Big truckers to provide 50,000 jobs over next five years, ATA pledges

The American Trucking Associations (ATA) said today that the trucking industry will create 50,000 jobs over the next five years as part of the Trump administration's initiative to provide career opportunities for 500,000 Americans.

"Our nation's economy depends on our trucks moving goods from ports, factories and farms to stores and homes," said ATA President and CEO Chris Spear in a statement. "The economy is strong and unemployment is low, but there are critical shortages of skilled workers in sectors of the economy, like truck drivers, technicians and mechanics."

Dan England, chairman of Salt Lake City-based carrier C.R. England, Inc. and a past ATA chairman, represented the trucking trade group at a White House event today to announce the initiative.

"Our industry is under constant pressure to bring in new drivers and new technicians to replace an aging workforce and to keep up with the demands of a modern, just-in-time economy," England said. "Today's announcement underscores our commitment, and ATA's commitment, to doing all we can to provide opportunities for careers in trucking."

ATA has pledged to provide career opportunities to 10,000 people a year over the next five years.