Whether it’s sports, business or politics, the reality is that if you look behind every successful organization you’ll find a team of experts dedicated to running the show. Drivers and the many colorful company executives may be the most visible part of the trucking industry and certainly they get most of the media’s attention. But trucking’s position as the most efficient mode of transport also has a lot to do with the contributions of people working behind the scenes in a variety of functions such as dispatch, safety and licensing.

A study conducted by the Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute about a decade ago found 83% of drivers saw career advancement as important to them and two-thirds said they would be more satisfied with their job if it included a realistic career path. Our own research, conducted in partnership with CTHRC this summer, found widespread support among drivers for a career path that extended beyond a life behind the wheel.

For example, company drivers scored the statement “It makes sense to create a career path for drivers that includes other responsibilities beyond driving” a 4.12 out of 5 and the statement “I would support the creation of a career path for drivers” a 4.08 out of 5. And they scored the statement “A career path would make me feel more certain my employer cares about my long-term growth with the company” a 4.00 out of 5.

CHTRC provides job descriptions, educational requirements, training and salary information about opportunities in a variety of areas beyond driving, including operations, cargo, maintenance and the allied trades. Included here is salary data (provided by CernoResearch) for different positions in support operations.