--- title: Maine Companies Need More Truck Drivers—and They’re Paying a Premium description: Hosting a Maine Career Exploration student is more than just offering a job. This partnership provides businesses with extra hands, fresh perspectives, and stronger community connections. image: https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Jan%2012%2c%202026%2c%2002_41_40%20PM.png --- [![Maine_Career_Exploration_4C-01-1](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hubfs/Maine_Career_Exploration_4C-01-1.png)](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/mcep-landing-page) ![menu](https://f.hubspotusercontent40.net/hubfs/7479797/menu.png) ![close_24px](https://7479797.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/7479797/close_24px.svg) [Contact Us](https://share.hsforms.com/1BOaqf42rTIumwzVXUeICAQnthah) [workforce development](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/tag/workforce-development) [careers](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/tag/careers) # Maine Companies Need More Truck Drivers—and They’re Paying a Premium [The Maine Career Exploration Program](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/author/the-maine-career-exploration-program) 12 January, 2026 ![](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Jan%2012%2c%202026%2c%2002_41_40%20PM.png) Across America, one sector is grappling with a severe shortage: Trucking. The U.S. economy is [short tens of thousands of truckers](https://forumtogether.org/article/addressing-the-u-s-truck-driver-shortage-the-role-of-foreign-born-drivers-visa-policy-and-supply-chain-impacts/), 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](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2025-12-18/us-trucking-shortage-spurs-walmart-to-raise-driver-truck-pay-to-115-000), 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](https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/money/business/works-for-me/maine-trucking-industry-investing-in-future-drivers-transportation-works-for-me-money-business-training-certification/97-e5b33389-ccca-4a67-8ee5-683ebd59eeee). 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](https://mainedoenews.net/2025/12/01/connecting-students-to-maines-trucking-industry-career-exploration-unit-highlights-trucking-and-skilled-trades/) 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](https://www.maine.gov/swb/docs/2024/june142024/10YearPlanUpdateMarch2024.pdf) 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!         Previous Post ###### [Interested in AI? Maine Career Exploration Program Can Help](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/interested-in-ai-maine-career-exploration-program-can-help) Next Post ###### [How to Create a Meaningful Internship Experience for Maine Youth](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/how-to-create-a-meaningful-internship-experience-for-maine-youth) ### Similar Blog Posts [![](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Maine%20career%20exploration%20in%20AI.png?width=352&name=Maine%20career%20exploration%20in%20AI.png)](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/interested-in-ai-maine-career-exploration-program-can-help) #### [Interested in AI? Maine Career Exploration Program Can Help](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/interested-in-ai-maine-career-exploration-program-can-help) [![](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hs-fs/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Sep%2018%2c%202025%2c%2009_16_35%20AM.png?width=352&name=ChatGPT%20Image%20Sep%2018%2c%202025%2c%2009_16_35%20AM.png)](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/investing-in-maines-future-why-hosting-a-career-exploration-student-benefits-your-business) #### [Investing in Maine’s Future: Why Hosting a Career Exploration Student Benefits Your Business](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/investing-in-maines-future-why-hosting-a-career-exploration-student-benefits-your-business) [![Maine Career Exploration team, Sam Patel, Steve San Hamel and the summer interns in Portland](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Atlas%20Patel%20interns.jpg?width=352&name=Atlas%20Patel%20interns.jpg)](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/building-confidence-through-real-world-experience-a-visit-to-atlas-patel-inc) #### [Building Confidence Through Real-World Experience: A Visit to Atlas Patel, Inc.](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/building-confidence-through-real-world-experience-a-visit-to-atlas-patel-inc) [![Maine_Career_Exploration_4C-01-1](https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hubfs/Maine_Career_Exploration_4C-01-1.png)](https://www.hubspot.com/) Growing our workforce. 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[Privacy Policy |](https://www.hubspot.com/) [Terms & Condition](https://www.hubspot.com/) ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "The Maine Career Exploration Program", "url" : "https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/author/the-maine-career-exploration-program" }, "dateModified" : "2026-01-12T19:46:14.309Z", "datePublished" : "2026-01-12T19:46:14.000Z", "headline" : "Maine Companies Need More Truck Drivers—and They’re Paying a Premium", "image" : [ "https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hubfs/ChatGPT%20Image%20Jan%2012%2c%202026%2c%2002_41_40%20PM.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/the-maine-career-exploration-chronicles/maine-companies-need-more-truck-drivers-and-theyre-paying-a-premium", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.mainecareerexplorationprogram.com/hubfs/Maine_Career_Exploration_4C-01.png" }, "name" : "Maine Career Exploration Program/Maine Department of Economic and Community Development" } } ```