Why Is Long-Haul Truck Driving the Perfect Career for Travel Lovers?

Are you a globe-trotting traveler? If adventure is your middle name, take a look at what you need to know about commercial truck driving and why this career choice is right for you.

Tour the Country

Have you traveled around the world? Do you still need to see places in the United States? From tiny towns tucked into mountainsides to major cities with glitz and glam, you might want to see it all. With a job in commercial truck driving, you can accomplish your travel goals - and get paid to explore the country.

As a driver, you're an employee. This means you have a job to do. Truck drivers transport cargo from one point to another and may have other responsibilities. These often include filling out paperwork, stocking or restocking items, and interacting with clients or customers. Even though the bulk of your time is spent on the job, you'll still have free moments to view the scenery and check out the locations you travel to.

Not only will truck driving give you the chance to see parts of the country you've always wanted to visit, but a long-haul job may also take you to places you didn't realize existed or hadn't thought of as must-see locales. This can open your eyes to new potential destinations.

While you might not get the chance to spend full days or a weekend seeing the sites, you can scout the area and make plans to return when you have time for a vacation.

Move From Place to Place

Does your adventurous, travel-loving side make it hard to stay in one place for a long time? If you tire quickly of the local scenery, long-haul commercial driving is a career to seriously consider. Long-haul drivers move from place to place constantly. Instead of a series of jobs in different cities, you can keep the same one for years or decades - minus the boredom you may have experienced in the past.

Get the Time Off You Need

The number of hours truck drivers can work are strictly regulated. Too much time behind the wheel can put the driver and everyone else on the road at risk. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), drivers who carry property have a maximum driving limit of 11 hours after 10 uninterrupted hours off and may not drive after 60 to 70 hours on duty for seven or eight successive days.

While long-haul drivers may work long hours, rest requirements and the logistics of the job may give you days or weeks off. This time off allows you to explore places you've already traveled to. If you want to take family or friends on vacation with you or you just want to spend more time in one of the cities you've already traveled to during work hours, look for a truck driving job with a week on and week off schedule.

Earn Money to Spend

More specifically, earn money to spend on travel-related expenses. If you plan to use your days or weeks off from work to travel back to some of the places you've visited on the job, you need the income to do so.

Commercial truck driving jobs typically pay more than just a livable wage. Instead of living paycheck to paycheck, you may have the chance to save money for your travel fund. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2019, the median pay for a heavy or tractor-trailer truck driving job was $21.76 per hour or $45,260 per year.

Do you want to start a new career in the long-haul commercial truck driving industry? Contact Commercial Trucking School for more information.