Blog
After years of economic downturn the economy in Michigan is beginning to sow signs of recovery and the commercial trucking industry is playing a large part in that recovery process. The demand for commercial trucking services is growing all across the nation, including Michigan, and there is a demand for more professionally trained drivers to help lead the growth.
The commercial trucking industry in Michigan is especially poised for growth as many of the state’s manufacturing sectors are starting to grow, including the auto industry and manufacturing related to energy efficiency, such as parts for win turbines which are constructed in many western Michigan factories.
However, the port between Canada and the United States also drives much of the commercial truck traffic in Michigan and recent news that commercial trucking is also growing in Canada is good news for the Michigan economy and the local commercial trucking sector.
According to the Canadian General Freight Index, which was released last month, the cost of ground transportation for Canadian shippers increased 0.8 percent in February when compared with January. After the 12th consecutive monthly increase, the CGFI is now 10 percent above the March 2011 result.
The Base Rate Index, which excludes the impact of accessorial charges assessed by carriers, increased slightly in January, and is now 0.5 percent over the January result. Since March 2011, base rates reported by the CGFI have risen 4.4 percent. Average fuel surcharges assessed by carriers have increased from 18.79 percent of base rates in March 2011 to 20.42 percent in February.
“The CGFI has now hit a 10 percent increase milestone year-over-year,” Doug Payne, president and chief operating officer of Nulogx, which oversees the index, said in an E-Trucker article. “Yearly base rate increases appear to be sticking, while remaining increases are being spread across fuel and accessorial charges.”
The vast majority of shipments between the United States and Canada take place via commercial trucks and the Michigan-Canada border is one of the busiest between the two nations. A growing economy and trucking sector in both Canada and America is good news for the commercial trucking sector in Michigan, and also good news for job seekers considering a new career as a professional truck driver.
The commercial trucking industry’s growth continues to make it one of the best performing industries in America and the demand for professional and CDL trained drivers to handle that growth continues to increase. The West Michigan CDL Truck Driving School provides students with professional and expert training that provides the necessary skills to enter this growing profession and establish a long-term career.
You could take advantage of this growing market by completing the West Michigan CDL Truck Driving School program, where students receive professional training in the necessary skills to enter the commercial truck industry.
The commercial trucking industry was one of the nation’s first industries to show positive growth after the 2008 recession and has often been called one of the most recession-proof sectors of the economy. However, even as the larger economy shows signs of growth the commercial trucking sector continues to move forward and continues to be one of the best bets for job seekers looking for long-term employment.
March was another month of growth for the commercial trucking industry as the amount of freight and cargo transported by commercial trucks grew and the demand on the commercial trucking industry rose.
“March tonnage, and the first quarter overall, was reflective of an economy that is growing, but growing moderately,” American Trucking Associations Chief Economist Bob Costello said in a press release.
The American Trucking Association tracks the commercial trucking industry each month with its advanced seasonally adjusted For-Hire Truck tonnage Index, which showed a 0.2 percent gain in March when compared to the previous month. When compared to March 2011 the seasonally adjusted index rose 2.7 percent
The not seasonally adjusted index was up by 9.1 percent compared to the previous month.
“Most economic indicators still look good, which will continue to support tonnage going forward,” Costello said. The American Trucking Association said the rate of growth is a bit slower than it has been in recent years but it is still trending up. Over the last couple of years the commercial trucking tonnage index increased by 5.8 percent in both 2010 and 2011. Goods continue to be transported, even during a recession as a larger focus is placed on domestic shipments. However, with the economy recovering more domestic and international shipments are taking place and both rely heavily on the commercial trucking industry.
“Expect tonnage overall this year to be up at a more moderate rate, perhaps less than 3 percent, which is more in-line with normal growth,” Costello added.
The continued growth in the commercial trucking industry is making this one of the nation’s best job fields as the demand for professionally trained truck drivers continues to grow with trucking demands rising across the country. If you are looking for a new career then receiving professional training from one of the nation’s best programs at West Michigan CDL is a great start. Some of the nation’s best trucking companies work closely with West Michigan CDL to recruit drivers that they know have received some of the best training and experience in the commercial truck industry. The importance of the commercial trucking industry requires that carriers hire top-notch truck drivers that they know have an understanding of the safety requirements and have experience from behind the wheel.
Is the life of a professional truck driver right for you? It’s an important question to consider before deciding to participate in a CDL training program and embarking on this new career. Just like any major decision in life it is best to take some time to weight the pros and cons. The commercial trucking industry offers many pros as a career field but there are some things that job seekers need to be aware of before they start a new career as a professional truck driver.
First, let’s discuss the benefits of becoming a commercial truck driver. The industry is currently experiencing rapid growth, which means the demand for drivers is higher than its been in years. Commercial truck carriers are eager to find professionally trained drivers and many students who graduate from West Michigan CDL don’t have to wait long – if at all – to receive a job offer. Shipping loads continue to increase and the demand is expected to continue for many years, which means many more drivers will be needed.
Commercial trucking also offers good pay, especially for first year drivers. Employment benefits can also be very good and many professional truck drivers find that the opportunity to advance in their career is readily available, especially for those that can maintain a safe driving record.
In addition to the demand for drivers and the good pay, driving a truck can provide a unique profession for those who don’t want to work from behind a desk of in an office. For those that like to travel the life of a commercial truck driver can offer opportunities to see many parts of the country that would otherwise go unseen.
However, the job can be challenging. Traveling can mean some days spent away from home (depending on the route) and drivers must pay careful attention to safety as carriers continue to stress the importance of safe driving that is free from accidents or moving violations.
While the job of a truck driver can be challenging it can be much easier for those who have received professional CDL training, such as students from West Michigan CDL. Students are prepared for the challenges of the profession and are much more likely to success. Plus, students are often higher on the list for recruiters that are looking to hire the best professional truck drives they can find.
Commercial trucking can offer a long-term and rewarding career but the decision to become a driver should be made carefully. The turnover rate can be high because many drivers jump into the professional without much thought or training. However, if you have decided this is a job you want to do and you receive the right kind of training, becoming a commercial truck driver could be one of the best decisions you ever make.
Over 9.2 billion tons of freight was moved by commercial trucks in 2011, according to the recently released Trends report by the American Trucking Associations, which continues to show that the commercial truck industry is one of the fastest growing sectors of the nation’s economy.
The Trends report showed that the commercial trucking industry employs over 6.8 million people, which includes more than 3 million commercial truck drivers. A career as a commercial truck driver is becoming a popular option for job seekers as the demand for drivers continues to grow. Driving a commercial truck is a great career for people of all types and backgrounds as the American Trucking Association reports that over 30 percent of America’s truck drivers are minorities and almost 5 percent are women, which is significantly higher than even just a few years ago.
“This year’s edition of Trends makes it clear that following the Great Recession, trucking continues to lead the nation’s economy back into a higher gear,” ATA Chief Economist Bob Costello said in a press release. “The data in Trends should be a guide for business executives and policy makers across the country as they chart the course for our continued recovery.”
The commercial trucking industry transported over $600 billion in freight as the industry moved 67 percent of all freight in the nation when broken down by weight. The commercial trucking industry has been growing for the past few years and is poised for even more growth over the next decade.
The number of women working as commercial truck drivers continues to grow and an organization that seeks to promote and support female truckers recently celebrated its five-year anniversary.
The Women in Trucking Association celebrated five-years in April since forming in March 2007 at the Truckload Carriers Conference. The organization was established by 12 women and has not grown with a membership in the hundreds. According to its website, the Women in Trucking Association was formed to encourage women to look at careers in the trucking industry and to support those who work within the industry.
The organization’s website also states that some of the accomplishments of the Women in Trucking Association include the annual Salute to the Women Behind the Wheel to honor professional female drivers; the Influential Woman in Trucking Award; the anti-harassment employment guide and the formation of a Scholarship Foundation. The group is nearing 2,000 members, which include both individuals and corporations, and plans to hold a birthday celebration at the Great American Trucking Show in Dallas in August.
As more and more drivers are needed to help meet growing demand in the commercial trucking industry, the opportunity to begin a long-term and fulfilling career as a trucker is being embraced by people of all types, including females who have not also been recognized in the trucking industry. Statistics from the American Trucking Associations states that women make up 5 percent of commercial truck drivers, which is much higher than its been in years past. Becoming a professional truck driver can be a great career for anyone, including women, especially when completing a professional training program at a school like West Michigan CDL.
Tim Speck stopped in to say thanks for all the hard work we put in for him.
You’re welcome Tim, stay in touch and drive safe!
Major growth in the commercial trucking industry is good news for the nation as it indicates a growing economy and creates thousands of jobs for professionally trained commercial truck drivers. But it also brings with it challenges, including in the area of pollution as more trucks on the road means more emissions in the air.
However, many companies are looking for ways to offset the pollution caused by major growth in the trucking sector, including new technologies recently added at three Midwestern truck stops that allows truck drivers to plug into a power source to power onboard equipment while parked, rather than leaving the truck’s engine on.
Idling is a major source of pollution but the new technology by Shorepower Technologies hopes to address the problem. The addition of three truck stops grows the number of truck stops that already offer this type of service to the few dozen.
According to an article on Etrucker.com about the new power services, “drivers need only a heavy-duty extension cord to connect vehicles to the plug-in pedestals.” The article says the service is offered at $1 an hour and that cable TV is included at some locations.
Technology solutions like these are being added all the time in an effort to respond to the major growth currently underway in the commercial trucking industry. Thousands of drivers are currently needed to help meet the demand and drivers who complete a CDL training program, like the one at West Michigan CDL, are some of the most highly sought after commercial truck drivers in the nation.
Many sectors of the economy have shown some signs of improvement over the past few years but almost no other sector of the economy has shown as much growth as the commercial trucking sector, which is in demand for more professionally trained drivers all across the county, including Michigan.
The state of the commercial trucking industry is closely tied with other segments of the economy, including manufacturing, retail and construction. As more products are built and purchased the need for trucks to transport those goods also increases. Weak overall growth is a concern for trucking officials but other forecasts indicate that the future of trucking is as bright as it’s ever been.
The U.S. Freight Transportation Forecast compiled in 2010 predicted substantial growth for the commercial trucking industry over the next decade. The forecast predicted that overall revenue for the commercial trucking industry would see an increase of 66 percent by 2022. It also predicted that tonnage would increase by 24 percent in the same time period.
The forecast also predicted gains in boat and train shipping, but America’s trucking industry, which accounts for over 80 percent of all freight transportation in the U.S., was estimated to be the biggest winner of all transportation methods over the next several years.
The data supports the claim that many labor officials have made that one of the best careers in terms of growth over the next several years will be CDL commercial truck drivers. More trucks mean more drivers and as the trucking industry continues to increase in business it will be looking for more professionally trained drivers to help meet the demand.
At West Michigan CDL, students are prepared to help be a part of this projected growth by becoming some of the most skilled drivers on the road. Students are provided with the best professional commercial truck driver training and the school works closely with trucking recruiters to help insure students are able to quickly enter the workforce.
With all the good news about trucking, the worst part is that many trucking companies are not sure how they are going to meet the demand.
“There is a shortage of drivers everywhere,” Bill Long, owner of an Oklahoma-based trucking company, said. “We need more drivers and every other company needs more drivers. Our challenges include rising fuel costs and a slow growing economy…but my biggest challenge remains finding drivers that have what we are looking for.”
Long said his perspective is shared with many companies across the country. Many are applying for jobs as a truck driver but few appear to have the necessary skills. Long said applicants that come from professionally trained programs have a much better shot at landing a job in the commercial trucking industry because companies are desperate to hire more drivers in an effort to keep up with rapid growth.
Congratulations to this weeks group of new students. Please welcome Rob, Barry, Juan Tom, Tyler and Josh. You will all be on the road to a successful career soon!
We also want to send out big congratulations to Ben Perez and Shawn McClintock who graduated our weekend program yesterday.
Shawn is looking forward to starting at Holland Special Delivery and Ben will be starting at Werner on the 14th. Drive safe and stay in touch!
Don Childs also called to let us know the normal training program at JBS Carriers is 6-8 weeks. However; due to the quality training he received at WMCDL he was able to complete the program and get his own truck in only four weeks. Nice job Don and thanks for calling!
Several factors are making Michigan a prime place for commercial trucking growth and that means the commercial trucking industry could be a great opportunity for those looking to change careers.
According to the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth, several hundred commercial trucking jobs are available each year, which has the Department of Labor referring to truck driving as one of the fastest growing career fields in the state. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the commercial trucking industry is predicted to grow by at least 13 percent between now and 2018.
The Michigan economy has had its fair share of trouble, which also impacted the commercial trucking industry. However, commercial trucking is often one of the more recession proof industries for a specific state. Even as Michigan’s economy suffered through a higher than usual economic decline when compared to the rest of the nation, many truck drivers found steady employment because of jobs that took them out of state. Even if Michigan companies are shipping fewer products, commercial trucking offers drivers the kind of flexibility to find work on other regional routes.
However, the Michigan economy is beginning to rebound, according to the Department of Labor. Part of that rebound is coming after companies have diversified their products. Auto manufacturers are now expanding into other areas, such as manufacturing parts for wind turbines and other energy products. That type of economic diversity is especially prominent in the Grand Rapids area, which has been named by many economic organizations as one of America’s fastest growing economies.
Another benefit for Michigan’s commercial trucking industry is the growth of international trade between the United States and Canada. Routes between the two countries are growing and the two nations are in the process of further strengthening their trade agreements.
According to the Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS) and the U.S. Department of Transportation, shipping between the U.S. and its North American neighbors increased by 18 percent in July 2011 compared to the previous year. Over 85 percent of shipping between the U.S. and Canada takes place via surface transportation, such as commercial trucks, and the value of the trade between the U.S. and Canada, much of which goes through Michigan, was valued at over $42.5 billion.
As commercial trucking continues to grow in Michigan as both international and domestic trade rises, the demand for CDL trained truck drivers will also continue to grow. Persons wanting to enter this growing job market can find the necessary training at West Michigan CDL. With state-of-the-art facilities and equipment, the industry’s most talented and respected instructors, and a training curriculum recommended by major carriers, graduates of the program are becoming some of the nation’s best commercial truck drivers.
