Companies Seek to Attract New Truckers by Offering New Perks

The fact of the matter is that 2/3rds of all freight traffic in the U.S.A. gets handled by way of big-rig trucks. Around 3 million interstate truckers make their livelihood by delivering the foodstuffs, manufactured goods, and miscellaneous essentials that keep this country up and running year after year. It’s hard to see any other form of transportation – whether rail or aerial – that’s ever going to supersede the need for freight haulers.

But let’s face it: the life of a trucker can be rough. Extended days and weeks on the road without seeing family and friends can take its toll on anybody. Currently, there’s an estimated shortage of 100,000 truckers in North America, and if the economy gradually (and inevitably) picks up steam again, and more interstate traffic begins to flow, that number for new truckers could explode to upwards of 250,000. That’s a heck of a lot of jobs for the taking. The problem is, many folks don’t visualize themselves in a big-rig cabin running coast-to-coast down Interstate 80 or Interstate 10. Still, it’s a good, solid way to make one’s living, and to add onto that, trucking companies and truck-stop chains across America are piling on incentives to make the trucker lifestyle more appealing.

With all the added shower facilities and movie theaters available at today’s truck-stops, it’s hard these days to tell some interstate rest stops apart from motels or multiplexes. Gyms, basketball courts, gourmet food options, and health clinics are also all becoming par for the course. At night, truckers sleep in cabins that feature plush cushioning and ample room for stretching out. New truck models are beginning to sport amenities such as GPS, Sirius-XM satellite radio, DVD players, and even satellite television dishes: in short, many (if not all) the comforts of home.

With unemployment running at just over 8%, it’s a good thing to know there are a lot of solid, steady jobs available for those who are willing to take on the challenge. It’s just a question now of letting job-seekers know that the jobs are out there – and that they come with their benefits as much as they come with their rigors.