The Road To Success: 5 Questions To Ask Before Becoming A Truck Driver

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If you love driving and the thought of exploring the roads, the thought of becoming a trucker has almost certainly crossed your mind at least once. However, choosing a career is one of the most important decisions that anybody ever makes, so you must not rush it.

Asking yourself the five questions below should guide you along the road to success. If nothing else, it’ll remove any sense of uncertainty, thus allowing you to act with complete confidence.

#1. Do I Really Need A Change Of Career?

Before starting any new career, you must confirm that it’s the right time to leave your current role. If you have recently lost your job as a result of the pandemic, trucking naturally stands out as a good option. Aside from boasting a relatively short training process, it is a fairly stable job as there will always be a need for truckers.

However, necessity isn’t the only reason to change your career. The knowledge that you’re in an unfulfilling job can be equally problematic. Life is short and, even in these unprecedented times, you will sometimes need to take a leap of faith. Nonetheless, it should be noted that we all get frustrated with our jobs from time to time.

So, before jumping into a new trucking career, be sure to confirm that a holiday or move to a different company isn’t the better solution.

#2. Is Trucking Really For Me?

It’s easy to build an image in your head that isn’t quite accurate. In truth, trucking careers do live up to the expectations for most drivers. It’s flexible, stable, well-paid, and offers autonomy. The Trucker Lifestyle: Today’s Truck Driving Experience guide offers further insight into what you can expect. Trucking is a way of life. So, understanding its influence is vital.

Trucking delivers many positives, but there are some potential obstacles too. Sitting in your cab for several hours each day is a fairly sedentary lifestyle, even when you are completing lifts at the start and end of the journey. So, you will need to consider whether you have the discipline to compensate for this with a healthy lifestyle. 

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#3. Which Type Of Trucking Shall I Do?

While the core feature of all trucking jobs relates to the transportation of assets, the term is still fairly fluid. A trucker on international shipments will have a different career to one that handles local deliveries. Likewise, driving a truck could take on tasks like home moving. This could result in working with another driver as to handle the delivery aspects.

Aside from the most obvious contrasts, you should know the differences between the varying trucking jobs. The nuances of tanker haulers, freight haulers, and ‘less than truckload’ haulers will create a distinct career. Form daily activities to shift times and anticipated salaries, finding a role that suits your requirements is key.

On a similar note, you should take time to consider whether you want to work for one employer or as a self-employed contractor.

#4. What Are The Long-Term Prospects?

One of the great things about trucking is that you can start to earn decent money quite early on. While there is often a progression from dry van haulers to more challenging drives, it’s not the only option. Thinking about the long-term trajectory of your career is vital. After all, there is little point in becoming a trucker if you’ll want to change career again in three years.

Aside from appreciating the different roles within the trucking sector, you may want to think beyond this. Once you’ve gained the experience, contacts, and knowledge to thrive, you may want to start a transportation business. This is a move that instantly removes the glass ceiling, although success certainly won’t come easily. If it did, every trucker would launch their own businesses.

#5. How Do I Get Started?

Assuming that a career in trucking is right for you, the next step is to make it happen. While you already have a standard driver’s license, you must also gain a commercial driver’s license. Until you do this, it will be impossible to get a job in the industry. However, you may want to diversify your skills with qualifications related to loading cargo and freights, for example.

Following this, you’ll need to take a proactive approach to finding jobs. Amazon has added an array of new positions as it continues to grow from strength to strength. But you should familiarize yourself with other trucking companies. In the meantime, temporary jobs in other parts of the company can be a great way to get your foot in the door. It removes the pressure to get a license so quickly too.

Above all else, you need to take action ASAP. Plotting your moves is pointless if you don’t follow up on them. You’ve got this!