7 Truths About Trucking Every Aspiring Driver Needs to Know

June 30, 2016 - Every trucker has come to this profession for a different reason. Some see the job as a secure way to earn a living. Others prefer trucking for the excitement and adventure of the open road. Still others appreciate above all else the near-complete autonomy they have behind the wheel. The transportation industry is welcoming to people from all walks of live ― as long as they don’t mind driving a truck.

 

No matter what has brought you to develop an interest in the trucking profession, the shortage of truckers almost ensures that you will find employment fast. However, before you while away 10 hours of every day to the open highway, you might want to learn these seven truths few new truckers know before they begin.

 

1. Trucking Is Never Easy

Many people assume that trucking is one of the world’s easiest jobs; after all, truckers’ only responsibility is to drive all day, right? The fact is every job has its difficulties, and those associated with trucking are simply less well-known than those of other professions.

Driving a heavy-duty truck is not the same as driving a zippy four-wheeler, which means simply breaking into trucking will take you months upon months of studying and practice. Then, once you find a job, you will keep awful hours. Worse still, you rarely get to see your loved ones. Trucking can be difficult ― physically, mentally, and emotionally.

 

2. Safety Is Always Worth It

Every young trucker is tempted to drive faster and more aggressively to meet his deadline and wow his employers, but abandoning safety is not the same as improving efficiency. Heavy-duty vehicles are incredibly dangerous, and driving irresponsibly only increases your chances of causing a tragedy. No matter what you drive, where you drive, or how the conditions are on the road, you must respect safe driving practices.

 

3. Your Truck Matters

At the beginning of your trucking career, you probably will drive someone else’s truck. However, in these early years, it is worthwhile to pay attention to the makes and models of rigs you like. Non-truckers might think all commercial trucks are the same, but when you are behind the wheel of a heavy-duty machine all-day-every-day, you will notice unique features, like Volvo’s impressive mileage or Mack’s sturdiness in tough weather. Then, once you have some experience and savings, you can invest in your own Volvo trucks or Mack to become a higher-earning owner-operator.

 

4. Your Education Matters

As mentioned before, not anyone with a driver’s license is qualified to drive trucks for a living. First and foremost, you will need a commercial driver’s license (CDL), which is best obtained through a certified program.

Many trucking companies offer sponsored CDL training, in which students have their tuition, room, and board comped in exchange for a few years of driving for a particular company.

Conversely, you can attend a private school, which costs more but allows you more freedom after graduation. Your education path could determine the course of your career, so you must choose wisely.

 

5. Your Dispatcher Deserves Your Trust

As hard as truckers know their job to be, many drivers develop disrespect for their dispatchers. True, dispatchers are the equivalent of a nagging boss, but it is their job to ensure you are in route and on time to your destination. They are your primary contact with the company ― and the outside world ― so treating your dispatcher well is vital to feeling good about your own job.

 

6. Relationships Require Work

In the beginning, you probably will only see your home and loved ones one day in three weeks ― if you’re lucky. This makes it supremely difficult to maintain friendships, let alone romances. For any hope at a stable and loving relationship, you must devote nearly every waking moment you have at home with your loved ones. Staying in contact while you are on the road is also useful, as long as it doesn’t interfere with your driving. It will feel like a second job, but having social ties will keep you going.

 

7. Sanitation Is Next to Sanity

Some truckers treat their cabs like bachelor pads or man caves: There are stains covering the carpets and seats, there is a distinct funk, and wrappers and paper cups riddle the floor. For the love of your sanity, you cannot live like this for long. Keeping your workspace clean is essential to any job, but especially trucking, when you basically live where you work. Additionally, you shouldn’t forget to wash yourself, as you can quickly become the source of that funk in the cab.