2 Misconceptions About Truck Drivers That May Be Preventing You From Entering This Lucrative Field
Deciding what new career field you want to enter when just joining the workforce or transitioning from a career you simply don't enjoy anymore can seem daunting. If you are a good driver, then beginning a new career as a truck driver is something you should look into, since the demand for drivers is expected to increase for many years, and drivers can earn a great income. There are many misconceptions about truck driving and what the job entails, so don't let these misconceptions keep you from considering a new career that pays well and that you may truly end up enjoying. Here are two misconceptions about truck driving debunked and what you can really expect as a new driver.
1. All Truck Drivers Spend More Time on the Road than at Home
It is a common misconception that the lives of all truck drivers include long trips across the country and little time at home. While there are many types of truck drivers, many keep routes that are considered either OTR, regional or local. Long-haul, or OTR, drivers are in need, but so are regional and local drivers. Regional truck drivers typically transport goods around just a few states close to home, and they often return home for a day or two after only two to three days on the road. Local drivers have a relatively steady schedule that allows them to leave for work in the morning and then return home to spend time with their families and sleep in their own beds at night.
Not sure if you will enjoy long-haul, regional or local driving more? Don't worry, because you can start your career driving across country and enjoying the scenery, and then later become a local driver, or vice versa. Since the demand for drivers is only expected to increase, it will should not be difficult to change the type of driving you perform in the future, since many companies will need you and your skills greatly.
2. All Driving Jobs Are the Same aside from Time Spent on the Road
It is common to have met one person who worked in a certain job field and assume that every position in the field is the same, or at least very similar. There are many types of truck drivers who have completely different duties. A position as a dry van driver is typically considered an entry-level position for newer drivers, and this job involves hauling long trailers of non-perishable goods. Tanker drivers transport liquids, heavy equipment haulers transport heavy loads, and there are quite a few other types of driving positions.
Along with the fact that there are many types of truck drivers, also remember that no two driving jobs really are alike. So, if you knew someone who had to drive heavy loads across the country, and you find this extremely intimidating, then don't worry, because you will not be expected to do the same work, unless you want to. Also, while some drivers are responsible for loading and/or unloading their own trucks, many positions do not require that the driver perform any of the loading. If you worry about loading trucks due to back pain or other physical issues that won't affect your driving, then realize that there are jobs that require you to only drive and not perform any heavy lifting.
3. CDL Training Will Interfere with Your Current Job
Another common misconception about becoming a truck driver is that an aspiring driver must quit their current job to attend a full-time CDL training course from a company like Center For Transportation Safety for several weeks. If you are currently working, then you may worry that you will have to save up for not only the training sessions, but to also cover your living expenses while you are taking the course and afterward until you find a truck-driving job. The truth is that many CDL training schools offer sessions during the evenings and weekends to accommodate people like you who currently work full-time. Some even offer weekend-only courses, so if you are tired after working your current job during the day or work long shifts that leave you with little time in the evening to begin with, you don't have to worry about juggling work and training on the same day
Don't think that weekend-only classes will seem to take forever to complete, because many can be completed in only eight weekends or less. Compared to entering another career field where you need to earn a degree, which can take many years to complete, training to become a truck driver is much easier to complete while holding down the job that is currently paying your bills in the meantime.
If you are tired of your current job or are not being paid well, then truck driving is a career you should consider, now that you know the truth behind many of the misconceptions about being a driver. Unlike many job fields where even the most experienced applicants are fighting for limited positions, the career options and openings for new truck drivers continues to grow.
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