Truck drivers transport food, cars, and other items throughout the country, making them an important part of the supply chain. In 2020, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated that there were over 2 million heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers in the United States, with an average wage of $48,710.
Yes you can live in the mountains and be a truck driver. So if you are looking for a truck driving job then you must know the few important things about a career in trucking. Trucking experts are frequently paid by the mile. With high school graduation or equivalent and a commercial driver’s license, you can start working at the age of 21. (CDL). However, according to one expert, the profession isn’t for everyone.
1. STRESS IS PART OF THE JOB
Stress is an unavoidable factor of working in the transportation industry. A career as a truck driver, though, is stressful. When you’re stuck in traffic, or when you’re looking for a specific location downtown and can’t find it, you’re stressed. There’s a lot of pressure when you’re trying to back into a tight place when there’s no room for a tractor-trailer. You have to reach the spot on time and you can never be too late as the customer doesn’t care. He just wants you to be at the dock at the right time.
There’s the anxiety of being away from home and thinking about your family. Driving professionally for a livelihood comes with a lot of stress. One of the first things you should do is learn how to deal with stress and how to cope with it.
2. EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION IS KEY
The second thing you must learn is how to interact with and manage the individuals with whom you are working. Contrary to popular misconception, over-the-road trucking does not imply complete independence on the road. There are people to deal with at various levels along the road.
- Your dispatcher must be dealt with.
- You must learn how to handle and manage him so that you can explain your needs to him and successfully deliver his cargo promptly. The trucking firm generates money this way. Reaching on time is their primary priority.
- The trucking firm generates money this way. Reaching on time is their primary priority.
- You must learn to speak with clients and manage your relationship with them so that they do not ditch you if in case you are a little late.
3. RELATIONSHIPS SUFFER
In general, you spend more time away from home than at home. This, in turn, puts a lot of pressure on your family. They must manage and operate the household in addition to a plethora of other responsibilities, like caring for the children, paying the bills, performing all of the duties, and mowing the grass. They’ve got to do everything while you’re gone. There is a lack of moral and emotional support. It’s not something that can be restored through phone calls.
4. Your vehicle is your office cabin
Even though you won’t be sitting in a cubicle for eight hours a day, you’ll be subjected to some of the same workplace expectations and limits as traditional office workers. Set performance goals with your managers and keep them updated on your progress. Remember that someone is entrusting you with their cargo, and it can take time to earn that trust and develop the type of relationship where they trust you to get the job done.
5. Job Security
Trucking is a very safe sector to work in. Because there is a driver shortage, there is a significant demand for new drivers to begin training!