Over the past 90 days, more than 230,000 jobs were advertised online for truck drivers in the United States, according to WANTED Analytics, providers of real-time business intelligence for the talent marketplace. As demand for goods increases, more truck drivers will be needed to keep freight and the supply chain moving. Hiring for this occupation has increased more than 20% compared to the same 90-day period in 2012.
The metropolitan areas with the most demand for truck drivers during the past 90 days were New York, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Houston. Employers in the New York metro area not only placed the most job ads of any U.S. area, but also saw one of the highest year-over-year increases in demand. More than 6,600 ads were available online in the past 90 days, representing a 41% growth compared to the same time period last year. Of these five metro areas, Dallas had the second highest growth, up 34% from 2012.
As hiring demand for truck drivers continues, it is likely to become increasingly difficult to source enough potential candidates. However, conditions will depend on each position and the specific skills required in the job. According to the Hiring Scale, drivers are likely to be the most difficult-to-recruit in Bismarck (North Dakota), Hinesville (Georgia), and Bowling Green (Kentucky). The Hiring Scale scores Truck Drivers as a 93 (out of a possible 99, where 99 would represent the most difficult situation.) With increased competition from employers to attract candidates, recruiters and hiring managers are likely to also experience a longer time-to-fill. For example, the average posting period for a truck driver ad in Bowling Green, Kentucky is more than 8 weeks. The national average is about 6.5 weeks.
On the other hand, the Hiring Scale also shows that Truck Drivers are likely to be the least difficult to recruit in Salisbury (Maryland), Morristown (Tennessee), and Sebastian-Vero Beach (Florida). These three cities score a 5 on the Hiring Scale and average a 4.5 week posting period, meaning that employers are likely to fill jobs faster and with less difficulty.
