Like other trucking indicators, industry employment on a hot streak

covenant team drivers
Hazmat-certified team owner-operators at Covenant enjoy 100 percent no-touch freight, bonus opportunities and other benefits.

The for-hire trucking industry added another 4,900 jobs in the month of September, according to preliminary figures from the Department of Labor. That’s the fifth consecutive month to month increase, dating back to May, and the industry has 16,600 jobs since, according to the DOL.

Trucking employment totaled 1.4879 million in September — a gain of 33,100 jobs compared to last September. Trucking has added jobs in every month out of the past 13, except for April 2018.

The U.S. economy as a whole added 134,000 jobs in September, pushing the unemployment rate to 3.7 percent.

The manufacturing sector in September added 18,000 jobs, and the construction industry added 23,000 jobs. The transportation and warehousing sector, the umbrella sector of trucking, added 23,800 jobs, according to the DOL.

Trucking’s total is based on payroll statistics of employers and does not account for those who change jobs in the month or for those working for private fleets.

The Business Manual for Owner-Operators
Overdrive editors and ATBS present the industry’s best manual for prospective and committed owner-operators. You’ll find exceptional depth on many issues in the Partners in Business book, updated annually.
Download
Partners in Business Issue Cover