Things to Consider When Becoming a Commercial Truck Driver

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When you are looking to train as a truck driver, it is easy to assume that the role simply involves sitting in a truck all day, driving along open highways, and seeing all that the USA has to offer. Who wouldn’t want to do that for a living?

Well, as it turns out, it is a bit more complicated than that, and when you are looking to gain your commercial driver’s license or CDL, there are some core aspects of this role that you should take into consideration.

To help you make this decision, here are some key factors to explore before getting behind the big wheel.

Concentration Is Key

When you are applying for owner operator jobs, you will undoubtedly see the skill of concentration being listed very highly.

This may sound odd, as surely concentration is a key part of driving. However, when you are driving a large vehicle across the country, you must be aware of the cargo you are shipping and the other road users, and you need to be alert to any potential issues with your truck.

Communication Is Vital

Being a truck driver can seem like an ideal job choice if you don’t like working with others. However, you will be dealing with more people than you may realize in your daily life, including clients, fellow truck drivers, or even the people in the repair shop. So, this may not be a good choice of a job if you want to be truly isolated from others.

You Won’t Be at Home Very Much

If you have a partner, young kids, or other commitments at home, then trucking is unlikely to be the right job choice for you.

That is because you won’t be at home a lot. There will be nights, potentially weeks, where you won’t be sleeping in your own bed, and this kind of job can keep you working at very irregular hours.

However, that is not to say it is all bad news. Most truckers can find jobs in their local areas.

It Takes Time to Get Good

You may be the perfect driver when it comes to driving a car, but what about a truck? The reality is that even when you get your commercial driver’s license, it will take time to get good at driving a truck. A learning curve is normal in any new line of work, but if you make errors when on the open road, the effects can be devastating. So, you need to be prepared to learn and quickly.

Independent or Manager?

There is also the option to consider whether or not you want to be an independent owner-operator or whether you want to train for your CDL to then begin a fleet of trucks. The latter will require you to invest in a base of operations and will require you to assess other potential recruits who will be working for you. You will also need to look at insurance for both instances and should consider which option is more appealing for you and your lifestyle.