Maine Companies Need More Truck Drivers—and They’re Paying a Premium
Across America, one sector is grappling with a severe shortage: Trucking. The U.S. economy is short tens of thousands of truckers, and companies are working overtime to find younger drivers. The shortage is so severe that today’s truck drivers can easily earn six-figure salaries, and that is just starting pay.
Maine is no exception. The state needs more truckers, especially young drivers, and companies have been investing in future drivers for years. After all, our state’s economy depends on the movement of goods and services – from business products to your next Amazon package at home.
Fortunately, Maine companies are not alone. In partnership with the Maine Motor Transport Association, the Maine Department of Education recently launched the “Go. Your Way. Maine” workforce development campaign and Career Exploration Unit, a new learning resource designed to introduce students to good-paying careers in the trucking industry. Through the campaign, students can learn more about commercial truck driving; diesel and heavy equipment technology; supply chain and logistics; fleet and safety compliance; dispatch and operations; and other aspects of trucking – even beyond the driver’s seat.
The Maine Career Exploration Program (MCEP) is proud to support this effort, which aligns closely with statewide goals for Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs). Students and other young Mainers can reach out to MCEP to identify opportunities to get involved in trucking, learn more about the industry, and figure out how it could become a career. At the same time, many adult learners are already looking at trucking as a career change. Since 2022, adult education programs in Maine have led to hundreds of new licenses and credentials for trucking and other industries, as employers seek to find new employees.
Whether it means a high starting salary or the opportunity to see more of America, trucking is a potentially appealing career for countless job-seekers – younger and older. Go your way, Maine!