You might be surprised to find out that truck driving is a good career and will give you more income and freedom than you imagined.
The trucking industry is booming right now, and there are a lot of available trucking jobs. Trucking companies are willing to pay a lot of money right now to get drivers. If you’re considering a career in trucking, it’s essential to know the pros and cons.
This blog post will explore some of the pros and cons of being a truck driver so that you can be sure if you want to pursue a career as a driver in the trucking industry.
Pros of Truck Driving
Many truck drivers love their career in the trucking industry. There is a lot of freedom of being able to hit the road at almost any time. There are a lot of pros of truck driving, such as getting paid to explore the country.
People make their living through trucking and spend their lives pursuing it as a career. Truck driving is a great career choice for those who don’t want to be behind a desk all day and are comfortable working alone.
Independence on the Road
As an experienced driver, you can travel the country and earn as much as possible. It is a well-paying profession, where nobody is there to micromanage you. You can choose your breaks, what you listen to, and how you occupy your time when on your breaks.
That said, you must have good time management skills and are responsible for getting your job done and ensuring you are making it on time to your appointments.
Drive throughout the Country
Your trucking job can have routes throughout the country meaning you’ll be able to see the country as a nice perk! You drive through national parks, tourist sites, and scenic roads. Professional truck drivers see what a lot of people have to go on vacation to see.
This is an excellent career choice because you can try to arrange your reset and 10-hr breaks in a position where you’ll have sights to see if you have time.
Minimal Schooling
Becoming a truck driver is a good career choice because you don’t need a 4 year or even 2-year degree. For most people, their CDL completion only takes a matter of weeks.
You can start your career quickly without waiting around to complete a bunch of schooling. The CDL exam includes three portions of the test that one must pass: a pre-inspection test, a backing test, and a road skills test.
Rewarding Career
Truck driving isn’t always easy, but once you complete truck driving school and launch your career on the road, the benefits far outweigh the challenges.
Truck driving is a vital part of keeping the country running. The freight you haul may be life-saving equipment because you will be responsible for supplying hospitals, grocery stores, warehouses, and more. Your goods will feed people and allow them to buy fresh food for their families.
This extremely rewarding career makes it so you are not stuck doing a desk job where you don’t see the fruits of your labor. You can look all around to see who and what you impacted through truck driving.
Job Security
There is a lot of job security in a truck driving career. Lucky for you, the country always needs to be well-stocked.
This means there will always be available trucking jobs for you to apply to. This is great for new truckers as you look around for what trucking company you want to work for, what kind of truck you want to drive, and what type of lifestyle you want to have.
You will be able to find various jobs at different companies that want to hire drivers.
Good Pay
Within the trucking industry, you can find different companies with great compensation packages. Typically, the longer you’re in the industry and the more experience you have, the more you earn.
Cents per mile is the most common pay scale in the trucking industry because it encourages truck drivers to drive as much as they can because they are getting paid for every mile they drive.
Another great option is being paid a true salary rather than chasing miles for CPM. At ShipEX, we have a competitive salary.
The base salary of $62,500 a year means you get a regular check every week, just like everyone in the office. Add monthly bonuses that increase for every year you drive with ShipEX to the mix, and you could earn over $100,000 in your first year alone!-average salary of a truck driver.
Cons of Being a Truck Driver
With any job, there are always some downsides. Not everyone has it in them to become a truck driver and enjoy the lifestyle that comes with it. You should consider some of the cons to know if the pros outweigh them.
Some cons with being a truck driver would be it can be extremely hard to live a healthy lifestyle, it can be physically demanding, and you work really long hours.
This helps you to know what you’re getting into without being surprised.
You are Completely Responsible for Your Load
While independence can be a good thing, giving you the option of how to spend your time, it can also be problematic depending on your personality.
The responsibility can feel overwhelming when you are carrying a huge, expensive load and its delivery falls on your shoulders. Some feel it’s too much pressure for them to handle and decide not to become a driver.
You should make sure you can manage responsibilities well alone and do not need someone constantly checking up on you to get them done.
Time Away from Home
Being out on the road and seeing the country is great, but it means being away from the people you love most. Some truck driving positions mean you’re away from home for weeks.
A trucking career can be challenging because you don’t have friends and family around you. You don’t have the comforts of home when you are sleeping and living out of your truck.
Thankfully, here at ShipEX, we understand how important home time is and how, when on a CPM pay scale, it can be stressful and possibly not even relaxing.
That is why for every 7 days out on the road our drivers get 1 day of paid home time so they can take time off and not worry about making ends meet. At ShipEX, you are still earning your salary when you take your approved home time. You can enjoy time with your family without worrying about making ends meet.
Burnout Can Happen
You are always needed as a truck driver, meaning that you are always in demand. Doing the same thing along the same road for days and years on end can get exhausting and lead to burnout. Professional truck drivers work for long hours and spend a long time doing the same thing.
Think about if the redundancy will make you get bored or if you will enjoy the pattern of it.
Loneliness
It can be extremely lonely being away from family and friends. Sleeping, living, and working out of your truck means you will spend a lot of time on your own. You don’t have a lot of interaction with other people or even other truck drivers. It can feel lonely only having your own company.
Minimal Activity on the Job
You will typically have long shifts while behind the wheel. Driving is a sedentary action, meaning that you will not move around a lot on the road. This can lead to a somewhat unhealthy lifestyle. Sitting can lead to joint pain and other uncomfortable outcomes.
You’ll want to make sure this doesn’t bother you and figure out how to get up and get moving when you aren’t driving.
Pay Can Vary
Your pay as a trucker has a lot of variables especially if you are currently being paid CPM, or the number of miles you drive. This can be difficult not knowing how much you will make week to week. They can depend on their weekly paycheck. It can also be difficult to budget living expenses.
At ShipEx, we offer peace of mind to our drivers. They know precisely how much they will receive every Friday, regardless if they were stuck due to road closure or down two days to a mechanical delay.
What Is it Like Being a Truck Driver
Truck drivers typically work up to 70 hours within eight days. Most professional drivers aren’t allowed to drive more than this.
After 70 hours in a truck driver’s workweek, drivers must take a mandatory 34 hours off.
Truck drivers typically have a long workday that starts early and ends late. They are on the roads for a maximum of 11 hours a day. Their workday consists of, picking up goods and materials, verifying loads for accuracy, making the schedules that must be met, and delivering them as instructed.
It’s important to know what it’s like being a truck driver to understand if it is a good career for you before being into it.
Truck Driver Morning Routine
Most truck drivers wake up early in the morning and start their day with a healthy breakfast and a fresh shower.
They then follow their morning routine which includes a pre-trip inspection to ensure that their equipment is in tiptop shape. The inspection consists of checking the vehicle lights, the coupling system, tires and brakes, engine compartment, fuel tanks, the chassis, and an in-cab inspection.
The pre-trip inspection of a truck is necessary because it determines how the rest of the day will unfold. It takes only around 15 minutes to complete the inspection. Their day then varies depending on their load.
Daily Trucking Responsibilities
Professional truck drivers are responsible for the safe and timely delivery of goods and other goods to customers. You will be tasked with driving and maintaining trucks assigned to you, as well as working closely with the delivery of goods to customers.
Truck Driver Nighttime Routine
In the evening, a truck driver makes their way to a rest area. They look for a parking spot around 7 pm and have dinner. You can either have your own food you cook or heat up, or eat at a local restaurant and have a conversation with the locals. A truck driver then needs to inspect a truck to ensure nothing has been damaged or has come loose. The equipment must be ready to use the next day.
Common Questions About a Career in Trucking
Some of the answers to these questions can help you decide if truck driving is a good career for you. You might be wondering these things before deciding to get into a career in trucking. We’ve got you covered with the answers:
Is Truck Driving A Good Job?
Many people love being behind the wheel all day and find great satisfaction in hauling the freight that people use on a day-to-day basis. Truck driving is also a promising career for those looking to earn a good living.
Is Truck Driving Hard?
Truck driving isn’t always easy, and the trucking life isn’t always for everyone. The hours are long, the weather is tricky, and you’re away from home, but it’s always interesting, challenging, and full of possibilities.
Is Truck Driving Fun?
Life on the road is a lot of fun if you’re adventurous. There is the excitement to be had when driving a large truck, and knowing the view from the office is always going to change.
Is Truck Driving Worth It?
Although the hours can be long, the driving conditions can be tricky, and you can be away from home, truck driving is worth it for the satisfaction of hauling the freight people use on a day-to-day basis. Over The Road (OTR) drivers who haul freight over long distances earn on average nearly $64,000 per year.
Are Truck Drivers Rich?
Truckers earn a median annual wage of $43,680, which is more than the median wage for all jobs, and the top 10% of truck drivers make more than $60,000 per year.
At ShipEx, we have a competitive salary pay. The base salary of $62,500 a year means you get a regular check every week, just like everyone in the office. Add monthly bonuses that increase for every year you drive with ShipEX to the mix, and you could earn over $100,000 in your first year alone!
Should I Get Into Trucking?
Ultimately, you need to decide for yourself if you should get into trucking. It is essential to weigh the pros and cons, think about how they would affect your way of life, and if you would enjoy it long term.
You can watch videos, blogs, and testimonials to get a deeper understanding of truck driving jobs so you know what you’re getting into.
While being behind the wheel all day, it is easy to find great satisfaction in hauling the freight that people use on a day-to-day basis. At ShipEX, we do everything in our power to enable our drivers to succeed. This means improving their experience and eliminating obstacles whenever possible.
Start your career as a driver and find truck driver jobs today!
