Truck drivers wanted in Alaska: high wages to show up and work.

• Author: Harrington, Susan
• Position: FROM THE EDITOR

That's the big takeaway I got from talking to transportation leaders about key issues facing the industry. Labor and the economy were the two main challenges and recruiting drivers is a big deal. There's not much I can do about the economy, so I thought I would try to help get the industry more drivers. At least twenty-one years old? Have a CDL? Drug free? Then show up and work. There is an enormous opportunity for great wages and benefits for qualified drivers.

We've got an exceptional magazine again this month, and in the Transportation special section is the discussion with industry leaders (starts on page 38). We talked for an hour and there wasn't enough room for it all so I've included a bit of it here.

In addition to the economy and the dire shortage of truck drivers, another topic discussed was the recent crisis on the Dalton Highway, and its maintenance is at the top of the list of the Alaska Trucking Association's Legislative Priorities.

When Harry McDonald, Terry Howard, Jimmy Boyle, and Aves Thompson showed up April 8 at the offices of Alaska Business Monthly the Dalton Highway had been closed due to flooding from overflow from the Sag River, which was quite compelling. The magnitude of the haul road shutdown is unfathomable from both the logistics nightmare it created and the sheer force of nature it displayed. The governor declared it a disaster.

Thompson brought up a very interesting point: A lot of people don't know about the Dalton Highway. They don't know where it is, or what it is, or how important it is. Here's what he said about the Dalton Highway:

One of the other issues on our priority list was the maintenance of the Dalton Highway. And I think today is a perfect example of maintenance and the importance of the Dalton Highway. If you stop someone on the street tomorrow...