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5 Reasons You Should Become a Truck Driver NOW
Ali Star • June 9, 2022
Find out why you should join 3.6 million truckers moving freight across the US.
This nation is heavily dependent upon truck drivers to move freight across the contiguous US and the District of Columbia. In fact, with the COVID-19 outbreak halting our way of life in early 2020, the world learned just how vital truck drivers are transporting essential supplies like medicine to everyday necessities like toilet paper. But, as important as truck drivers are to maintaining the comforts of life we have grown so accustomed to, the industry is facing a driver shortage, which adds further strain to an already COVID-weakened supply chain infrastructure.
The shortage, however, makes room for younger drivers, minorities, and professionals looking to change careers to consider becoming truck drivers. Over the years, particularly the last two, the demand for freight has increased drastically and with that increase, the call for qualified drivers has gone all but unanswered.
Because of the shortage, more and more Americans are considering the benefits of becoming a truck driver and here are 5 reasons you should, too!
1. Job Security- There is not a consumer good, raw material, or piece of equipment that would be accessible to the American people without truck drivers transporting them. Research suggests that there is a growing demand for drivers, which is expected to increase over the next decade. The projected growth is six percent--the equivalent of 231,000 job openings per year.
2. Salary- According to the US Census Bureau, the median annual wage was $34, 248.45 in 2019. To date, the median yearly salary for truck drivers is $47, 130 and experienced company drivers can earn almost $70,000 per year. Owner operators average $142, 919 per year, which be an enticing choice if you are prepared to handle maintenance and repair costs out-of-pocket.
3. Travel- As an over-the-road (OTR) company truck driver, you can get paid to travel. You will have the unique opportunity to visit states across the country that you may not have had the opportunity to see while having the freedom of being on the open road and not sitting in a cubicle for 8 hours a day. And, the best part? It will be at little to no cost to you.
4. Insurance- With the Affordable Care Act (ACA) passing in 2010, Americans found themselves unable to afford coverage or unwilling to pay the outrageous insurance premiums, so for many company drivers, the ability to access both health and life insurance, is appealing. Depending on the company, retirement benefits may also be available and with the demand for truckers on the rise, those benefits could get even better.
5. No Degree Required- Many of the "good paying jobs" require 4-year degrees, but that is not necessary to become a truck driver. As of February 2022, there was a federal mandate passed requiring non-CDL holders to attend truck driving school to become a truck driver, but the financial return is almost immediate and doesn't call for years of experience. The trucking industry is for anyone who meets the requirements.