Do you want a career where you are making a positive difference, and getting paid well to do it? Trucking could be a great option for you. Truck drivers are absolutely essential to our nation’s economy and due to high demand, long-haul drivers can make more than $69,480 per year*.
More information about the importance of truckers:
Trucking by the Numbers
Statistics about freight transportation in the United States demonstrate just how much of a contribution truckers make. The most recent data from the American Trucking Associations (ATA) shows that semi-trucks transported 72.5% of the nation’s freight by weight in 2020. In total, semi-trucks transported 10.23 billion tons of freight. Trucking also represented 80.4% of the total freight revenue, which amounted to $732.3 billion.
A World Without Truckers
The numbers show that trucking makes a huge contribution to the economy, but these statistics can be a little abstract. For a more concrete example of just how important truckers are, we can imagine a world where there were no drivers to transport freight by semi-truck. In this scenario, it’s clear just how quickly challenges would arise without truckers.
Here is a timeline of what would happen if all the truckers in the United States stopped delivering freight:
12 Hours
It wouldn’t even take a full day for some industries and individuals to notice the impact if there were no truckers. Within the first 12 hours, fuel would already start to become scarce. Hospitals and nursing homes would begin to run short on supplies, especially time-sensitive medications. Delivery of mail and packages would also stop.
One Day
Food shortages for certain perishable goods would start to develop within 24 hours without truckers. Manufacturing of many goods would cease without essential supplies. Fuel availability would decrease even further, and at this point, you’d likely notice higher prices and longer lines at the gas station.
Two or Three Days
After just a few days without truck drivers, gas stations would completely run out of fuel. This would have a ripple effect on public safety, as police, fire, and ambulance services would not have the gas they need to operate. Garbage and medical waste would begin to build up, causing major health and sanitation concerns. ATMs would also run out of cash within this time frame and food shortages would continue to escalate.
One Week
Within seven days, automobile travel would grind to a halt. Shelves would be empty or close to empty in many stores. Hospitals would run out of oxygen.
Two Weeks
After two weeks without truckers, sources of clean water would start to run dry. This would have a ripple effect on the already struggling healthcare system, causing even more issues.
Make a Difference as a Trucker
It’s clear that without truckers, the world would be a very different place. If you’re interested in helping keep our nation running as a truck driver, Phoenix Truck Driving Institute can help you get started. You can earn your commercial driver’s license (CDL) in as little as four weeks with our accelerated program.
To learn more about our Phoenix truck driving school, contact us today.
*Professional truck drivers earn a mean annual wage of $47,130. The top 10% of truck drivers make more than $69,480 per year according to 2020 Bureau of Labor Statistics.
