HITTING THE ROAD: BOOMING TRUCK INDUSTRY MEANS HIGH DEMAND FOR DEPENDABLE DRIVERS

It's a driver's market in the trucking industry.

Business recruiters said the industry is growing bigger every day, and companies are constantly upping their salary and fringe benefits packages to make sure they keep dependable drivers in their trucks.

"There's usually about a 100 percent turnover rate in the industry company to company," said Mike Curts, advertising director with Driver Solutions of Indianapolis. "If a person has the experience, they can generally go to the best-paying company."

Keeping the trucks manned with happy drivers is important, because three of every four products being shipped in the nation are being moved on a truck.

Trucking companies are generating about $375 billion annually. Some 40,000 new jobs are created each year.

"This is the cheapest way to go," Curts said. "Railroads have shrunk, and boating and shipping are really down in relation to the trucking industry."

In an effort to keep products moving, trucking companies are actively recruiting new drivers. Advertising in the media is effective for untrained candidates, but experienced drivers generally make job changes based upon recommendations from other drivers.

"We advertise in about 136 markets around the U.S.," Curts said. "We probably generate about 15 interested people that we actually speak with in person every week from the area. About one-third of those actually follow through, accept a job offer and go through the training program."

Although trucking, and especially over-the-road trucking, can be a difficult, time-consuming job, many people are beginning to consider it because of the higher starting salaries.

Recruiters said people from all walks of life are considering truck driving careers. About three-fourths of all drivers are men, but more and more, women also are considering driving the big rigs.

"We're getting more women in every class," said Gractia Lowery, director of student services with the Professional Truck Driving School of Paducah, Ky. "You're looking at mothers and housewives, family teams, just all different types of people."

Lowery said her school works with a number of private companies to prepare drivers who will be prepared to enter the work force immediately after graduating. The entire process can take anywhere from three weeks to six months.

"We like students because you can train them the way you like," said Rick Groenert, a recruiter for Swift Transportation. "How many industries can you graduate in three or four weeks and make $30,000 to $40,000 in the first year?"

Groenert said while many students are attracted by the higher salaries, some are turned off by the length of time drivers must spend away from home.

Most truck drivers start off working over-the-road, which can mean being away from home for weeks at a time. Students must be prepared for the time away, or else they won't be driving very long.

"Some people getting into it wash out fairly quickly because they can't be away from home or don't like driving long distances," Curts said. "It's a demanding lifestyle. Obviously it's tougher on the person who has a family."

Lowery said she works with students as they enroll and throughout their training to make sure they are prepared for the rigors of the business.

"We're in a school business," she said. "The business end of it is we want to be in the black at the end of the year, but on the education end of it, we want our students to be well-trained and well-prepared for what they'll have to do."

As the industry continues to grow, truck drivers will continue to have their pick of better salaries and better working conditions, said recruiters. Companies must keep drivers happy so that everyone meets their main goal.

"The bottom line is the trucks have to keep moving," said Groenert. "If the wheels aren't turning, nobody's making money."