A nationwide shortage of truck drivers has many people thinking about switching career paths.

And while some are training to hit the open road, the delay could have an impact on your wallet.

Ron Kirby has been a truck driver for 10 years.

"It's a lot of demand it's hard to be away from home," said Kirby.

The Georgia native said he drives about 100,000 each year. While he said he's seen more truckers on the road, the American Trucking Association said there is a huge shortage of truck drivers.

"As the economy recovers there is greater demand for trucking services, which means, in return, there is greater demand for truck drivers," said spokesman Sean McNally.

In the Lehigh Valley, the need is just as great. Pennsylvania Careerlink said truck driving is a high priority occupation, with plenty of open jobs waiting to be filled.

"Employers are certainly hiring. In fact, they come here for job fairs. They are out there doing recruitment," said Esther Wenck, Lehigh Valley Workforce Investment Board.

The demand is so high, Careerlink officials said they have already sent 120 people to truck driving school, and they are still hoping to get more to meet the demand.

Careerlink said various job programs are paying to train low income and those laid off from other industries to get behind the wheel, and local employers are starting to reap the benefits.

"In the last two moths, we have probably hired 10 drivers, said Bill Engler, with Pitt Ohio.

Companies like Pitt-Ohio in Upper Saucon Twp., Lehigh Co., said the problem isn't having enough applicants, it's having enough qualified applicants that have clean driving records and the proper endorsements.

And to get the qualifications they want, truck driving companies are willing to pay.

"I just got a nice raise this year, about six cents a mile," said Kirby.

"We see them offering other enticements to attract drivers into the industry, so ultimately those costs get passed on to shippers and retailers," said McNally.

The ATA said it's possible that cost could also trickle down to consumers.