8 Reasons to Become a Truck Driver
Are you tired of working an unfulfilling 9-5 and thinking of switching careers? Well, if you enjoy traveling to new places and meeting new people, you may want to consider a career as a truck driver. The trucking industry is always looking for hardworking and dedicated truck drivers, so if you are willing to put in the work you are bound to find a more fulfilling job with flexibility and true job security. If you are still wondering “is truck driving a good career”, due to the current driver shortage, companies are offering competitive salaries and great benefits for their employees – making the job even more desirable to new applicants.
Starting to sound like a great career option? Let’s take a look at 8 of the best benefits of being a truck driver and reasons why you should become a truck driver in 2022:
- Minimal Ramp Up Time:
More often than not, when you are switching careers, it could take years for you to get through the necessary schooling and training to even start thinking about applying for a job. When becoming a truck driver and getting a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), training programs can take as little as four to eight weeks to complete. It is important to note that there will be different requirements depending on the company you want to work for and the type of cargo you want to haul, but you won’t have to spend years preparing in order to start your career. Instead, you will learn on the road through hands-on training and can start earning money quickly.
- Job Security:
Although there has always been a need for more truck drivers, the demand is higher in 2022 than it has ever been before. With truck driver shortages causing disruptions across the US and the American Trucking Associations (ATA) expecting the shortage to continue to grow over the next decade, job security as a truck driver has never been better. And with most jobs, the more experience you have, the more valuable you will be to the industry – increasing your level of security. - Competitive Pay:
Although pay isn’t everything, it is comforting to know that starting a career as a truck driver means you will have high earning potential without the need of a college degree. Furthermore, since in some states you can start driving as young as 18 years old, you can start making a decent living right out of high school. Like most careers the amount of experience you have will help determine your compensation rate, so the more experience you have and the more endorsements you get, the better you will be paid. - Great Benefits:
Competitive pay is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the benefits of being a truck driver. Due to the driver shortage sweeping across the US, trucking companies have needed to attract new drivers by offering a wide variety of great benefits. These benefits often include a 401K, health insurance, life insurance, dental insurance, paid vacation time, as well as competitive bonus structures and opportunities. The fact that companies are covering health, life, and dental insurance might be overshadowed by pay and bonuses, but having good insurance coverage for you and your family is huge and can help provide peace of mind while you are out on the road.
Not to mention, having the opportunity to partake in a 401k (potentially matched) and begin preparing for retirement is a major incentive that not every career or every industry can offer. Given the importance of having good work benefits, when deciding which trucking company to drive for, we recommend taking a detailed look at the different benefit packages they are offering, and go with the company that you believe will be most committed to taking care of you and your career. - Travel and Adventure:
If the thought of spending each day seated behind a desk in an office sounds terrible, the open road is calling your name. One of the most enticing things about being a truck driver is the opportunity it provides for travel and adventure. Professional truck drivers get to spend their time seeing new places and meeting new people along the way. In the US, our highways are incredibly scenic. You are sure to be able to soak in some amazing national parks, cities, and landscapes. - Freedom and Flexibility:
There is nothing worse than feeling restricted and tied down by your job. When people ask themselves, “should I become a truck driver” the unmatched freedom and flexibility the career provides is often what tips them over the edge. While some people might actually enjoy dealing with office politics, many unproductive meetings, emails that never end, and reporting to a boss, this isn’t the case for everyone. Becoming a truck driver gives you the freedom to have a flexible schedule, meet new people every day, be your own boss, and experience new things nearly everyday. - Be Your Own Boss:
Did you know there is even potential for you to be your own boss? Around one in nine truck drivers in the USA are owner-operators – which means they own their own big rig, thus working for themselves. Individuals that are owner-operators do have a bit more responsibility to ensure they make a good living, but you can generally make more overall as an owner-operator. As an owner-operator, instead of being told where and what to haul, you are responsible for reviewing various “load boards” and filling your truck with the freight of your choosing and are free to set your own schedule.
While you will have to maintain your equipment yourself, many owner-operators express how much they enjoy the freedom that entrepreneurship provides. Note that most drivers don’t start off by buying a truck and working for themselves right away, but it’s definitely a great goal to have. Most drivers start by getting experience working for carriers then once they get the lay of the land, make the leap to buying their own truck and becoming their own boss. - The Community:
As you may have already gathered, truck drivers are a special breed of people. Truck drivers are individuals that are attracted to a non-traditional lifestyle, and once in the community, they can understand one another in a way that others simply cannot. Being a trucker is similar to being in a fraternity of people that have each other’s back and offer support whenever needed. They are some of the hardest working people in the world that have chosen a more independent way to live, and they approach the job with pride. Once you establish yourself in the trucking community, you will meet people that will become your friends for life.
Should I Become a Truck Driver?
We are hoping that the above has helped paint a better picture as to why you should become a truck driver and why truck driving is a good career, but if you are truly meant to be a truck driver, it won’t take a lot of convincing. In general, people who decide to become a truck driver aren’t only in it for the money. Although the money is nice, it takes a special type of person to be out on the road moving from city to city for a long period of time.
A career in trucking is one that often appeals to those who value their freedom over everything else and just want to make a good honest living to support their families. Truck driving is an amazing career for special people, and if you think you might be interested in jumping on board, do not hesitate to reach out to Truck Driver Academy. We would be happy to help you get on your way in starting your journey as a truck driver.