The trucking industry is an integral part of our country’s economy. Truck drivers are responsible for transporting 70% of the freight in the United States, and 80% of U.S. communities depend on truckers for their medicine, food, and other essential materials. Nearly every sector relies on trucking, and without truck drivers, the negative impact would affect many of our lives almost immediately.
Here are five crucial roles the industry plays that demonstrate the importance of truck drivers:
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Transport Essential Goods
As mentioned above, the trucking industry is responsible for transporting the majority of the nation’s freight. This freight keeps our businesses, grocery stores, restaurants, hospitals, and homes operating at full capacity. Truck drivers are responsible for delivering everything from food items and bottled water to automobiles and chemical products. The oil and gas industry also relies on truck drivers for the safe transportation of their fuel.
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Provide Aid in Emergencies
The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the importance of truck drivers. Part of the essential goods truck drivers transport is emergency supplies such as medication and medical equipment like hand sanitizer, masks, cleaning supplies, and personal protective equipment (PPE). Truckers played a vital role in delivering these goods to hospitals and first responders and continue to do so. Without regular deliveries, many more lives would have been lost.
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Connect Businesses
While technology has brought businesses from across the country closer, truck drivers further close the distance between these establishments. Organizations can order supplies from anywhere in the nation or world because of the time management and safe driving skills of truckers. Drivers use the best routes to ensure shipments will be delivered on time, allowing companies to focus on their internal growth rather than logistics.
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Help Build Infrastructure
Truck drivers also play a role in infrastructure. They transport the supplies, raw materials, and equipment needed to complete construction projects like new roads, buildings, tunnels, and bridges. This transportation helps communities grow and remain strong with the timely delivery of lumber, steel, concrete, and more.
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Contribute to the Workforce
The trucking industry contributes significantly to the American workforce. There are approximately 3.6 million professional truck drivers in the United States, with nearly 8 million people working in the transportation field in some capacity, according to the American Trucking Associations (ATA). These stable, well-paying jobs help maintain the economy. As our society moves forward, the need for eligible drivers will only grow.
Join the Trucking Industry Today
At Phoenix Truck Driving School, we recognize the importance of truck drivers. If you want to become a part of one of the nation’s most vital industries, we can give you the education you need to get started. We have schools in Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas with high-quality programs that help you earn your commercial driver’s license (CDL).
