Does the open road call out to you? Do you feel that animalistic need to leave everything behind and venture out on new adventures every few weeks? Does your dream career involve constant travel?
If you answered yes to all these questions, a career in trucking might be your calling. Truckers are called the Cowboys of the Highway for a reason, and not everyone understands the discipline and exhilaration that comes from driving a big rig out on the open road.
While it may appear to be an easy shift, becoming a trucker is not as easy as just renting out a truck. There are various details to bear in mind before you set on this road. Let’s assess what they are.
Qualifications
You do not need a formal education to be a truck driver. However, there are some credentials you must obtain to be qualified to drive trucks.
License And Training programs
A Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) is required, which is different from the normal license you need to drive your car.
On top of it, it is advisable to undertake a few safety courses and subsequent driving skills tests that ascertain your expertise in the field.
If you are working with a reputed trucking company, more often than not, it will have its own programs to guarantee that its personnel receive adequate training and are up to date with the latest regulations.
Fitness And Social Skills
Truck drivers deal with people regularly and are hence required to have excellent communication and customer service abilities.
If the work description calls for loading and unloading, make sure that your physical fitness is at par with the prerequisite standards.
Pay
To keep it brief and simple, trucking pays a handsome income! According to Indeed.com, the average annual trucking pay is slightly over $60k in the United States.
This is unquestionably above average. On top of that, truck drivers have the freedom of time and the flexibility to make their own schedules and stops.
Truck driving is always in demand in the industry. This means that experienced truck drivers can see a growth in their salaries through the years, along with a sense of security in their job.
Opportunities
America has had a shortage of truck drivers for a while. To put it in other words, the demand for truck drivers exceeds their supply.
But if you are looking for work in this industry, provided you have all the necessary qualifications, you can easily find trucking jobs in line with what you’re looking for.
Here are a few platforms that can help you win the truck-driving job of your dreams.
Indeed.com
Indeed.com has always been one of the most convenient places to look for jobs in the US.
You can filter out job postings based on location, whether you’re willing to work part-time or full-time, and how much they pay.
All you’ve to do is just log in with your credentials on Indeed.com, and look for truck driving jobs in your area.
Truck Driver Jobs in America
A website especially dedicated to the trucking industry, ‘Truck Driver Jobs In America’ has jobs with better pay, benefits, and home time.
Truck driving jobs with companies all across America verified jobs and employers with a well-rounded history and high-paying jobs are all available at this portal.
CDL Jobs
Similar to the previous website, CDL Jobs is another platform where you can find available roles in the trucking industry.
You can not only find jobs, but also popular trucking companies that you can work for. You can log in to CDL Jobs and see if it has what you’re looking for.
The Bottom Line
Estimates say that there will be 1,75,000 new trucking jobs available in the next decade, based on consumer patterns and studies.
This means that apart from better-than-average pay, you will also have a sense of security in your job. If you want to be a long-haul truck driver, this is a great time to get into the business.
Hopefully, this article has given you some clarity on how to approach this career and what you should expect once you get in. Good luck!
Also read – How To Become A Tow Truck Driver