The Importance of the Trucking Industry in 2021

14 Jul The Importance of the Trucking Industry in 2021

At the beginning of the year, the importance of the trucking industry may not have been so easy to see. Now, after our country and world have been dealing with coronavirus, a spotlight has been shined on the trucking industry.

Drivers are heroes like never before and the importance of the trucking industry in 2021 and beyond will never be the same. Many average citizens probably didn’t realize how important trucking was until the potential breakdown of the supply chains for the most important goods we use every single day.

Projections Were Mixed

Before 2020 began, some experts were predicting a rather difficult year for the trucking industry. In fact, an article published on ccjdigital.com believed some of the new tariffs and a looming trade war would cause an economic recession leading to a difficult year for trucking.

Of course, those making predictions towards the end of 2019 couldn’t have foreseen the current situation across the globe.

Other articles, such as the one published on driveknight.com showed projected growth from 2018 to 2028 for Tractor-Trailer drivers to be about 5%. This would mean nearly 100,000 new drivers over a decade.

This same article showed a stat projecting the industry would show growth of about 200,000 total jobs from 2012 to 2022.

The projects for the trucking industry in 2020 were mixed. Regardless of how the industry grows, the importance of the trucking industry cannot be understated.

How Important is the Trucking Industry?

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, we have all learned quickly how important the trucking industry is and will be for many years to come. Truck drivers are some of the frontline heroes of today making sure goods get from manufacturers, farms, and other suppliers to the shelves of grocery stores for the general public. Without dedicated truck drivers, we would be in an entirely different (and worse) situation.

Truck drivers are vital to our way of life. While they may not directly save lives like a medical professional, they deliver the goods we need to survive.

To put things in perspective, truck drivers are responsible for moving about 70% of all the goods in the United States. Every business and every household in the county depends on truck drivers in one way or another.

As the demand for specific goods increases, truck drivers must also increase. Without enough drivers, shipping times become longer and the cost will go up.

The trucking industry is incredibly important to the way of life we enjoy in the United States. Without these heroes, it would be very difficult to maintain any type of normal life with food on the table and toilet paper in the bathroom. Thankfully, plenty of brave men and women are willing to continue moving goods across our great country in 2021.

While some trucking companies may struggle and some jobs may be lost, the importance of the trucking industry, as a whole, cannot be overstated. Things may change as we fight through this pandemic, but one thing won’t change, truck drivers are vital to our economy, our way of life, and our survival.