What It’s Like To Be A Truck Driver

The trucking industry moves a massive amount of goods across the country within a few days. This has increased demand for products and raised expectations for access to all that we need in our modern lives. 

Though many Americans don’t think about how their groceries and household items make it to store shelves, truck drivers are the ones who can say, “If you bought it, a truck brought it.”

The Benefits of a Trucking Career

A trucking career isn’t for everyone. But for those who do pursue it, trucking offers the following benefits:

• Flexibility

Truck drivers have the freedom to decide when their workday begins and ends. As long as they deliver their load on time and follow driving and rest time laws, they don’t have a manager telling them how many hours they need to work.

• No college degree requirements

All that a truck driver needs is a high school diploma or equivalent. Truckers don’t need a college degree or any specialized certifications. They do need to complete truck driving school so that they can obtain a commercial driver’s license, but this is a walk in the park compared to college.

• Stable income

For as long as Americans need groceries and other items, truckers will always be in demand. Truckers power the economy, which means they can expect a stable income. Sure, trucking companies may merge or close, but truckers will always have many job opportunities to choose from. All they need is experience and a strong work ethic.

• Driving limits

Truck drivers can work up to 70 hours within an eight-day period. After they’ve completed their 70 hours, they must take 34 hours off. However, self-employed drivers have the freedom to work fewer hours.

A Typical Day in a Trucker’s Life

A driver will begin his day by having breakfast from the food he packed at home. After breakfast, he’ll check for dispatch updates, conduct a pre-trip inspection, and set out to his destination. After reaching the pickup location, he’ll wait for the warehouse workers to load the trailer and take a moment to double check the drop-off address. Then, he’ll set out for his next destination and once he’s neared the end of his shift, he’ll park at a truck stop, change his log status to off-duty, and go to sleep after having dinner.