Today's truck drivers are more in demand than ever! The Canadian trucking industry is growing rapidly and the need for commercial drivers is on the rise.

Experts from Stats Canada The Daily Friday January 27, 2006 Study: On the road again, a profile of truckers.

Trucking plays a major role in Canada's economy. More than 53% of exports to the United States and 78% of all imports were shipped by truck in 2004, according to a new study published today in the online version of Perspectives on Labour and Income.

However, because of the sector's steady growth and aging work force the industry may soon face a shortage of qualified truckers.

Truck drivers constitute a relatively older work force. In 2004, the average age for wage-earning truckers was 42, and for their self-employed counterparts, 45.

Also, 18% were aged 55 or older, compared with 13% for workers in general. For the first time in 2004, truckers aged 55 and over outnumbered those under 30, indicating that the occupation may be hit by a large number of retirements in the coming years.