Truck driving is one of the steadiest jobs out there, and there's always work for qualified drivers who are up to the task. Truck driving will never be outsourced, as long as consumers continue to purchase merchandise, there will be a need for drivers to transport the goods.
Learn about becoming a truck driver including education and health requirements, career outlook and pay, trucker lifestyle, and different types of trucking careers.
How To Become A Truck Driver
First of all, you need to
have a high school diploma or a GED
. To travel within your state, the age
requirement is 18
. But, if you want to be able to
drive across the country, you must be 21 years of age
. You must also have a pretty good record. You should have excellent vision and hearing, hand-eye coordination, and be in good
physical health
. The federal regulations will not allow for the hiring of people with some types of medical problems or any other condition that would interfere with trucking abilities. You must be able
to hear a whisper from 5 feet away
whether you have a hearing aid or not, and you must
have 20/40 vision
with a
70-degree field of vision in each eye
. Most schools will require their students to get a physical exam before entering class.
Requirements for Truck Driving School
High school diploma or GED
Minimum age of 18, but 21 to drive cross-country
A clean driving record
Excellent hearing and vision: Must hear a whisper from 5 feet away. 20/40 vision with a 70-degree field of vision
No medical problems or conditions that would interfere with trucking abilities per Federal Regulations
Must have a full physical exam before entering a class
Because most companies expect their drivers to be qualified, you may need to attend truck driving school in order to become a professional, unless the company you’re applying with has its own training.
Truck Driving School
Whether a student chooses a private CDL school or takes classes through a local community college, CDL training
typically lasts 3-6 weeks
. Once the program is completed, a certificate is awarded to the student. There is usually one week or about 40 hours spent concentrating on preparing for the written
CDL exam
and the remainder of training is normally completed in the yard or on the road.
In the classroom, student drivers will be schooled on the federal laws governing the trucking industry, which are as equally important as knowing how to drive a truck. These regulations were put into place to protect the drivers; trucking takes a physical and emotional toll on a person because of long hours behind the wheel. Find a
CDL school near you
.
What to Look for in a School
There are a large number of
truck driving schools
, and it can be difficult to weed out which one is a good fit for you. There are a few factors to consider when choosing the right school for you.
Make sure the school is accredited and licensed. Find out how long they’ve been so.
What is the pass/fail rate both for the class and the exam?
Does it help with job placement or is that on the student?
Does it prepare its students for all the varying conditions, such as interstate travel and beyond?
Is it a third-party tester?
Is the ratio of student to instructor 1:4? Any more than four students to one instructor is too many.
Free online schools aren’t necessarily free, so find out about hidden costs. Also, make sure they aren’t a scam. Many of them are. Avoid Mom and Pop operations!
Schooling costs between $2,000 - $6,500
. Usually, the cost includes everything the student will need, from the exam to licensing. Read about
how much CDL training costs
.
Scholarships and grants are available through some schools. Check with the administration office to see if there are any offered at your school of choice.
Because of the shortage of drivers, some trucking companies will offer tuition reimbursement to their new hires. If you’ve already been hired, find out if they have a tuition reimbursement program.
The CDL Test
Truck drivers must have a commercial driver’s license (CDL). Requirements for this vary by state, but the common factor is that the driver must pass a knowledge-based test, as well as an actual driving test to be qualified. To take the test, you must have your social security card or proof of legal residence in the United States. You also need to complete an application proving you meet both medical and driver qualifications and have an eligible driving record. The student driver will also be required to pass a vision test.
Weve developed a set of
CDL practice tests
and they'll help familiarize you with the types of questions that may be asked on your official state exam.
Career Outlook and Pay
Once you’re hired,
expect between 1-3 more months of on-the-job training
. During this time, you’ll be mentored by a more experienced driver, where you’ll learn about the exact type of rig you’ll be driving. Chances are, you will be sitting in the passenger seat, but sometimes the mentor will do the mentoring from that seat instead.
The majority of truckers are paid by the mile and depending on the company truckers may get some nice bonuses, such as a percentage of the revenue from shipping. A truck driver's pay will vary by employer, what they are transporting, and the amount of experience they have.
Employment for truck driving careers is projected to
grow 2%
through 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (
bls.gov
). While that may be the average for most careers, there is a high demand for truckers who can transport goods across the country. With the
median pay
for truckers coming in at
over $47,130 a year
, trucking is proving to be a very underrated and overlooked career choice. Seasoned professionals who have been in the business for a while make more. The top 10% earned an
average pay of $69,480
in 2020, according to BLS. Some drivers will take home even more than that.
The Lifestyle of a Truck Driver
Many consider the profession of a truck driver to be more of a lifestyle than anything else. Your first year on the road as a truck driver will be one of the hardest you will face. It’s a time of adjustment to this new job, or lifestyle, that you’ve chosen. Your limits will be tested, as will your patience. Whether it makes or breaks you is all going to rest on your attitude toward it. There are both negatives and positives to this profession, for both the new drivers and the long-haulers. It’s important to know and understand the impact truck driving has on all aspects of your life.
With the newer federal regulations put in place for the safety of truck drivers, they are only allowed to
drive a maximum of 60 hours in a week, or 70 hours in eight days
. Between each shift, the
driver must take off 10 hours
for rest time, which has tremendously cut down on truck-related accidents due to exhausted drivers. Truckers are expected to
take a minimum of 34 hours off
before starting their next seven to eight day shift.
9 Points About the Trucker Lifestyle
Chances are, you’ll spend around
300 days per year on the road
. That’s only
65 days you will get to spend at home
. It could take up to two years before becoming a regional driver; they are able to go home every week. However, the more time you spend driving, the more money you’ll earn.
You must determine whether or not your personality is a good fit for the gig. You need to be patient, determined, independent, and have a good work ethic, good judgement, and strong intuition. You need to love adventure, and if you’re happier behind a desk, trucking won’t be a good fit.
Truck driving allows the driver to see parts of the U.S., Canada, and even Mexico that most people don’t even know exist. It’s no wonder that some truck drivers also become ‘professional tourists,’ particularly the young ones who are not married with children!
Because trucking is such a lifestyle, the cabins of trucks come with features to keep truck drivers connected, such as smartphones, tablets, and video chat so keeping in contact with family and friends is always a click away when stopped.
Not all truck stops are created equal. Some are nicer than others, but definitely keep a pair of shower shoes packed, just in case. Truckers who have been on the road for a long time know which stops to go to and which ones to avoid. It’s a learning curve and a rite of passage for many truckers who are just starting out.
There is so much sitting involved with driving. Staying healthy can become difficult. Boredom can cause you to eat your way through your drive. Stockpiling unhealthy snacks is not uncommon for truckers, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Drivers can find creative ways to stay fit and healthy while doing their job.
While the new trucks are luxurious and well-appointed, truck driving can be a very lonely lifestyle. Sure, there is a connection with the other drivers, but it can get tiresome being away from home for extended periods of time.
There is a
125,000 mile per year expectation put on truck drivers
. This is roughly
500 miles a day
, every working day, per year.
Driving a truck is not a 9-5 job
. Some choose to get an early morning start; others like to drive through the night. The hours are up to you, as long as you get to your destination on time while following the federal regulations.
Different Types of Truck Driving
There are three different types of CDL licenses,
the Class-A
license will allow the driver to get behind the wheel of tractor trailers or anything that
carries over 26,001 pounds. A Class-B license is for drivers to carry cargo up to 26,000 pounds
. And the
Class-C license is for carrying hazardous materials
and driving larger passenger trucks. The endorsement letters are
“H” for hazardous materials, “N” for tankers, and “X” for both. These are placed on the CDL license once the driver is qualified
.
There is quite a wide variety of trucking jobs out there. Some pay more than others. These are some of the top-paying jobs for truckers:
Liquid Hauling
Be prepared to haul hazardous waste as a liquid hauling driver.
T
he job requires a special endorsement under the CDL license in order to travel with hazardous materials. The federal government, under the Patriot Act, requires the driver to go through a security threat assessment due to the nature of the materials he or she will be hauling. The driver also needs to have a clean record and no felony convictions including espionage, treason, or any other crimes against humanity.
Oversized Loads
To drive oversized loads, the driver must have specialty training and hold a special license. The trucks are double-sized, because so is the load they are carrying.
Ice Road Trucking (IRT)
Hey, there’s even a reality show about this type of trucking. As seen on TV, ice road trucking can be dangerous, but it pays well. Drivers face extreme conditions such as sub-zero temperatures, whiteouts, and crazy, insane road conditions. It can take a while to become an IRT: There are so many applicants, and jobs fill quickly. Patience is a virtue—persistence pays off. There is no special training involved with becoming an ice road trucker.
Over the Road (OTR) Trucking
OTR Drivers travel long distances, work a ton of hours, and are away from home a lot. OTR trucking is considered one of the best trucking jobs. However, drivers must understand that for most of the year, their trucks are their homes: Great personal sacrifices must be made. They deliver freight throughout the United States and even into Canada.
Specialty Car Hauler
This is a niche that can prove difficult to get into. Hands-on training is required, because trucking schools do not provide education in this specialized area. Transporting luxury cars or damaged cars is part of the job, which pays fairly well.
Dump Truck Driver
Mostly working on construction sites, dump truck drivers transport loose materials in an open-bed truck. They can also be found working at mines and storage facilities. Coal, gravel, sand, and crushed rock are their passengers.
Team Driving
Sometimes, working as a team is more efficient. That holds true with team driving, as long as you’re partnered with the right person. Working as a team can bring in thousands of dollars more per year than driving solo. When there are two drivers to one truck, the federal regulations don’t hold as much clout; driving time is broken up, giving the team additional hours on the road. Jobs can be completed quicker, making room for more pick ups in the same amount of time it would take one driver to get one assignment done.
Food Service Drivers
Just like it sounds, food service drivers deliver to restaurants, supermarkets, and other food-related industries. Drivers in the food service have a physically demanding job—they have to unload their own trucks. It’s best to be in great shape in order to sustain this type of job.
A Career Unlike Any Other
Truck driving is one of the most interesting, rewarding, and well-paying careers. It takes time to get acclimated, but once you do, you’ll be part of a brotherhood (or sisterhood) unlike any other.
References:
Truck Driver Pay Went Up in 2020
Fast Certifications That Pay Well
Different Types of Truck Driving Jobs
Heavy & tractor trailer truck drivers on BLS
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