What makes truck driving an essential position in the US? The United States is a country of consumerism. Every day, billions of dollars are spent in stores all around the country. That being said, where do all of the things that people are buying come from? How do the stores keep up with such a high demand of goods? Well, the answer is simple.
Constant demand requires constant supply. That being said, truck drivers are the ones who keep this supply chain going constantly. Without truck drivers, the supply chain would drop way below the demand, and that would cause serious economic problems.
In this article, we are going to take a look at reasons why truck driving is an essential position in the US. We will also look at some reasons truck driving will be an in-demand job for many years to come which also tells you why it is a good career to get into or stay in. Let’s get started.
Reasons Truck Driving Is An Essential Position In The US
- Without truck drivers, goods wouldn’t reach the stores. In 2019, on average, a single person spent around $164.55 in a single day (CNBC). Granted, this includes things such as housing and bills. However, the rest was spent on things like groceries, gasoline, clothing/apparel, etc. If truck drivers were not essential workers, then those goods would not be delivered to stores, gas stations, etc. and we would not be able to go out and buy them. Here are some of the goods and items that truck drivers deliver:
- Fuel: This allows people to get to and from wherever they need to go.
- Groceries: Food, milk, clean water, etc.
- Cleaning Supplies: During the time of a pandemic, cleaning supplies are extremely important to have access to.
- Medical Supplies: Again, very important, not only right now during the pandemic, but always.
- Medicines: According to Anxiety Centre, around 65% of all Americans take medications.
- Construction Materials: This is for both commercial and residential construction.
- Many other things
- The economy would suffer severely. As we have already seen, truck drivers are the ones that deliver goods, food, gasoline, and everything else to stores all over the country with very few exceptions. If they did not have these goods to sell, they would not be making money, meaning that the US economy would take a drastic fall. The decline in the amount of money people spend on goods would hurt the economy severely.
- Trucking allows the country to maintain order and civility. Without goods and products being delivered, the country would be chaotic. People need their medications to maintain their illnesses or sometimes even to stay alive. Fuel is necessary for other essential workers to travel to and from their jobs which are also necessary to keep the country running smoothly. Without groceries, people would starve. You get the picture. If truck drivers were no longer working, then the country would not be able to function properly and would inevitably end up in disorder and perhaps chaos.
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As you can see, truck driving is incredibly important in the US. It helps maintain the order of everyday life. Without it, several people would be unable to live a normal life. It is for this very reason that truck driving will continue to be an essential job well into the future. Becoming a truck driver is a safe bet in the US. Now, this does not mean that you are guaranteed a job, but it means that you won’t have to worry about the job not existing in the next 20 years as some jobs are at risk of.
Reasons Truck Driving Is A Good Career
- The industry is not moving towards extinction. What do we mean by this? Well, there are several careers that are at risk of not being options anymore because there is no need for them or because artificial intelligence can do the job better and at a cheaper rate. But not truck driving! Transporting goods is a safe bet in the way of careers. The demand is too high for the job to be at risk.
- The US Department of Homeland Security described truck drivers as “critical infrastructure workers”. According to Barr-Nunn, trucking is one of the most essential services out there. So what does that mean? It means that even during critical times (such as a pandemic), truckers are needed and will not be out of a job. Job security is pretty high in this field.
- Recently there have been changes in regulations which resulted in more hours for truck drivers. Rather than decreasing the hours truck drivers could work like so many other jobs during this time, The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration recently reduced regulations on drivers carrying essential items, meaning that they can drive more extended hours than was previously allowed. That means that truck driving is even more high demand than before while other jobs are reducing hours, laying people off, or shutting down altogether.
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For truck drivers, they may just be doing their job. However, for the rest of the country, they are providing an irreplaceable service. They are providing essential products and goods all across the US. They provide a service that no other field can provide and are needed now more than ever.
If you are thinking of getting into the truck driving business, then now is as good a time as ever! The job itself is going nowhere and is becoming more and more in demand. If you are already a truck driver, we want to thank you for your service and all you do. Your hard work and long hours do not go unnoticed. That being said, if you know a truck driver, then be sure to acknowledge their service and dedication in these difficult times. After all, without them, the US would not be able to function on the same level as it always has. Truck driving is an essential position in the US for a good reason, and this will not change any time soon.