Most people don’t think of the trucking industry when they talk about Washington D.C. In fact, unless it’s a slow convoy around the beltway or lining up trucks for protests near the capitol building or the White House, few living in DC think much about trucking. After all, packing some 650,000 people in a small area along with some of the most real estate hogging architecture in the country leads to narrow streets and difficult navigation — especially when those narrow streets are lined on both sides with black SUVs. But if you do give it some thought, it makes perfect sense that the DC trucking industry is alive and well. After all, those big building need upkeep, and every time the House, Senate, or Presidency shifts one way or the other, those convoys exit the beltway and head into the heart of government with all types of goods and materials needed for renovations. You may have to exit left out of that slow convoy, but you may also become a part of history!
Geographic Advantages
The only thing that needs to be mentioned related to the geography of the District of Columbia is not so much its location; rather, it is what is contained within the District — Washington, D.C., that nation’s capital. It’s 61 square miles of land area is home to over 700,000 residents, a population density of over 11,000 per square mile. On weekdays, commuters from surrounding states create a density of over 16,000 per square mile. All those people and the shelter to house them would seem to leave little room for a truck driving industry or truck driver jobs. But again, we are talking about the capital city of the United States. The base of the federal government means the area requires delivery of many supplies for both residents and national and international visitors.
Bordering States/Countries
The District of Columbia borders only two states — Maryland on it its northwest, northeast, and southeast sides and Virginia, located southwest of the District across the Potomac River.
As the economy experiences is ups and downs, the District of Columbia seldom impacts the dramatic shifts experienced elsewhere in the U.S. With imports to the District far exceeding exports, truck driver jobs are frequently with carriers based around the district in Maryland and Virginia.
District of Columbia Deep Water Ports
No public ports are present in the District of Columbia; however, the Potomac River offers access to numerous downstream ports.
Products Moved by Trucks
The District of Columbia doesn’t export many products, as most of its economy is based on the executive level business offices, many U.S. agencies, service occupations, and tourism. Still, imports are vital to such a densely populated area. According to U.S. Census data, primary imports are as follows:
- Collections and collector pieces of zoological species
- Art — paintings, drawings, etc.
- Pacific Salmon
- Peanuts
- Measuring instruments
- Antiques
- Digital Processing Units
- Microtomes products and accessories
- Radioactive elements
- Printing Machinery
District of Columbia’s Highways
For those holding truck driving jobs, it’s important to realize that the District of Columbia is accessed primarily by I-95 and I-66, both from Virginia, the area is encircled by the I-495 beltway along with auxiliary routes inside the beltway. In the District itself, a number of U.S. Highways offer access to the heart of the capital including U.S. 29 from the north, U.S. 1 from the northeast, and U.S. 50 from the east. All routes into the District are heavily traveled and serve as commuter arteries.
For more information on the District of Columbia and its truck driver jobs, visit District of Columbia Trucking Association’s Facebook page at facebook.com/DCTA2