GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — As businesses across West Michigan are forced to layoff staff members, the trucking industry is busier than ever and looking to hire more qualified drivers.
Responsible for keeping supply chains running, truckers are in need now more than ever before.
“It's been very busy," said Matt Tawney, VP of sales and customer service for NTB Trucking in Grand Rapids.
“It's all toilet paper and hand sanitizer and food items and things like that,” Tawney told FOX 17 Friday morning. "Normally this time of year we see a little bit of a lull. People are starting to get out their fertilizer and their pool chemicals and things like that. None of that's happening right now."
Tawney says most of what NTB is moving right now are those essential products that will end up on retail store shelves.
“We're working very hard to get the product from the from the manufacturer to the distribution center and then from the distribution center to the store," he said. “One of our largest customers is Meijer and Working with their inbound transportation group, they have said they have never seen anything like this before."
Because of this increased demand for truckers, NTB is actively looking to hire more drivers.
“Many of the non-essential businesses that are closing down, the truck drivers are sitting at home," Tawney said. "An experienced truck driver with us could, from the time of application, be on the road in less than a week.”
You can visit NTB's website to apply for a position.