DRIVERS' SHORTAGE * USA & Canada - New rules in effect for truckers

* Iowa/USA - New regulations in the trucking industry have some industry observers concerned about a driver shortage

(Photo by Dawn J. Sagert: Steve Cummings, of Waterloo, a trailer mechanic and wash bay manager at Gray Transportation, washes the cab of a semi Friday, Feb. 18, 2011, in Waterloo, Iowa. Cummings says the trucks are washed for each new driver, which is generally weekly)

Waterloo,IO,USA -Cedar Valley Business, by JIM OFFNER -February 28, 2011: ...  The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has made changes in rules to place more responsibility for safety, log books and hours of service on the shoulders of drivers. In the past, rules focused more on the companies that employed drivers...  Some industry participants estimate the changes could cull the number of eligible drivers by as much as 30 percent...  An aging driver pool and tougher safety regulations will cut into driver ranks by an estimated 200,000, said Jeremy Geertsma, an Expeditors' Detroit district manager...  Some have called the new rules the most comprehensive regulatory change in years...  But carriers also say the changes have a legitimate purpose...   He noted state departments of transportation can't suspend licenses, but drivers are graded based on their adherence to the rules. Drivers who don't follow the rules will be assessed penalty points that could cost them job opportunities and prime-level pay, said Darrin Gray, president of Gray Transportation in Waterlo...  The new rules help carriers get a gauge on driver qualifications, Gray noted...

* Ontario/Canada - Looking for a new career? ...   Growth seen for jobs in trucking industry

Brantford,ONT,Canada -The Expositor -2 March 2011:  ...  If so, you might want to be at the Best Western Brant Park Inn, Holiday Drive, on Wednesday. That's when a number of trucking companies from across North America, some of which have terminals and offices in the Brantford area, will be looking to hire professional drivers...  Two information sessions are scheduled at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. People attending the sessions will hear from trucking representatives, who hope to dispel some of the myths about their industry. Among those taking part will be Jayne Gunn, a longtime Brantford resident who is the Ontario recruiter for Sunbury Transportation, which has its head office in Fredericton, N.B...  Ross Jessop, the health and safety manager for Transport Sales and Services in Caledonia, also will be at the information sessions. "Some of us have had our secure world turned upside down and are starting all over again" ...  He noted that he thinks the economy is starting to turn for the better and the transportation industry will benefit... (Photo from citytowninfo: A heavy truck driver)

* Indiana/USA - PAM Transport Continues Sign-On Bonus for New Truck Drivers

Indianapolis,IND,USA -Vocus/PRWEB -March 01, 2011: -- PAM Transport, in partnership with Driver Solutions, will continue to offer a $1,200.00 sign-on bonus to new drivers that complete company sponsored CDL training and earn their CDL (Commercial Driver’s License). This is a limited-time bonus that has been made available to help meet the new driver demand that currently exists in the trucking industry... In order to qualify for the bonus, new drivers must attend company sponsored CDL training to learn the basic skills needed to start a trucking job. The 3 week training covers everything from classroom knowledge to the hands-on driving skills that will be needed to pass the CDL skills test. Drivers that qualify for a job opportunity with PAM Transport will be eligible to receive the bonus after they complete all necessary training requirements...

* Illinois/USA - Trucking company to hire 50 employees

Orion,ILL,USA -CBS 4QC -4 March 2011: -- A local trucking company can barely keep up with demand, so they're hiring 50 more employees... Tennant Truck Lines in Orion plans to hire drivers and office staff. A company spokesperson says the trucking industry is picking back up from the recession... Tennant's biggest client is John Deere. To find out more, call their office at 800-367-9223 and ask for the recruiter... (Photo from hankstruckpictures: Tennant Truck Lines' heavy truck)

* Wiscosin - Marten Transport increases driver pay

Mondovi, Wis,USA -Truck Net, by dgehman -3 Feb 2011:  --  Marten Transport, a Wisconsin-based certified top paying carrier, continues to lead the trucking industry as a premium employer with another raise in driver pay announced as effective April 1...  These new increases, along with driver base rates on Marten Transport’s Fair Pay sliding scale, allow drivers with one year of prior experience to earn as much as $0.415 per mile; drivers with five years of prior experience to earn as much as $0.445 per mile; and senior drivers to earn as much as $0.485 per mile...  In addition to maintaining pay levels during the economic downturn, Marten held its mileage rates and increased accessorial pay. Last year, the company also raised layover pay to lead the industry at $100 per day... (Photo from marten: header photo)

* Illinois - Q-C trucking company plans to put more drivers on road

(Photo by Jeff Cook/QUAD-CITY TIMES: Danny Goldizen of East Moline moves around trailers at Tennant Truck Line in Moline)

Orion,ILL,USA -The Quad-City Times, by Doug Schorpp -March 6, 2011: -- Aaron Tennant is aggressively looking for about 40 new employees to fill the demand for drivers for his company, Tennant Truck Line... His company survived the recent recession. In fact, it is doing well enough to need more drivers now. He said Tennant was one of a few trucking companies that did not have to lay off employees in recent years because of the sagging economy... Tennant runs large machinery for Deere & Co. and Case IH as well as other manufacturers from the East Coast to as far west as Colorado. His home office and one terminal are located off U.S. 150 in Orion, Ill...   Tennant also has terminals in Augusta, Ga., off U.S. 6 in Moline and in downtown Moline. There are personnel in Baltimore who handle port arrangements... The biggest need is for experienced truck drivers both local and over-the-road needs...

* USA - Unemployment Rate Falls Below 9% for First Time Since 2009. Trucking Industry Adds More Than 11,000 Jobs

Washington,DC,USA -Transport Topics -4 March 2011: -- The U.S. unemployment rate fell below 9% in February for the first time in almost two years as employers added 192,000 jobs, the Labor Department said Friday...  The trucking industry added 11,200 new jobs to its payrolls, the biggest gain in recent months, Labor figures showed...  The rate drop, from 9% in January to 8.9% in February, was the first time it has been below 9% since April 2009...  Besides trucking, employment also rose in manufacturing, construction and temporary help agencies, while state and local government payrolls declined...