Is Driving a Truck the Right Career for You?
We all know the importance of a good truck driver, but not everyone knows the ins and outs of the job. From serious perks like freedom and good salaries to pitfalls like long hours and stress, let’s explore all the pros and cons of this vital career.
1. Driver Shortages
Whether it’s veterans retiring or more employees getting sick of the grind, there seems to be a serious driver shortage. Though this comes with a silver lining, it’s also a hiccup that makes it harder for hired drivers to stay in their preferred destinations or keep close to family.
2. Fatigue on the Road
Drivers can work well past eight hours in a day, leading to common fatigue symptoms. As if driving long hours wasn’t bad enough, it’s worse when coupled with sluggish eyelids, difficulty focusing, or slower reaction times.
3. Long Hours
Speaking of schedules, some truck drivers work up to thirteen hours a day (though it’s more common to work between eight and ten). While some drivers appreciate a little time on the road with their thoughts, so much time in isolation can wear others down pretty quickly.
4. Navigating in the City
Truck driving isn’t all about country roads and quaint rest stops—sometimes it includes navigating busy cities. It’s never easy to weave through city congestion but add a few more wheels to a vehicle and see how much worse it gets.
5. Common Health Problems
Drivers spend a lot of time behind the wheel, which can lead to health problems like backaches, stiff knees, or even depression. Additionally, it doesn’t help that, as the lifeline between supplier and consumer, drivers can’t always get out for simple exercises to stretch their legs.
6. Time Away From Family
Demanding jobs with long hours will undoubtedly keep you away from loved ones, and drivers feel that distance. It’s not always easy knowing you’ll miss a birthday or an anniversary, and it’s even harder when it happens more often than not.
7. Road Safety
Everyday drivers can stay home on a bad weather day, but truck drivers don’t have that option. They’re expected to brave dangerous conditions, which only adds to the stress of reckless drivers, potential fatigue, and long hours.
8. Unruly Employees
From shoddy dispatch to inattentive suppliers, truck drivers come into plenty of contact with annoying employees. Professional drivers understand the importance of a well-oiled machine, but not everyone is willing to meet you in the middle.
9. Reckless Drivers
Regular motorists hate getting stuck behind an 18-wheeler—and that unfortunately spells trouble on the road. Truck drivers constantly deal with getting cut off or the assumption that they can stop as quickly as cars. The sad fact is that even diligent drivers can run into speed demons on the highway or impatient motorists.
10. No Room for Error
Truck drivers need to keep on top of their schedules. That means planning ahead and thinking about every possible outcome before you hit the road. Even then, traffic conditions or supply mix-ups can throw a wrench in your day, making the job pretty stressful at times.
The good news is that truck drivers have a lot of perks as well! Let’s dive into some of the best things about the open road.
1. Freedom and Independence
That 9-5 comes with a lot of pitfalls—ones truck drivers don’t have to worry about. They don’t have a micromanager breathing down their neck or unimportant meetings or office politics. It’s just them, the road, and a pretty flexible schedule.
2. Solid Paycheck
In case you didn’t know, truck drivers can rake in serious cash. The average driver in the United States earns about $80,000 a year, though this fluctuates based on your position. Either way, with good money and solid benefits, it’s a career worth considering.
3. Great Scenery
If you love driving on the open road, it doesn’t get much better than this career. Most days it’s just you and the stunning scenery, and the best part about is that truck drivers travel all over the country. You’ll open up parts of the country you’ve never seen before.
4. You Don’t Need a Degree
As far as entry-level requirements go, most applicants won’t need a college degree to score an interview. You’ll need a high school education, a driver’s license, and in-depth training before you hit the road, but you don’t need to wave a diploma around.
5. Employee Benefits
On top of the solid salary, truck drivers also score proper benefits for you and your family. Some packages include things like pension plans, life insurance, and paid time off to ensure you have a comfortable time behind the wheel. Companies may even offer perks like military discounts or employee assistance programs.
6. Career Advancement
It’s never good to feel stuck in entry-level positions, but you don’t have to worry about that as a truck driver. Career advancement happens all the time, and in many different ways—you can score higher salaries, new positions, or even longevity rewards.
7. Schedule Flexibility
Truck drivers may work long hours but they also have more schedule flexibility than other jobs. You can hit the road during certain hours, pick specific routes, or schedule the weekends off to spend more time with loved ones. You can also pick whether to drive during the day or at night.
8. Know You’re Making a Difference
Society would be lost without truck drivers, so it’s always nice to know you’re making a difference with your work. Even if it doesn’t always feel like it, businesses depend on you to get the job done.
9. Job Security
We can’t imagine a world without truck drivers and the goods they provide—and means job security. We’ll always need delivered goods, which means we’ll always need drivers, which means you don’t have to worry about getting phased out in the long run.
10. A Sense of Community
Like any good workplace, truck drivers also have a solid community to rely on. You’ll speak with other drivers, get to know people on your routes, and always have someone to break up long periods of silence.
