Anyone looking to start a career in trucking will undoubtedly hear numerous pros and cons regarding their career choice. And while some of them have the grounds to stand on, others may be simply too personal of experiences to really have any merit.
That’s why any future truck driver needs to really look into all of the aspects that this career choice promises. These include all the positives and the negatives such an occupation will bring. What’s more, you need to be fully aware of all the aspects that make for a career in trucking, so that you can easily determine whether or not it’s suitable for you.
That being said, here are 6 important things you should know about a career in trucking.
You need to love driving
The first thing you really need to ask yourself is whether or not you really love driving. Since you’ll be spending a lot of hours on the road, you really need to enjoy this aspect of business in order to be able to do it in the first place. If your answer is not – yes, without a doubt, a career in trucking may not be the best choice for you.
Stress is a part of the job
Just like in any other business, stress is an integral part of a trucking career. Of course, this is not to say that just because of stress you shouldn’t explore this career path. However, it’s important to understand upfront that you’ll potentially be faced with stressful situations more often than you may think. Traffic, tight schedules, the lack of well-equipped and functional stops are just some of the things that can be quite stress-inducing. So, make sure you develop a good stress-management tactics and don’t let it affect you more than it should.
Be mindful of the hours
Another important thing to note is that you’ll be spending anywhere between 8 to 10 hours on the road each day. Depending on the route and the situation, this number may even increase. So, you need to be ready to take on such a lengthy road trip both mentally and physically. Truck drivers spend all of their working hours sitting behind a wheel which can sometimes cause issues with their general well-being. That’s why you need to make sure you stretch out as often as possible, mind your diet and develop a self-care plan that will sustain you while on the road.
Good communication is key
Again, as in any other business, proper communication is key. This doesn’t only apply to communication you’ll have with your dispatchers but every other person you come across as well. As a truck driver, you need to ensure that you establish good lines of communication with your dispatchers so that you can fully streamline your business. On top of that, you need to make sure you communicate with your colleagues as this can be of great help while on the road. And finally, you need to make sure you know how to communicate with clients, handlers and everyone else you come across, so that you can ensure everyone’s doing their job right and everything goes according to plan.
Trucking pays bills
Even though the job of a truck driver is anything but easy, this type of work really pays the bills. Since you’ll spend most of your awake hours on the road, you really won’t have plenty of opportunities to spend the money you’ve earned. With a good savings plan in place, you’ll be able to save up quite a decent sum sooner than you may think. That’s why many people choose this career path as a temporary option, until they manage to get their finances in order. Sadly for some, this is one of the reasons the trucking industry experiences such a shortage in drivers. But luckily for others, it means that landing such a job won’t be too difficult.
Relationships may suffer
In the end, it’s also worth mentioning that, more often than not, personal relationships may suffer. The fact that truck drivers spend more time away from their homes and families does take a toll. That’s why making such a decision to become a truck driver is not something you should do on your own, especially if you have a family. Talk to your partner and explain to them exactly what a career in trucking entails. And only once you’re all comfortable with some of the sacrifices all of you will need to make, you should move on to finding a job in this industry.
