If you have watched Ice Road Truckers, you know how much risk trucking involves. The truck drivers face adverse weather conditions and numerous problems on the road and yet deliver their consignments to the destination on time. Truck drivers are why shops, malls, and department stores never run out of stock.
The professional truck driver is a lucrative profession for many aspirants as it offers handsome income, travel opportunities, and lower age and education barriers. On top of that, if you can’t afford to pay CDL training fees, you can apply for grants for truck driving school. As much as it is an exciting career opportunity, it’s crucial to take the right step in the early stage of your career. To help you make the right steps, here are three essential things to know before becoming a pro truck driver.
1. More experience brings more opportunity.
Work experience is an essential aspect for any professional. For a truck driver, experience brings more opportunities and increases your payments. Businesses are always looking for experienced, trusted, and competent drivers to ensure their cargo’s safe and timely delivery. After gaining your CDL license, you must spend the first few years honing your skills and gaining more experience. Successfully competing in multiple small-scale gigs will prepare you for long-haul trips across the state borders. Most beginner drivers earn up to $48000 annually, while experienced drivers earn anywhere from $70000 to $80000 per year.
Your experience also reduces the risk on the road. You might be a skilled car driver, but driving a massive semi-truck is a different deal altogether. Even a minor mistake can lead to dreadful accidents, putting your and others’ lives at risk. Therefore you must have the necessary experience to drive the truck under adverse weather conditions and get well-versed with common problems truckers face on the road.
2. You can apply for grants and scholarships to pay the training fees.
The pandemic affected millions of lives as many lost their loved ones and sources of their income. It can be challenging to get a job in such conditions, especially when you don’t have the necessary skills and funds required for the job. That’s why many people turn towards trucking as their career. If you are currently unemployed and cannot pay for your training school, you can apply for grants for a truck driving school, which will cover your training fees. Some grants also cover travel and accommodation expenses.
3. No need for a degree
If you are wondering what the education criteria for being a truck driver are, there isn’t any. You don’t need a graduate degree to become a professional truck driver. You don’t need to spend four years getting a degree and yet be unsure of getting a job. You also don’t have to deal with student loans to pay for your education. You’d be surprised to know that more than 43 million US students have student loans which total $1.75 trillion. When your friends struggle to pay off their massive student loans, you will already be an experienced truck driver with a handsome income.
Being a truck driver is a self-reliant and high-paying job without the risk of student loans and spending years to get a degree. Most truck drivers earn a stable income, while many graduates are unemployed and looking for jobs that thousands of others are competing for.