We’ve talked before about the potential rise of self-driving trucks. Are they safe? Do they work? But the biggest question about the rise of the self-driving truck is literally big – truck drivers are one of the largest contingents of workers in the US. The trucking and logistics industry employs 7.9 million people in the United States – with 3.5 million Americans listing their job as professional truck driver.
To put that statistic in perspective, take a look at this map, courtesy of NPR: That’s right – ‘truck driver’ is the most common job in 29 states – that’s more than half!
The article suggests the reason for the domination of truck driving as a job is its immunity to two things – outsourcing and automation. While it’s true that currently any given truck needs a driver, automation becomes more and more of a possibility each day.
Teaching is the second most common job. In fact, there could actually be more teachers than trucker drivers. However, with the way the government classifies jobs, schoolteachers are separated by primary and secondary school classifications, whereas all truck and delivery drivers are lumped into one category.
Some of the other most popular jobs in various states are interesting, but most of them make sense. ‘Cook’ is the most popular job in Hawaii, no doubt because of their heavy tourism income. The same can be said for Nevada – anyone who has been to the Strip can attest to the prevalence of retail workers in that state. And, of course, you don’t need me to explain why ‘lawyer’ is the most popular job in our nation’s capital!
Those of us in transportation and logistics know the power of keeping truck drivers happy. A truck driving strike would cripple the nation’s retail stores, food service industries, repair shops, and more.
While the job itself can be lonely on the road, it’s vital to look at statistics like this and remember the importance and power of truckers. Truck drivers are a massive bloc of hard working, thinking, voting Americans who can affect change on a widespread scale.
If there’s someone in your life who doesn’t yet understand the power of truckers, tell them this joke, an old favorite of mine:
A truck driver stopped at a roadside diner one day to grab some lunch. He ordered a cheeseburger, a coffee and a slice of apple pie.
Just as he was about to eat them, three big, hairy menacing bikers walked in.
The first biker grabbed the trucker’s cheeseburger and took a big bite from it.
The second biker picked up the trucker’s coffee and downed it in one gulp.
The third biker ate the trucker’s apple pie.
The truck driver didn’t do anything or say a word as all this went on.
When they finished, he just paid the waitress and left.
The first biker said to the waitress, “He ain’t much of a man, is he?”
“He’s not much of a driver, either,” the waitress replied. “He’s just backed his 18-wheeler over three motorbikes.”
Fuel for Thought,
~Bob
