PUNTA GORDA, Fla. — As many people are figuring out how to recover financially, the truck driving industry may be here to help.
According to Glenn Osterberg with Suncoast Trucking Academy in Punta Gorda, about 50,000 to 60,000 truck drivers are needed, and that number is expected to increase in order to maintain the high volume of freight that needs to be moved.
‘Drivers out there are staying much busier, it's a very in-demand industry, there is always work available. Once you obtain your CDL you’ll always be able it find a job. If you think about it everything in this country at some point moves by truck,” Glenn Osterberg, Range Manager, Suncoast Trucking Academy.
This shortage causes a domino effect for not only truckers but manufacturers and consumers.
“The manufacturers can’t get the raw goods to make materials, so they don’t have as much to ship. It takes longer to get things to the end-users, so that’s where the problem lies. The pressure is much higher because the companies have more freight to be moved by less drivers so they want you to stay away from home longer. Because of the federal mandate on logging devices, you can only work so many hours a day anyway so it tightens those perimeters,” Glenn Osterberg, Range Manager, Suncoast Trucking Academy.
Monika Lewis who was out of work for 6 months returned to driving 3 weeks ago and describes the truck driver shortage as scary.
“The shortage means, demand and demand means putting drivers in the seat, and how well are they going to be trained to be out here and be safe,” said Monika Lewis.
