Not everyone knows how the trucking industry plays a vital role in economic growth. Nevertheless, CDL truck drivers are necessary for not only economic growth, but the modern marketplace’s ability to exist at all. Without professional truck drivers, none of the other facets of the global or local economies could function. Besides this, trucking itself is an industry in a state of constant growth and innovation, with new problems to solve and strategy to implement.
Professional truck drivers move about three-quarters of the total freight tonnage shipped throughout the United States. Truck drivers transport the vast majority of both consumer and commercial goods from point A to point B. 10 billion tons of freight was delivered in the U.S. in 2017 alone with 3.5 million truck drivers to thank. Eighty percent of American communities need truck drivers to provide everyday packages. None of this accounts for up-stream business and other industries that need trucking or transport logistics.
Delivery services are experiencing even more demand through the broader use of cartage companies. These companies have grown a few percentage points in each quarter of the past few years. Truck driver shortages across the country are impacting the rate of growth, but the role of the trucking industry in economic growth has never been more significant. There is hardly an area of the economy that trucking does not impact.
Trucking Keeps the Whole Economy Moving
Manufacturing needs the trucking industry to acquire the necessary raw materials for production. From wood to plastics, steel and automotive parts, and various fabrics, trucking makes modern manufacturing possible. The technology sector, too, is continually moving computers and other digital components, both domestically and internationally. The electronic devices we all take for granted nowadays not only could not be shipped without trucking—they could not even be made.
Grocery and retail stores rely on the trucking industry for basic functioning. Every product that fills these stores is shipped by local fleets and cartage companies. Perishables and imported foods are shipped in refrigerated containers, including tropical fruits and vegetables, meats, dairy, and other agricultural products. Foodservice is also reliant on trucking to move ingredients, supplies, food products, appliances, and equipment. Restaurants usually schedule multiple shipments throughout the week to avoid food spoilage and storage issues. These shipments keep restaurants operating and would be impossible without the trucking industry.
Oil and gas are also industries reliant on trucking for transporting refined fuel to gas stations, loading gas pipes and fittings, and more. These services make the rest of the transport industry and most vehicular travel possible in the first place. And since so many manufacturers operate just in time (or JIT) manufacturing schedules, they need truck drivers to help avoid being fined for delivering final products late.
The construction and home renovation industries rely on trucking to move products to and from stores or customers’ homes. These essential supplies include steel, lumber, concrete, and hardware that need to go to worksites, homes, stores, and warehouses. Some cartage companies also deliver heavy industrial or construction equipment, as well as portable buildings for worksite office space.
Every product and service that everyone uses is made available to us by truck drivers. Even as new methods of shipping evolve and new technology like driving assistance and renewable energy continue to develop, trucking is still a mainstay of the American and world economies. As the economy continues to march along, the trucking industry will continue to play a vital role in its growth.