Carey Davis figured it would be easy to find eight drivers to work for him at his trucking company, Express Materials in Kelso. He’s paying about 40 cents per mile or about $15 per hour. Most hauls are within the region, and drivers rarely make overnight trips. And with Cowlitz County’s unemployment rate hovering near 13 percent, a lot of people are seeking work.

“We need people, and we need them to rock,” said Davis, who’s owned the business for 10 years.

Davis put an ad online through the Kelso WorkSource office, and he received 62 responses on the site. But only three of those applicants responded to a request to set up an interview, and none of those three showed up for their appointment, Davis said.

“Out of 5,700 people out of work in Cowlitz County (according to the state), I can’t find eight people to work for me,” Davis said.

The trucking industry has struggled hiring and retaining drivers for years. Long hours away from home, a $4,000 commercial driver’s license and limited opportunities for drivers with no experience have made recruiting new drivers tough.

Davis thought this year would be different. After struggling through a tough winter, he hoped to add to his workforce of 17 and expand his fleet of 12 trucks. Express Materials hauls freight throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho, and seafood companies along the coast are among the company’s biggest customers.

Express Materials cut its health benefits for employees earlier this year because the company could no longer afford the $9,000 per month, Davis said. He admits that might deter drivers from applying, but half the positions are for temporary workers who wouldn’t receive benefits anyway.

“I still have more work than I have people to drive,” he said.

Darlene Johnson, co-owner of Woodland Truck Line, said she’s just started searching to fill two openings for drivers with ads in the Puget Sound area and in Cowlitz County, so she can’t say whether there’s a shortage.

But Johnson isn’t surprised to hear of Davis’ struggles. Unemployment benefits can be high for workers who previously had good-paying jobs, and experienced drivers can earn $60,000 per year or more, she said.

In Washington, unemployment benefits range from $155 to $560 per week from the state and federal government, said Jennifer Peppin, spokeswoman for the state’s Employment Security Department.

Job seekers are eligible for 26 weeks of benefits and can obtain extensions lasting up to two years, according to Employment Security.

Statewide, other trucking companies aren’t having the same problems, said Jim Tutton, vice president of Washington Trucking Associations. During the recession, manufacturers have cut back on production, which leaves less goods for truckers to haul, he said.

Some companies have even laid off drivers, he said.

“That’s certainly generated drivers seeking employment,” said Tutton, who suggested Davis broaden his search to find workers.