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January 12, 2006 9:30 AM, EST

Click here to write a Letter to the Editor.

ational job bank Careerbuilder.com has ranked heavy-duty truck driving No. 18 on its list of the top 25 jobs for 2006.

The survey, which represents 8 million new jobs and 40% of total job growth over the next decade, ranked industries ranging from retail sales to teaching assistants based on their need for skilled professionals.

The U.S. long-haul heavy-duty truck transportation industry is experiencing a national shortage of about 20,000 truck drivers, American Trucking Associations reported last year. (Click here for previous coverage.)

TA’s report on the present and future of the long-haul truck driver pool predicts the shortage of long-haul truck drivers will increase to 111,000 by 2014 if current demographic trends continue and the overall labor force continues to grow at a slower pace.

"The trucking industry continues to face a significant shortage of qualified drivers," said ATA President and CEO Bill Graves. "If this population fails to grow, the freight transportation market faces a more uncertain future."

The group’s leadership in October tasked the organization with developing a national campaign to highlight the value of working in the trucking industry while also recruiting new professionals.

ATA will preview its campaign in February at its upcoming winter leadership meeting Feb. 12-15 in Tampa, Fla.