Are truck drivers in demand? Career outlook and stability explained

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

If you're considering a career in trucking, now is the time to jump on board. With the demand for qualified drivers continuing to increase, it's an exciting time to be part of this growing industry.

Below, Schneider field recruiter Jillian and I will explore why there’s a high demand for truck drivers and why that demand will likely keep growing.

Key takeaways  

• The answer to "are truck drivers in demand?" is yes, as more than 72% of the current freight transportation is done by truck drivers.
• The strong demand for truck drivers brings career and financial stability, as well as projected job growth that outpaces the average for all occupations.
• Drivers should evaluate trucking companies by asking recruiters about freight consistency, equipment age, pay structure and safety scores.
• Stable trucking companies show their strength through long-tenured drivers, decades in business and career paths that let you grow without starting over.

Why are truck drivers in demand?  

Based on my experience, here are four key reasons why truck drivers are needed:

1. There will always be freight to move, whether that be food, clothing, building materials, gasoline and automobiles. Almost everything you buy rode on a truck at some point. That doesn't change when the economy slows down. When you consider more than 72% of the current freight transportation is done by truck drivers, it is easy to see why they are so essential.

2. The industry is growing, but the number of drivers isn't keeping up with demand. With e-commerce and online retail businesses expanding at an unprecedented pace, there's a massive increase in trucking and shipping jobs  

3. The industry is aging out and younger people aren't as interested in getting behind the wheel. People aged 55 and older make up more than half of all long-haul truck drivers.

"As the average age has gone up, a lot of that older generation has been retiring," Jillian said. "We need new ones to come in and fill those spots."

4. The industry isn't attracting enough women, minorities or veterans. These are groups that could help ease some of these problems if they were encouraged to pursue careers as professional truck drivers.

What demand for truck drivers means for your career  

The demand for truck drivers translates directly into more benefits and opportunities for those looking to join the industry, including:

1. Career stability

With all that need for products to be moved around the country, businesses rely on the talents and skills of truck drivers. This equates to steady, meaningful work for drivers.  

To Jillian, this is what makes truck driving such a reliable career path to choose.  

"Our stores need their shelves stocked, so truck driving isn't going anywhere," Jillian said. "It's an industry that's going to be around forever, so you'll have that stability. I think that's a huge benefit of being a truck driver."

2. Pay and job growth

At Schneider, the average first-year truck driver pay is $61,864. That number jumps considerably with more experience, with top drivers making an average of $130,000 per year.

The employment of truck drivers is also projected to grow 4% from 2025 to 2035, higher than the 3% average for all occupations.

3. More ways to drive

The high demand for truck drivers applies across many unique driving job opportunities. That variety matters because it means drivers get to choose a path that fits their life rather than settling for whatever is available.  

Whether a driver wants to get home daily or stay out on the road to see more of the country, there are jobs available. Examples of the types of jobs you can get with a Class A CDL include:

• Dry van truck driver.
• Dedicated truck driver.
• Tanker truck driver.
• Intermodal truck driver.
• Flatbed truck driver.

How to evaluate a trucking company  

Having all these options means you need to know how to tell a good company from one that just sounds good on paper. But how do you tell a strong, stable company from one that's struggling to keep trucks moving?  

Jillian's advice starts with one simple habit: ask questions and verify the answers. Here are a few topics to talk to recruiters about:

1. Freight variety

A company with diverse freight keeps drivers moving even when the broader freight market softens.

"When a company has a variety of freight, you can just move over to a different account if the company happens to lose one account," Jillian said. "Even if a company has been in business for a long time, if they only haul one kind of freight you're going to have to go find a new job if something goes wrong with that kind of freight."

2. Freight consistency

A company's freight base also plays a big role in the job options a driver has. According to Jillian, this allows drivers to transfer to new driving roles within their company if needed:

"At Schneider, if you are over-the-road and something changes in life, you can just switch over to a job with more home time," Jillian said.  

3. Equipment age and maintenance support

Older, poorly maintained trucks mean more breakdowns, more downtime and less money in drivers’ pockets.

"You want to look at the equipment the company has," Jillian said. "Is it new, nice equipment, or is it old? Is it going to break down? Are you going to be sitting waiting for a mechanic to get to you all the time instead of hauling freight?"

A shorter trade cycle and 24/7 maintenance support, for example, are the kind of specifics that separate a company that prioritizes investing in equipment from ones that don’t.

4. Pay structure

Mileage pay, hourly pay, load pay and bonus pay all work differently. It's important to understand which applies to the job you want, what bonuses are available and how those bonuses are tracked.

For example, Schneider makes sure drivers get paid for all the time they spend working:

"We have hourly pay for any time they're on duty, not driving," Jillian said. "If a driver is waiting to be unloaded or doing their pre-trip inspection, they're still paid for that time. They're not just sitting around wasting time, not making money."

Questions to ask about truck driver pay include:  

• How is the pay calculated for this specific job?
• Which bonuses can I realistically earn, and how does the company track them?
• How does pay increase as I gain experience?

5. The company's safety score

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) tracks safety data for trucking companies, including inspections, crashes and out-of-service rates. You can look up a carrier's record on the FMCSA website using its USDOT number.

Ask recruiters about their training programs, too. A company that prioritizes safety will gladly tell you how it trains and educates drivers.

Signs of a stable trucking employer  

Beyond specific questions, there are a few broader signals to watch for when evaluating a carrier:

1. Drivers stay at the company for a long time

One of the key signs that a trucking company treats its drivers well is that drivers choose to stay for years, or even decades. People don't stick around that long unless the pay, equipment, home time and respect are there.

"Look at the longevity of drivers that work for that company," Jillian said. "Schneider has drivers that have been with us for over 30 years. Not many other companies can say they have that many drivers that have been with them for that long. That really says something about a company."

To find out if a company has that kind of retention, you can ask recruiters directly about average driver tenure. You can also look for testimonials from long-tenured drivers on the company's website and see whether the company celebrates driver milestones.  

2. The company has been around for a long time

The longevity of the company itself matters, too. Companies that have been in business for decades have weathered freight downturns before and know how to keep drivers working through them. If a company has been around for 50, 75 or even 100 years, that's a strong signal it knows how to stay stable.

To see how long a company has been around, start by checking the company's website. Many carriers highlight their founding year and history on their "About" page. You can also ask recruiters or look through recruiting materials.  

3. The company provides opportunities for career growth

Finally, look for companies that help drivers grow throughout their careers. An employer that's truly committed to its drivers will offer career paths that let you change roles without starting over somewhere else.

As a truck driver, your experience behind the wheel is valuable in a variety of training and mentorship roles. At Schneider, examples of these positions include:

• Truck driver trainer: Provide training to drivers joining Schneider, evaluating essential driving skills and determining road readiness.
• Driver instructor: Works with new drivers in the classroom, yard and truck, going over the basics of driving and completing
• Training engineer: Go on the road with drivers during their final stage of training, providing a positive first exposure to life on the road.
• Driver ambassador: Mentor or drivers, meet with students at truck driving schools and attend recruiting events.

Large, reliable companies like Schneider may be better suited to give drivers the option to move into training roles that allow them to expand their skillsets.  

"At Schneider, there's just so many different opportunities and things that you can do," Jillian said. "Smaller companies may not have as many opportunities for you to move to other positions."

To find out if a company supports this kind of career growth, ask recruiters whether internal transfers are available, what training programs exist and whether drivers can move into mentorship roles. If a company can point to real examples, that's a sign it invests in its drivers.