Job Loss? Why You Should Consider Truck Driving

Did you recently lose your job? When mass layoffs and significantly reduced work hours hit home, you need to regroup and restart your professional path. If the freedom of the open road seems like a dream, take a look at what you need to know about a new career in the truck driving industry.

You Don't Just Have One Type of Truck Driver
As a professional driver, you have employment options. While every trucker drives vehicles larger than the average non-commercial car or SUV, these professionals make up a variety of sub-professions such as:

• Tractor-trailer drivers. These truckers primarily transport goods over long distances - working as long-haul drivers. Some tractor-trailer drivers do work locally, driving within a city. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), long-haul drivers earn an average of $45,260 annually.
• Delivery drivers. Unlike long-haul or even local tractor-trailer truckers, these drivers pick up and drop off packages and small shipments to homes and businesses. The median annual salary for a delivery driver in 2019 was $32,020, according to the BLS.
• Other drivers. Even though you may think of long-haul and delivery drivers as the primary types of truckers, professionals in this industry also work in construction, refuse collection, and bus or transportation jobs.

Along with these jobs, some industry professionals are specialized drivers. These jobs may require endorsements or certifications beyond a CDL or commercial driver's license, such as a HAZMAT endorsement to transport hazardous materials.

You Don't Have a Lengthy Schooling Process
A career change often means years spent in school. Even though you will need to complete some training, you won't need two or four years in a community college, trade school, or university. Unlike some other professions, truck driver training focuses more on hands-on or practical applications than classroom lecture-based lessons.

If truck driving is a completely new career for you, the required training:

• Should include on the road instruction. Whether you take classes on a closed course or another environment, you'll need real-world experience to learn basic skills (such as backing up or maneuvering the vehicle) - even if you have years of experience as a non-commercial driver.
• May include one-on-one or group classes. Some future drivers prefer a student-to-teacher class, while others do better in a group training environment. Talk to your future school staff about the options and which one will work best for you and your training needs.
• Will prepare you to earn a CDL. Whether you choose to work as a long-haul driver or in another area of the field, you'll need a commercial driver's license. A training program should prepare you to obtain a CDL.

The amount of time you need to complete truck driver training depends on several factors. These include the program's curriculum, your schedule, and the type of material you need to or want to learn. If you want to work in a specialized area of the field, you may need additional instruction to meet endorsement or licensing criteria.

You Have Available Jobs Right Now
Were you recently laid-off, or did your employer suddenly need to reduce the number of hours you work weekly? If you need a regular paycheck right now, truck driving is an option with immediate prospects. Trucking industry jobs:

• Are on the rise. According to the BLS, delivery drivers and driver or sales worker jobs are projected to grow at a faster than average rate of five percent between 2019 and 2029.
• Are numerous. In 2019, there were more than two million heavy and tractor-trailer jobs in the United States and over 1.5 million delivery drivers, according to the BLS.
• Are everywhere. You can find a truck driver job in almost every area of the country. This means you won't need to relocate just to work.

To learn more about industry changes and the availability of jobs in your local area, discuss the options and outlook with your potential future training program's staff.

Are you ready to change careers? Contact Commercial Trucking School for more information.