About CDL Truck Driver Jobs

CDL truck driver jobs are responsible for carrying well over 10 billion tons of freight throughout the US each year. In fact according to the ATA, trucking serves as a barometer of the US economy because it represents nearly 70% of tonnage carried by all modes of domestic freight transportation. This represents an awful lot of CDL truck driver jobs, and the situation is that there is still a massive shortfall of drivers, somewhere in the vicinity of 80,000 are still required to fill all the CDL truck driver jobs available.

There are many different types of CDL truck driver jobs, from local to interstate jobs, driving flatbeds, semis, tankers or tractor-trailers. Some jobs will mean long periods of time away from home, whereas others may require just a few days or overnight trips. Local truck driver jobs will be just as the name implies, usually with many stops and set hours, but very rarely overnight trips.

It is possible these days to be able to achieve a satisfactory work-home balance in your CDL truck driver job. This has, and still is to a large extent, been a big problem for many drivers who work on the long distance routes. Some companies are of course much better to work for than others, but when they take their driver's interests at heart they are able to develop a strong and loyal team of drivers. A well organised carrier will be able to let their drivers know just when they will be on the road and when they will be at home. This is very important for a lot of drivers who have family that rely on them.

More and more employers are realising that there is only one way to address the low rate of driver retention in the industry and that is to keep them happy. This has meant that a lot of their CDL truck driver jobs have had to be restructured so that the driver can choose the type of routes that he or she likes best. This means that for those that like the long-haul runs that take them to the coasts and up to the mountain states then they are able to choose these runs. Some driver jobs will be for short haul runs that mean the driver will have more at-home time which is great for the young family man or those with other home commitments. Regional runs are also proving popular amongst drivers who are able to combine the two. This customization of CDL truck driver jobs has proven to be a key issue in driver retention as well as satisfaction.

CDL truck driver jobs are a passport to an exciting and challenging way of life. The industry has had to make big changes over recent years to address the chronic driver shortages. This has meant that a lot of long held traditions have had to be swept away making way for better driving conditions, and more understanding of the issues that confront each CDL driver. Driver morale has been at rock bottom, but at last companies are realising that small changes can bring great benefits.

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Truck Driving Jobs