West Virginia Trucking Group to Launch Jobs Website

The West Virginia Trucking Association indicated recently that the state’s coal, construction and freight industries will need more drivers. To address the industry’s demand, the association recently announced that a jobs website will launch in October.

The site, TruckingJobsWV.com, will aim to serve as the premier destination for local truckers seeking work statewide and employers seeking to connect with drivers.

Drivers looking to gain experience and veteran drivers are encouraged to post their credentials on the site.

In West Virginia, there are nearly 35,000 jobs in trucking industry — one out of every 16 in the state — with an average pay of more than $40,000 a year, the association said.

Jan Vineyard, the association’s president, said the demand for drivers is significant: “It doesn’t have to be just a truck driver, but anything in the logistics area. That’s how big the need is.”

She added, “We say, ‘Without trucks, West Virginia stops.’ ”

The website is set to go live Oct. 5, and it will be managed by the association’s staff. Its search applications for job listings will be accessible on mobile devices, as well.

American Trucking Associations has called on members to facilitate the recruitment of drivers to address the industrywide driver shortage. It estimates that about 25,000 truck driving jobs are unfilled nationwide. With older drivers preparing for retirement, there’s a push to recruit.

West Virginia has major industrial areas and is a key region for trucks. The northern area is anchored on the coal and steel industries.