About the Trucking Industry

Movement of freight is one of the largest and most important industries in the country. And with 70% of freight being moved by trucks, the trucking industry is the backbone of the American supply chain. As a result, the current demand and outlook for commercial driver’s license (CDL) driving opportunities remains strong

When it comes to hiring CDL truck drivers, it is not just a matter of looking at carriers within the trucking industry itself. National, state, and local government agencies all use trucks and need drivers to operate them. The military trains and uses drivers. Independent companies that own their own fleets of trucks hire drivers. The one thing that is common with all these truck operators, without CDL drivers, their trucks would not travel anywhere.

In general, the trucking industry is divided into two segments: “for-hire” carriers and “private” carriers, both of which hire CDL drivers and often provide company paid CDL training.

“For-hire” means the carriers are companies specializing in hauling freight for others. For-hire carriers are in the business of hauling freight and make up 51% of the carriers operating in the U.S. Examples of for-hire carriers include: US Express, Marten, J.B. Hunt, C.R. England and Schneider.

“Private” carriers generally serve designated routes leading to their own specific business locations or distribution centers and make up 44% of U.S. motor carriers. These companies are usually large enough that it is more cost-effective to own their own fleet of trucks. Examples of private carriers include: Amazon, UPS, Walmart, PepsiCo and Sysco.

In addition to the different carrier types, there are also differences in the trailers, equipment and types of freight that are hauled. Whatever type of driver you plan to become, there’s one thing you’ll have in common with every other CDL holder on the road — you’ll be hauling some sort of cargo: dry goods, refrigerated goods, fuel, automobiles, livestock, etc. Different cargo and “haul types” require different trailers, and each type of trailer offers drivers its own challenges. For more information on the different types of trailers, equipment and “haul types”, watch this video.

In terms of the getting your CDL and finding a professional truck driving job in the U.S., freight carriers and CDL training schools operate wherever a need exists for their services. In general, this includes every region, major city and state in the country, and often even in small towns and rural areas.

For additional guidance on the steps to getting your CDL, watch this video.

For additional information to consider if the life of a professional truck driver is for you, watch this video.