News 8 AustinYour News NowYour News NowAn Exclusive Service of Time Warner Cable
News 8 Austin


TOP STORIES


HEADLINES


FORT HOOD SHOOTING


LOCAL NEWS


YOUR NEWS


WEATHER


SPORTS


HS FOOTBALL


LIVING


NEWS 8 EXPLORES


SPECIAL COVERAGE


COMMUNITY


COMMENTARY


ABOUT US


SEARCH


NEWS8CAST VIDEO




Chemical Toy Fair



Contact News 8 through the IVC.

TOP STORIES
SaturdayNovember212009



x59
Big increase in big rig drivers
8/31/2009 7:43 PM
By: Karina Kling

According to the American Trucking Association, it expects a shortage of 111,000 drivers by 2014.  
If you're looking for a job, you might try trucking. There's a current shortage of truck drivers in the United States.

A four-week course could put you back in business, but some seasoned semi-truck drivers said it's not the job for everyone.

Since he was 18 years old, Max DeVilbiss has been climbing into big rigs.

"It kind of gets in your blood, it got in my blood way early," DeVilbiss said.

But he said that blood has got to be thick.

"It's not for everybody, you gotta be a select bunch, it's pretty tough," he said.

It's a tough job, but it's also one plenty of unemployed workers are signing up to do.

 WATCH THE VIDEO
More Information
Big Rigs

News 8's Karina Kling shows us how one profession's necessity is providing some much needed relief during a down economy



"There are far more people seemingly coming into this out of desperation perhaps," Austin Community College's truck driver training course recruiter, Rick Hidalgo, said.

He said the classes are filling up. According to Hidalgo, the most students they had in a class last year was 15 and currently there are 21 working on getting certified.

According to the American Trucking Association, it expects a shortage of 111,000 drivers by 2014.

"The demand has always been there, it hasn't gone away," Hidalgo said.

It's a demand many unemployed are in desperate need of, and in four weeks, for about $4000, you could basically be back in business.

"$35,000 to $38,000 for the first year as an on-the-road truck driver," Hidalgo said.

But for experienced drivers like DeVilbiss, he said he hopes the newer drivers can catch on quick because lately he's been a little nervous.

It's a tough job, but it’s also one plenty of unemployed workers are signing up to do.  
"It's kind of a comedy hour but I guess they all gotta learn sometime," DeVilbiss said.

Becoming a truck driver requires a Class A commercial driver's license. The Austin Community College course is offered every three weeks.



Email this Story to a Friend
Printer Friendly Version
Search TOP STORIES

Weather Center
morning
11/21/2009
Near 50
daytime
11/21/2009
Mid 60s
evening
11/21/2009
Near 60

Troubled Waters
News 8's Jenna Hiller explored the troubled waters in Central Texas and traveled down the Colorado River in search of information. Click on the links to watch, read and interact.

Part 1: Regional cooperation drying out
Part 2: Texas rice farmer takes on water wars
Part 3: Security of supply saturates perception
Part 4: Bad news travels near and far
Part 5: Bad news travels near and far

Where does your water come from?

Find what you're looking for at Louis Shanks. We'll make you feel right at home.

For News 8's continuing coverage of the Fort Hood mass shootings visit our Fort Hood Shooting section, watch video from reporters in the field and press conferences with officials, and view our photo galleries: The Day Of The Shootings | The Memorial | The Victims
Online Poll

The City of Austin plans to have the Nueces Bike Boulevard opened by late spring. The boulevard would be a multi-use path where car traffic is discouraged. How do you feel about this?
I think this is a great idea, we need more roads like this
I think it needs more public input
I don’t think this is a good idea
Other-Your comments

VoteView Results
Neighborhood Calendar
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
Oct NOVEMBER 2009 Dec
S M T W Th F S
Week Of 11/1/2009-11/7/2009 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Week Of 11/8/2009-11/14/2009 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
Week Of 11/15/2009-11/21/2009 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Week Of 11/22/2009-11/28/2009 22 23 24 25 26 27 28
Week Of 11/29/2009-12/5/2009 29 30





Baby Products





Home | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Contact Information | Site Map | Click for RSS information
Copyright ©2009TWEAN News Channel of Austin, L.P. d.b.a. News 8 Austin

Web production by Tipit


Digital Cable offers the latest in home-viewing entertainment.
Talk as long as you want to anyone in Texas and the United States for one low monthly price.
Time Warner Cable now offers you more choices in High Speed Internet service.
Time Warner Digital Cable offers a wide variety of commercial products designed to accelerate the gr
Video On Demand lets you instantly choose from a wide selection of great movies and award- winning p
Digital Cable channel lineups.
Time Warner Cable of Austin offers 15 HDTV channels on digital cable.
TV listings for your service area.
Take a look at the special offers and promotions available now through Time Warner Cable Austin.
Record two shows at once. Plus fast-forward, rewind, and even pause LIVE TV to get a snack, answer t

On the go? Follow us on Twitter and we'll keep you current.

Connect with your Austin local businesses now.Sponsored Links

Nearly 1 in 5 Central Texans is food insecure. Donate online today.