Reasons to Choose Trucking Career

From food, clothes, cars, livestock, fuel, furniture, and so much more, trucks carry the items Americans use and consume every day. Long-haul truck drivers deliver products no one can live without.

Nearly 70 percent of all the freight tonnage moved in the U.S. is shipped on trucks. Truckers are moving 9.2 billion tons of freight every year, according to the American Trucking Associations.

The ATA says the trucking industry provides one out of every 16 American jobs for a grand total of 7.3 million. It’s fair to say the U.S. economy depends on the truck driving industry.

Below are some reasons that driving a truck – either as an owner-operator or for a small freight carrier—might be the perfect career choice for you.

1. Be Your Own Boss

Have you always dreamed of being your own boss? About 1 in 9 truck drivers in the USA are owner-operators, which means they work for themselves. Owner-operators are responsible for filling their trucks with freight of their choosing (usually found on load boards) and are free to work when they want. While they have to maintain their equipment, owner-operators express a love of the freedom that entrepreneurship provides.

You don’t have to work for yourself or own a truck right away. Most drivers start out working for carriers as they gain experience. Later in your career, if you choose to own a truck (or several) the business potential is endless.

2. Job Security

With the current shortage of truck drivers across the nation, those who do well in trucking may enjoy unprecedented job security. Why? The ATA says this truck driver shortage could climb to 175,000 jobs in the next decade. Some trucking companies have a 100 percent turnover rate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that heavy-duty truck driving jobs may grow by five percent in the next ten years. So if you get your foot in the door, and you’re a safe and effective driver, then stick with it.

A quick look at the news shows that many companies across America are downsizing and laying off workers. Not so for CDL (Commercial Driver’s License) truckers. We can think of no other industry that offers this kind of career peace of mind. Finally, no matter where you live, it’s always possible to get a job. And if you want to relocate, trucking is a great career option.

3. Travel 

If you love to travel, truck driving is the perfect occupation for you. Many truckers say there’s no better way to see the country than behind the wheel of their big rig. If the idea of a desk job leaves you cold, sign up for an adventure to see the United States. How many jobs allow you to look out a window and see the Grand Teton National Park, Lake Tahoe, Florida Keys, Golden Gate Bridge, Rocky Mountains, Grand Canyon, Texas Hill Country, Joshua Tree National Park, Brooklyn Bridge, Mount Rainier, or any other of our stunning American landscapes? Oh, and all the views are free!

4. Get Paid Well

A truck driving career is well known for a great starting salary with excellent growth potential as you gain experience. While the pay varies depending on whether you are an owner-operator or work for a large shipper, the average starting salary in the United States currently sits at $40,000.

Truck driving is a great career for those who want to start earning a high annual salary without spending years on training. While there is required training and paperwork that goes into getting your CDL and authority, the pay is often worth it for truck drivers.

If these reasons sound like you, it may be time to consider making the career leap to driving truck.