400,000 vacant seats expected by end of 2012
GAYLORD, MI -- If you're looking for a job, listen up, a Michigan company is looking to hire you for the long haul.
We have new information tonight from the truck-driving industry where job outlook appears strong.
“The hours can be long some days, traffic can make a difference," explains truck driver Rob Pickett.
Pickett will be the first to tell you it's not the career for everyone.
“Definitely have to have the temperament. The way some people act in cars, they act sometimes like you're not there I think," Pickett laughs.
But if you think you have what it takes, you might want to jump in the driver’s seat. It's a career has an increasing number of empty ones.
There's no question that interstate commerce helps move the American economy along, in fact, everything in your living room right now was likely in the back of a semi truck before it ended up in your home. Here's an interesting fact: a CDL licensing center says by the end of 2012, there could be 400,000 available semi driving positions across the nation.
Michigan Works provided funding in the past for people wishing to get into the trucking career. But because of low retention rates, and lack of interest, that program disappeared.
“It's a profession now, it's not just something to do," says Conway Freight Gaylord manager Rick Spitz.
The shortage has sparked a new 12-week program with Michigan Company Con-Way Freight. Truck driver prospects are being brought on for classroom and road instruction to earn their commercial drivers license and get paid part-time as dockworkers during the training. If they pass, they're hired.
"They’re always looking for people, they're constantly looking for people," says Spitz.
And a perk for Con-Way drivers, they're home every night, they don't have to spend the night on the road.
Right now, Con-Way Freight is looking to hire 500 people to get the proper training and go through the driving courses.
Their closest school is in Detroit. The average driver can hire on for $45,000 to $55,000 a year.
To learn more about the program, visit Con-Way Freight's website by clicking here.
