According to the INDEED website, which helps in finding employment, the average earnings of a professional truck driver range around $95,000 per year. Why are we raising this topic again? Well, the shortage of truck drivers is paralyzing the transport industry, and it is the drivers, not the transport companies, who are now dictating the terms. If any of our readers are considering a career change, then the proposal to become a commercial professional truck driver is a very lucrative one.
The transport industry in the United States is facing a serious crisis, and not because of a smaller number of loads, but precisely because of a lack of drivers. The shortage, estimated at around 24,000 jobs, means that thousands of vehicles are standing idle in parking lots, generating losses of $95.5 million per week. This is according to the latest report from altLine, a company specializing in factoring services. The report, based on data analysis from November 22 to December 5, 2024, indicates that if 100% of registered trucks were in use, the industry could earn $47.4 billion annually.
An analysis of job advertisements from various online platforms (LinkedIn, Indeed, Glassdoor, ZipRecruiter, Monster and others) shows that an average of 7,213 offers for CDL drivers appear every day, which confirms the persistent shortage. It is worth noting that online advertisements constitute only a fraction of the actual list of job offers on the labor market. According to statistics published by Zippia, as many as 70% of positions are filled as a result of personal contacts, through employment agencies, and other “offline” channels.
The report also reveals significant regional differences in the demand for drivers. Missouri leads in terms of the number of advertisements, with an average of 202 per day, and taking into account that 70% of advertisements are not published online, the report suggests that at any time of the day or night in the state of Missouri there is a need for approximately 673 new drivers. In contrast, Wyoming has the highest demand in relation to the state’s population, with one unfilled CDL driver position per 1,031 residents. On the other hand, Texas, despite its key role in interstate trade, has a relatively low rate of demand for drivers in relation to the number of residents.
Unfortunately, none of the reports contain detailed data regarding our state of Illinois. However, knowing the reality, thanks to our daily conversations with clients, we can confidently say that Illinois is also struggling with a shortage of drivers. And our state, due to its strategic location and developed road infrastructure, plays a key role in the national supply chain. The profession of a commercial CDL driver in Illinois is an opportunity for a stable and well-paid career. High earnings, attractive benefit packages and the possibility of rapid advancement are just some of the benefits that await future drivers. Independence, the opportunity to travel and sightsee, and a sense of the importance of this profession are additional advantages. Numerous CDL training programs are available, making it easier to obtain the necessary qualifications. Meanwhile, technological progress in the transport business is making this profession more and more modern, comfortable and attractive to a larger number of people.
