Becoming a truck driver may not have been your first thought, but it may be a great choice for a new and better career. When the economy comes skidding to a halt and your company downsizes or your small business can't stay afloat, you may have to look for something new. If you're considering a career in truck driving, I can tell you that if you're the right person for the job, it pays well, it's enjoyable, and you can get into it relatively quickly and easily. When times get tough in a bad economy, a truck driving job might be an excellet choice.
There are always truck driving jobs available. Always. All year round, even in a bad economy with high fuel prices, there are plenty of truck driving jobs available and almost all trucking companies are hiring at all times. To me, that was one of the best parts about being a truck driver - you never have to worry about having a good paying job. Just protect your license and be a safe, reliable driver and you'll always have work in the trucking industry.
The trucking industry is a demanding and dynamic industry. Technology keeps things changing all the time, and the tight schedules, erratic sleep patterns, and time away from home causes a lot of turnover throughout the industry, keeping companies hiring and drivers in steady demand. And because most trucking companies are able to hire from a large portion of the country, you aren't limited to finding a job in your area. In 15 years of driving I never once worked for a company in my home state. This opens up a lot more opportunities to drivers.
There aren't too many careers that are interesting, pay well, and have great job security like truck driving. Going to truck driving school only takes around 5-8 weeks, depending on the school. It should only cost a few thousand dollars at the most and the financing is readily available to almost anyone. The government and banks know that if they lend you a few thousand dollars to become a truck driver, you'll have plenty of money coming in soon enough to pay them back.
So even during difficult economic times you can almost certainly count on jobs being available in the trucking industry.
Until next time - here's more resources for ya:
For questions about becoming a truck driver, we highly recommend:
- Our Guide To Becoming A Truck Driver
- Our Trucker's Forum which is full of friendly, helpful people
- Our TruckingTruth Facebook Page
- Our Truck Driving Blogs with almost 300 articles from over a dozen authors
- Our Ask A Driver Page or Brett's Truck Driving Articles
BigRigDriving is for those interested in research, debates, and discussion of topics within the trucking industry
TruckingTruth is dedicated to those considering becoming a truck driver or are new to the trucking industry
Becoming A Truck Driver: The Raw Truth About Truck Driving
- By Brett AquilaIf you're considering becoming a truck driver, this is the book for you!
Posted on 26 January 2012
I had never planned on driving a big rig so you can imagine how exciting it was for me to reach the 300,000 mile barrier! Continue reading →
Posted on 29 December 2011
There are a lot of factors that will affect your ability to find job placement in the trucking industry. Not only the obvious ones like employment history, criminal history, and driving record, but also things like your physical health and credit scores. Let's take a look at em.... Continue reading →
Posted on 28 December 2011
While the majority of students have success during their time at CDL training, there are others who come up short in their quest to become a professional truck driver. So, why do they fail? And how can it be prevented? Let's take a look at the four most common mistakes and how to prevent them. Continue reading →
Posted on 21 December 2011
Getting pre-hires is an important step when beginning your truck driving career. They can verify that companies are willing to hire you, and give you numerous choices when it comes to choosing the company you'd like to work for. Here we'll go into detail about what a pre-hire is, and how to go about getting them. Continue reading →
Posted on 15 December 2011
Sleep apnea is the biggest buzz in the trucking industry right now. But is this justified? Or is it yet another money-making scheme for the insurance companies and medical industry? The statistics are fuzzy. Continue reading →
Posted on 13 December 2011
There are a number of advantages to company-sponsored CDL training over private truck driving schools. Here we'll talk a little bit about the differences between the two, and why you may find that company-sponsored training is the better way to go. Continue reading →
Posted on 14 November 2011
I've seen more of this country in just a few short years than most people see in their entire lifetimes. But most things eventually come to an end. In this case, my trucking career has ended as I move on to other things. I'd like to summarize why I left the industry, and where I'm headed now. Continue reading →
Posted on 14 November 2011
Being a CDL instructor or a driver trainer is a very unique experience. I learned more about truck driving over the past 4 weeks than I have in the previous three years combined. It was an amazing learning experience for me. Here are some of the highlights I learned along the way. Continue reading →
Posted on 9 November 2011
After four weeks on the road training my student, it was time to sit back nervously and watch as he attempted to take the CDL exam to get his license. My student and I were extremely nervous, and it didn't go quite as well as we had hoped. Continue reading →
Posted on 25 October 2011
Becoming a solo truck driver is one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life, and I have done some hard things. CDL training will test you in so many ways, and it will go far beyond your ability to drive a truck. Continue reading →