Guide to a Career as a Truck Driver

Do you love to travel? Do road trips get your juices going? Have you always wanted to see the country? If so, then you might enjoy a career as a truck driver. Although it might not sound very glamorous, truck drivers make more than a decent living and tend to enjoy their jobs.

Truck drivers are responsible for driving large truck cross-country, carrying merchandise for their companies. Most truck drivers travel most days of the year and some rarely get home to see their families. However, husband and wife teams make excellent truck drivers because they can log more hours on the road, taking shifts, and will almost certainly make more money.

If you peruse the job section of your newspaper classified ads, you’ll find dozens of advertisements for truck drivers. Why? Because truck driving jobs are in high demand, and the turn-over tends to be quite high. Many people spend a couple of years as truck drivers so that they can save up money and go back to school; others find that truck driving isn’t for them.

Truck drivers can typically make upwards of $30,000 their first year in the industry. Many truck driving companies offer hiring incentives, such as bonuses and benefits. You are also inclined to be offered more money if you agree to sign a one-, two- or three-year contract.

In order to become a truck driver, you will have to either graduate high school or obtain your GED. You must also be able to prove a clean driving record (no major accidents or violations) within the previous five years in order to be considered for a truck driving job. You will also have to take truck driving classes (usually paid and provided by the company with whom you intend to work) to obtain your Commercial Driver’s License (CDL). You will also have to pass the examination given by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) of the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Truck drivers are expected to be drug- and alcohol-free and to maintain proper physical health. They must be able to handle long stretches on the road without adequate sleep and to adjust to a nighttime driving schedule.