2014 ATRI Survey Asks Trucking Industry to Rank Top Concerns

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For the 10th year in a row, the American Transport Research Institute (ATRI) has released a survey asking stakeholders in the trucking industry to rank their top industry concerns.  ATRI is the trucking industry’s not-for-profit research organization.

“In complex times like this, it is critical that we do our part to help ensure a thriving future for the trucking industry,” said Philip Byrd Sr., chairman of American Trucking Associations, the organization that commissioned the survey.

During ATA’s Management Conference and Exhibition, scheduled for Oct. 4-7 in San Diego, the results of the survey will be released.

In 2013, the ATRI Survey concluded that the top trucking industry concerns were:

  1. Hours of service
  2. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Compliance, Safety, Accountability program, commonly known as CSA.
  3. Driver shortage issues

The ATA survey results will be used by the federation to better focus its advocacy role in the trucking industry.

To participate in the 2014 survey, click here.

Contact Progressive Truck Driving School to learn more about CDL certification and the trucking industry: (773) 736-5522

A Record 55 Drivers Were Nominated for 2014 Trucking’s Top Rookie Contest!

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Encompassing the spirit of the lucrative and exciting career in trucking, there were a record 55 nominations for Top Rookie in Mike O’Connell’s Memorial Trucking Top Rookie award.

Introduced in 2011, the contest was created to increase pride and professionalism between new drivers in the trucking industry and promote truck driving as a career. Over $25,000 in cash and prizes will be awarded!

These are the entry-level drivers who were nominated to be the 2014 Mike O’Connell Memorial Trucking’s Top Rookie. We at Progressive Truck School wish them all good luck!

  • Kevin Carpenter, C.R. England
  • Joe Boyle, Veriha Trucking
  • Phillip Alley, Epes Transport System, Inc.
  • Joshua Andrews, Stevens Transport
  • Freelin Berry, Transport America
  • Dion Blair, TMC Transportation
  • Ashley Bowers, Maverick Transportation, LLC.
  • Elisee Carnelli, Hogan Transports, Inc.
  • Derek Fischer, H.O. Wolding
  • Jonathan Chastang, Dart Transit
  • William Childers, Cargo Transporters, Inc.
  • Jason Dulier, Hogan Transports, Inc.
  • Rommel Duran, TMC Transportation
  • Kyle Friauf, Transport America
  • Matthew Frisbee, Stevens Transport
  • Clarence Gillespie, Hogan Transports, Inc.
  • Lyle Grant, Maverick Transportation, LLC.
  • Paul Hedge, Werner Enterprises
  • Byron Kilgore, Transport America
  • Brandon Hooten, Maverick Transportation, LLC.
  • Othello James, Werner Enterprises
  • Steven Jameson, Dart Transit
  • Alex Jusino, Maverick Transportation, LLC.
  • Amanda Kidd, Cargo Transporters, Inc.
  • Daniel Mota, C.R. England
  • Sean Klarer, TMC Transportation
  • Michael Kline, Roehl Transport
  • Dominick Krajewski, TMC Transportation
  • Jason Kiser, Stevens Transport
  • William Mills, Britton Transport
  • Richard Mullen, D&D Sexton Inc.
  • Julie Matulle, H.O. Wolding
  • Jeffrey Nace, Stevens Transport
  • Joel Nelson, Dart Transit
  • Carlos Nordquist, Werner Enterprises
  • Cheryl “Charlie” Naujokas, C.R. England
  • Reg Polante, H.O. Wolding
  • Karl Sall, Dart Transit
  • Adam Sanford, Core Carrier Corporation
  • Sandy Schultz, C.R. England
  • Chad Sears, Maverick Transportation, LLC.
  • Byron Simpson, Epes Transport System, Inc.
  • Fred Smith, Roehl Transport
  • Roger Wright, Transport America
  • Ryan Sparks, Boyd Bros. Transportation Inc.
  • Cartha Speed, Transport America
  • John Spofford, Premier Crude, LLC
  • Jordan Steffens, Norseman Express Trucking Inc.
  • Robert Strong, Roehl Transport
  • William Steinmetz, C.R. England
  • Michael Towler, Roehl Transport
  • Nico Turner, C.R. England
  • Joseph Watson, C.R. England
  • Robert White, Werner Enterprises
  • Joel Wieland, Britton Transport

Call Progressive Truck Driving School to discuss how you could start a career in an in-demand field: (773) 736-5522

Trucking Jobs: High Demand, Low Driver Supply

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Trucking companies are currently in a scramble to find certified truckers like those certified by Progressive Truck Driving School. There are currently thousands of openings, but not enough truckers to fill the demand. As the economy picks up speed, there’s a greater need for truckers. It’s a simple equation: when people start spending money, there’s additional freight to move. For this reason, it’s being projected that truck driver salaries will be on a steady increase over the next few years.

There are as many as 200,000 job openings nationwide for long haul truckers, according to David Heller, director of safety and policy for the Truckload Carriers Association.

Although finding certified truck drivers, like those certified by Progressive Truck Diving School, is proving to be a challenge for employers, the pay for Truckers is well above the median wage for all jobs. The top 10% truck drivers make more than $58,000 a year.

One of the reasons for the short supply of divers is simply that drivers aren’t willing to put the time into a training program, like the one offered by Progressive Truck Driving School, even though the training program could lead to a substantial salary and long-term employment. Some tenured truckers are reporting income of $150,000+ after taxes, and some trucking companies are offering signing bonuses in the thousands of dollars for new drivers to sign with them.

Several of the largest long haul trucking companies in the U.S. are currently hiring. Those companies include Swift Transportation , Schneider National, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, and Werner Enterprises – all of which are currently aggressive hiring drivers.

Call Progressive Truck Driving School to discuss how you could start a career in an in-demand field: (773) 736-5522