Below are seven reasons why driving a truck — either as an owner-operator or for a small freight carrier—might be the perfect career choice.
1. You don’t want to spend years training for a career
If you’re ready to get working and get paid, a trucking career might be the perfect career choice for you.
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training programs take seven weeks to complete. Different requirements depend on where you work post-training, but you won’t spend years preparing for a career. Instead, you will learn on the road and start earning money quickly.
2. You want to be paid well
Truck driving careers are known for a great starting salary with excellent growth potential as you gain experience. While the pay varies depending on whether you are an owner-operator or work for a large shipper (like Walmart), the average starting owner-operator salary in the United States currently sits at $48,310. However, it’s not uncommon for those in the trucking industry to earn six figures.
A truck driving job is a great career for those who want to start earning a high annual salary without spending years on training. While there is required training and paperwork that goes into getting your CDL and authority, the pay is often worth it for truck drivers. If you work for a trucking company, there are also no high upfront costs.
3. You want benefits
Many truck driver jobs include employee benefits, even entry-level positions. When working for a small, medium, or large carrier, you may be eligible for health insurance, dental and vision coverage, and life insurance if you are a full-time employee. Some carriers also provide 401(k) or other retirement savings plans, bonus incentives, referral bonuses, and other benefits. Depending on your position and trucking company, these benefits will vary but may include vacation, paid time off (PTO), paid holidays, and overtime.
4. You want job stability
Along with great pay, most owner-operators don’t have trouble finding loads.
Capacity (the number of drivers compared to the number of goods that need to be moved) is especially tight right now, but that depends on the market. As the demand for truckers heightens, you will have many growth opportunities throughout your truck driving career.
Truck driving careers can last a lifetime. There is no shortage of jobs, and according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), there’s no end in sight to the continued need. BLS estimates a 6% job growth through the year 2030.
5. You want to be your own boss
Have you always dreamed of being your own boss? About one in nine truck drivers in the USA is are owner-operator, which means they work for themselves. Owner-operators are responsible for filling their trucks with freight of their choosing (usually found on load boards) and are free to set their own schedules. While they have to maintain their equipment, owner-operators express a love of the freedom that entrepreneurship provides.
You don’t have to work for yourself or own a truck right away. Most commercial drivers start out working for carriers to gain experience. Later in your trucking career, if you choose to own a truck (or several), the business potential is endless.
6. You love to see new places
Do you have a desire to travel? Did you love road trips when you were younger? If you love to drive and experience new places, long-haul truck driving might be the perfect career choice. Driving an average of 2,000-3,000 miles per week, professional drivers and owner-operators are some of the most well-traveled professionals in the country.
7. You’re a veteran
If you’re a veteran and you’re thinking, “Should I become a truck driver?” there are plenty of opportunities. With today’s truck driver shortage and continuing demand for freight shipping, drivers are in high demand.
In 2022, the US government announced the “Trucking Action Plan to Strengthen America’s Workforce,” encouraging veterans to think about truck driving jobs, saying that veterans’ skills and experience are a good fit. The Department of Defense offers opportunities to gain skills and credentials before leaving the service to fast-track veterans to be ready to work. Other available programs to help transition to a truck driving career include the registered apprentice program, SkillBridge, and Even Exchange from the Department of Transportation. Veterans may also be able to tap into GI Bill benefits to attend truck driving school to become a truck driver.
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