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Census Bureau: More truckers than ever on U.S. roads

Report: 3.5 million drivers currently in industry

Posted June 13, 2019

More truck drivers are now on roads than ever before, according to a new U.S. Census Bureau report.

More than 3.5 million people worked as truck drivers in 2016, the most recent year data was available, the bureau said.

The report comes amidst reports of driver shortages in the industry and a push by some to allow 18 to 21-year-olds to operate trucks in interstate commerce.

Other data from the report includes:

  • Women comprise 6.9 percent of the workforce;
  • The median age of truck drivers is 46, compared to 41 for all workers;
  • Year-round truck drivers working full time earn an average of $43,252 annually, which is lower than the median for all full-time workers of $47,016;
  • People of Hispanic origin comprise 21.5 percent of the driver population, including almost 27 percent of the drivers between the ages of 25 to 44;
  • African-Americans comprise 15.2 percent of the truck-driver population, with a high of 18.8 percent in the 35 to 44 age group; and
  • Veterans make up nearly 11 percent of the entire workforce.

Personnel Management for the Transportation IndustryJ. J. Keller's Personnel Management for the Transportation Industry provides transportation professionals with the information necessary for effective people/driver management.

 

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