Truck drivers shortage is something the trucking industry is dealing with quite some time now.

By now we’re already used to the praises of the growth of the trucking industry.

We’re still dealing with one of the biggest problems in the business so far – truck drivers shortage.

What do truck drivers shortages mean for you?

When a service is in deficit, it means that the market demand for said service is high.

To put it simply, it means that there’s more work than the people who are needed to do that work.

This is great news for all truck drivers and the economy overall, but kind of bad for the trucking companies.

Why?

Because they cannot make money without you, the truck drivers.

Since there aren’t enough people to do that work, they have to do everything it takes.

They need to hire the number of drivers they need for their business to operate and make money.

That means truck drivers are going to get better working conditions as companies compete to attract all the drivers they can.

Because in every moment the US market needs 60,000 truck drivers more than it has on its disposal.

The earnings for truck drivers constantly go up as companies compete to provide them a better deal.

Take us for example.

We offer OTR drivers 60cpm for Dry Van and 70cpm for Flatbed, and those rates are industry’s highest!

That way you get good pay, and we don’t have empty trucks, a win-win situation for everybody!

How will the situation change in the future?

From the information that we have, for now, this is the best time to start getting into trucking.

Truck drivers average salary is going up.

The industry is estimated to continue growing exponentially.

The truck drivers shortage will also continue to grow if the demand isn’t met in time.

Bob Costello, the chief economist at ATA, says that the truck drivers shortage may go up to 160,000 by 2028.

The estimation is made on the simple difference of the new drivers that are getting into industry and the older ones retiring, with the expansion of the industry taken into account.

Those are truly great news for the truckers of today.

The longer the truck drivers shortage lasts, the better the working conditions for truckers will be.

And you can be sure that we will have the best offer and the best equipment to give to you at any time.

What steps are being taken to tackle the issue of truck drivers shortage?

The ATA advocates for a pay increase, more home time, and lowering the required driver’s age to 18 to battle the shortage.

Autonomus trucks are also the subject of the debate since so far there is no way to satisfy the market demand completely.

Which at first, seemed like a good idea, autonomous trucking still has a lot of obstacles to overcome to be usable.

Some experts even claim that autonomous cars might be the future, but that is hardly the case for the trucks.

Judging by the ATA report, the surging freight economy and lack of truck drivers could disrupt the supply chain entirely.

The industry will require around 1.1 million truck drivers to meet the demand in the next decade.

So far the biggest challenge for the industry is to attract the younger drivers.

There are many more drivers retiring than the ones that are just starting to drive OTR.

The industry needs to remove the barriers for new drivers, make it less difficult for veterans, increase pay and decrease wait times.

The burdens and expenses on CDL applicants have to be reduced to make the process easier and more attractive to potential new drivers.

The companies are using all of their efforts to help the drivers as much as they can, and Strong Group is one of them.

We can help you lease a truck, and become an owner operator, so you can ear even more money later on!

We also hire drivers who already are owner operators, and we have a special offer for them.

Go and check what we have for you!

The problem with the drivers

The expansion of the industry is not the only problem that’s causing the truck drivers shortage.

The shortage of truck drivers overall is not that much of the problem as it’s the shortage of good truck drivers.

Usually, good truck drivers are the old school ones.

Times change so does generations.

Many newer truck drivers are not prepared to push a lot of miles, which is highly valuable in the industry, and they want to be home often.

All of this is ridiculous for the old school drivers.

A truck driver used to be a synonym for hard-working people who live on the road to provide for their families.

There was no freight or mileage they couldn’t pull of.

They are true professionals who made people treat them with respect for the work they do.

Because everybody knows that without truck drivers, those items wouldn’t be on the shelves of those shops.

They make America move, and the more they’re on the road, the more the country thrives.

Those kinds of drivers are slowly retiring, and there aren’t enough new ones that treat the job and themselves as the veterans did.

Hopefully, the newer generations of truck drivers will be stimulated by the opportunity to earn plenty of money, and that will make them true professionals in their job.

The takeaway

The following period due to the truck drivers shortage will be the best time for truck drivers, maybe ever.

With stimulation coming from everywhere, potential newcomers should recognize this and join one of the greatest and crucial industries in the US.

What is certain, is that we have everything to thank for our experienced drivers who truly make it possible for this industry to thrive.

So we will use this opportunity to praise our drivers at Strong Group because they are the industries finest, and we are glad to have them as a part of our long hauling family.

Owner operator trucking jobs have one of the greatest benefits and that is the independence that comes with the job.

The truck is your office and the road is your hallway. No one is there to tell you what to do.

When you become an owner operator, trucking jobs get to a whole new level.

What Can You Expect as an Owner Operator?

At first, as an owner operator, you will appreciate your trucking jobs a lot more.

You will be able to customize your truck to look exactly how you want it to look.

You will have more self-appreciation and you will get this feeling that only you are in charge and that you are responsible for everything.

It’s kind of empowering since from now on, that truck is your company and you’re the CEO.

You can expect to see more money at the end of the week and you will have much more negotiating power when you’re signing contracts.

Possibly one of the most rewarding benefits of being an owner operator is that you get to choose how much home time do you want.

You will be able to choose between being an independent owner operator or a lease operator.

Being a completely independent owner operator is a bit harder than a contractor because in the contractor case, the company does the job searching instead of you, along with some other things that you would have to do on your own, like accounting, marketing, etc…

How to Become an Owner Operator?

First of all, you have to be a really good driver, with at least two years of experience, and the money for the truck, of course.

If you, however, can’t afford a truck yet, we can help you with that.

Contact us, and we can help you get your very own first truck!

Your MVR has to be clean, of course, companies today value the clean MVR, and we are one of those companies as well.

If you decide to be a contractor, which is usually the case, you can expect companies to offer you better deals, because most of the owner operators are very good drivers.

What Kind of Offer do we have for Owner operators?

We love to provide our owner operators trucking jobs, and we offer great benefits for them!

If you’re looking for owner operator trucking jobs, we have an offer for you!

We offer you:

• 75% of the load inclusive of cargo and liability insurance, occupational and IFTA
• Huge fuel discounts, saving you up to $10,000.00 per year!
• Assigned dispatcher
• 24/7 dispatch and operations support
• 24/7 emergency breakdown support
• Direct deposit every Friday
• In-house repair shop
• Consistent loads
• Trailers available for rent and purchase
• Our owner operators’ gross weekly revenue averages between $5,000.00 – $6,000.00

You can also expect:

• Parking spot available in our company’s yard
• Great, easy routes
• Flying J / Pilot fuel cards
• I Pass
• Great opportunities for Lease truck drivers

Equipment requirements:

• Must pass a complete DOT inspection on the day of signing the contract with us

And even if you’re not an owner operator, or you would like to become one in the future, we can work with you as well!

Feel free to contact our recruiters at 855 787 66 44 or apply online by clicking this LINK!

Conclusion

And that’s all the basics you need to know to get you started!

Hopefully, we will talk to you, and offer you our owner operator trucking jobs, and those of you that still wish to become one, we can work with you as well!

After a long time on the road, every truck driver needs a place to stop, rest and recuperate. Truck stops are great places for drivers to rest and relax.

There are plenty of truck stops across the US, and we will show you some of the best!

The best truck stops in the US:

1. Little America Truck Stop – Little America, Wyoming

Little America is a great place for truckers and other visitors. The facility includes a fuel center with a repair shop and a mechanic, private showers, a hotel, and a convenience store.

It’s a welcoming place where you can stop, relax, refresh yourself and grab something to eat. Even if you have any minor mechanical issues with your vehicle, you can get them fixed by a mechanic.

They’re open 24/7 and you will love their driver’s lounge with a big TV. There’s also a laundry facility, so you and your truck can get a complete restart and be ready to move out on the road feeling relaxed and fresh.

2. North Forty Truck Stop- Holladay, Tennessee

The North Forty Truck Stop is one of the best ones around and it seems so simple outside. But don’t let the looks fool you.

It has overnight parking, a restaurant, free Wi-Fi, showers, massage practitioners and even a barber!

They are open 24/7 and they offer great service!

The restaurant is great, it has a variety of meats and salads. You can get a complete lunch for just under $10!

If you want to entertain yourself a bit, this truck stop has got you covered! They have plenty of books, CD’s and DVD’s for you to choose from.

3. Speedway Truck Stop – Disputanta, Virginia

Speedway is one of the biggest chains of gas stations and truck stops in the US. Their truck stop in Disputanta has huge parking for over 100 trucks!

It has a trucker’s lounge and a restaurant. The quality of service is top-notch, even though it’s not one of the most complete ones out there.

They do have a loyalty program, so if you decide to join, you will get a card to use for various discounts all across America.

4. Whiskey Pete’s Truck Stop – Primm, Nevada

Even though from the outside you wouldn’t exactly guess it’s a truck stop, but it has a place for truckers to rest and recharge.

The facility has a 24/7 restaurant, a gas station, and a business center. On top of that, it has several casinos, outlet stores, and hotels.

You should find everything you need to get a refresh and some rest, although you shouldn’t expect the prices of other places that are primarily truck stops.

Whiskey Pete’s is more exclusive than that and it focuses on the casino. Now that being said, be careful not to get too loose on the gambling machines!

5. South of the Border Truck Stop – Hamer, South Carolina

South of the Border started as a highway truck stop, but grow into an attraction. What makes it unique is its big sombrero watchtower, a golf course, and a wedding chapel.

They are open 24/7 and you might even get there in the middle of a ceremony since they have a convention center as well.

You feel hungry? Great! You can choose from 6 restaurants and their diverse menus. There are so many different courses you will need some time to choose the right restaurant!

Before you go, you can stock up on everything you need in the shops you can find inside of the facility.

In Conclusion

That concludes our collection of the best truck stops you can stay at. Check them out when you feel you need a well-deserved break and a good place to leave your hard-earned money at.

Since the truck drivers average salary is going up, maybe you can visit even some more luxurious places.

If you’re drawn to these destinations and are an experienced truck driver, contact us and we might work together!