same time 219,000 drivers hit retirement age. The industry cites its needs for at least 539,000 new truck drivers over the next nine years. Logically speaking, it isn’t too far fetched an idea for these trucking companies to eventually start recruiting from the Philippines. It should also be noted that ATA has a loud lobbying voice in Washington; work visas for foreign workers can be surely facilitated as needed.
For further information read:
Businesses are Feeling the Pinch of Growing Shortage of Long-Haul Truck Drivers
By Eric Durr
© 2005 The Business Review (Albany)
*
Labels: opportunity
posted by Señor Enrique at 12:16 PM
5 Comments:
-
Marvin Aceron said... Our driver is leaving to work as a truck driver in Canada. It seems the demand is also strong there.
-
Señor Enrique said...
There you go! I'm just excited to hear of opportunities possibly opening up for those without college degrees as well.
With recent technological developments, driving a huge vehicle isn't all that hard. I took a bus to Baguio last year and the driver told me driving a bus is a lot easier than a car--once you get the hang of it.
Come to think of it, I'm tempted to drive a truck for a year for the sheer experience of it. And take along a laptop and blog about the daily happenings.-
niceheart said...
This is then a good opportunity for kababayans who want to work abroad.
-
Señor Enrique said...
Yes, niceheart. An opportunity for our kababayans to get a chance to see and work in the U.S.
-
Sidney said...
Happy New Year!
If you decide to drive a truck for one year you might want a co-pilot. I am a candidate. You write and I take the pictures. :-)
