Is Trucking The Only Job Security?

I have bounced from teaching to trucking to sales -- I will always have a secure job in trucking.

If you have a CDL and want to go OTR -- there are tons of jobs openings. If I want to drive a cement truck locally -- there are tons of job openings. Secure and stable industry. Medical benefits offered.

If you have a Bachelors degree and want to teach -- sorry you must take xyz test in your field, then get a masters, then continue with testing and you might get laid off. Jobs come and go. One season there is a hiring freeze and the next lots of jobs. Unstable field.

If you want to work in sales - tons of low paying customer service and telemarketing jobs that will hire you off the streets. No benefits though. Usually part-time hours. Insecure industry.

A CDL is like gold in today's market.

Has anyone been laid off in their field and gone into trucking just to pay the bills?

I've been laid off quite a few times over the past two decades. Each time I would look at the want ads and the only two jobs I would find is LPN and truck driver. I even went to driving school once but in my younger days I had too many problems with my license to make a go at it. Now I have stable job as a machinist and I'm about ready to throw it away just for a change of pace. This time I'm not thinking of driving to pay the bills, I'm going to do it just because I'm just ready for something new.

Dan V.

I hear you about the change of pace. Sometimes a man needs a change of scenery. I have worked the same old job to the point of depression and would be willing to do anything for a change -- even it meant shoveling horse manure for $10 per hour. Sometimes you need to change career directions.

I once met a 15 year LPN who wanted to quit so badly. She wanted to work as a Target shelf stocker. She just wanted to be around happy people at her job. That is how much she dreaded nursing.

Change is good.

Its only secure absent acts of god, Government and technological advances.

Earthquake: roads ruined, buildings on fire and people in survival mode.

Legislation: new health requirements, international trade laws and truckers are easy scape goats.

AI: 3 words "self driving cars." I give it 10 years or less for companies to start their drone fleets.

AI: 3 words "self driving cars." I give it 10 years or less for companies to start their drone fleets.

I don't think so. 10 years or less?

AI: 3 words "self driving cars." I give it 10 years or less for companies to start their drone fleets.

I don't think so. 10 years or less?

Drones are already being tested by Amazon for home deliveries. Lots of problems remain to work out, including the new FAA rules, but yeah, I think in less than 10 years they'll have it down and it'll seem ordinary. Might make a lot of the local FedEx and Buster Brown drivers start looking for another job.

I don't think they'll take over OTR , though. Airplanes haven't. But it will affect local delivery if they can make getting that package the last 5 miles to your home cheaper and faster.

Self driving vehicles seem further out, especially trucks. Too much opportunity for death and mayhem on the roads.

I was a middle school math teacher for 11 years. Finally had it with the foolishness of the students and the pressure for my students to get good scores on state tests.

In trucking you get out of it exactly what you put into it. Not even sales (Unlimited Commissions! Yeah, right!).

AI: 3 words "self driving cars." I give it 10 years or less for companies to start their drone fleets.

I don't think so. 10 years or less?

Drones are already being tested by Amazon for home deliveries. Lots of problems remain to work out, including the new FAA rules, but yeah, I think in less than 10 years they'll have it down and it'll seem ordinary. Might make a lot of the local FedEx and Buster Brown drivers start looking for another job.

I don't think they'll take over OTR , though. Airplanes haven't. But it will affect local delivery if they can make getting that package the last 5 miles to your home cheaper and faster.

Self driving vehicles seem further out, especially trucks. Too much opportunity for death and mayhem on the roads.

I agree...... Drones may deliver a toliet paper roll to someone but I feel there just to many restrictions to take over mass jobs within 10 years.

and also for that matter trucks will never be 100% remote. There will have to be a guy in it at all the time sitting on all the sensors to make it somewhat "self-driveable". I mean theres 2 men inside a train engine and it can only go down 1 set of rails, not having to mess with traffic except getting over for other train to get through. You would think be able to self-drive them much sooner than a 18-wheeler down the road.

There is job security in trucking, but the individual can easily make himself unhireable.

We have a job out here, but one mistake can ruin our career. We have to be careful when we consume alcohol and be extra vigilant in our personal vehicles. What we do in our car can have a direct impact on our trucking career.

I would say there's a fabulous job security in trucking, so long as you don't screw up too much.

I have a college BA degree. Owned a successful business for the past 4 years. I also worked in our family business before starting my own business. Let me tell you, trucking has great job security, as long as you keep your nose clean. I know of no other career that only requires around 5k for the schooling, and will yield a solid middle-class income as a result. You even have the 'free' schooling from companies. Some young folks are going in debt for 50k from college, only to have a relatively 'useless' liberal arts degree, with no job security or careers that won't bring in income beyond just paying the bills. I heard a recent study being done where this younger generation will have trouble saving for retirement, because they're paying of college tuition and don't have jobs / careers that pay well. I say if you wanna liberal education - get a library card. Wanna good career? Learn a trade.

I scaled down my business to the point where my wife can operate now for a little extra income. I wanted a change where I could just 'punch a time clock and collect a check.' Trucking has been a very welcome career change for our family, especially since I'm not OTR and get home every day, twice on the weekends. But, even if I had to roll with a regional gig, I'd still be happy to not have the extra responsibility of owning a business and having my family's well-being depend on the amount of sales I could generate. I like being a trucker, love being a company man.