A life behind the wheel seems like a dream job for many people. You spend your entire day driving around, exploring new places, you don’t have to deal with an office full of people and if you’re those who prefer the benefits of solitude, then it’s basically a job that checks all the box.
Until you realize that it’s not as fairytale-like as it seems, spending each day behind the wheel means you don’t really have the option to stop anytime you want, only to explore a new city. And you don’t really have that much free time. In fact, your leisure time is quite limited. But most people become aware of this only after they’ve accepted such a job.
Being a truck driver is one of the most sought-after job positions lately. Many feel like it’s the best way to earn some quick money without having to adhere to a typical 9 to 5 schedule.
But there are many misconceptions surrounding the job. Most often, people underestimate the difficulties of the job and overlook the disadvantages.
Today, we’re here to bust those myths. So, if you’re looking to become a truck driver, make sure to keep reading and maybe you’ll learn something you didn’t know about this profession before.
Why trucking is booming in the US
Before we get to the good part, let’s see what it is that draws so many people to this career.
Over the past decade, the trucking industry has grown into a $900 billion powerhouse in the United States. Quite the impressive figure indeed.
Much of this growth has been driven by the country’s dependence on e-commerce, just-in-time delivery systems, and the ever-expanding consumer culture. As these industries expand, trucking becomes essential.
With big companies such as Amazon, Walmart, and Target promising fast shipping, the need for reliable drivers is higher than ever.
The COVID-19 pandemic also highlighted the essential nature of truckers, as they continued delivering medical supplies and goods while much of the world shut down. That’s when many realized the importance of having a large number of truck drivers at their disposal.
Ever since, the need for trucking has followed an upward curve and even today, the need for drivers stays high.
The reality of a life behind the wheel
As promised, it’s time to reflect on some of the most overlooked aspects of truck driving.
1. The concerning reality of truck accidents
Something that surprises most people when talking about the trucking industry is the fact that there is a certain risk that comes with the job. Even though truck drivers are usually professional drivers with years of experience, they’re not immune to accidents.
With the demand for truck drivers growing rapidly, not all of them go through adequate training and are not as confident behind the wheel as their colleagues who’ve been doing the job for years.
All of this leaves room for accidents to happen. And considering the weight of these vehicles, you can imagine how devastating the consequences are when such an accident occurs.
Trucking companies also have their fair share of responsibilities when it comes to trucking accidents. They often impose extremely tight deadlines, forcing truck drivers to skip their mandatory breaks and drive longer hours than allowed.
Each state has a certain set of rules when it comes to how much time you can drive without taking a break. For instance, in Indiana, the law demands that for each 8h of driving, truck drivers take a 30-minute break. And by break, we don’t mean sitting in the truck or wasting time away on social media.
A break means going out for a proper meal and moving your body around to feel refreshed before sitting behind the wheel again.
Unfortunately, most newbie truck drivers are unaware of their rights and always put the job first. Then, when an accident happens, they are left in the dark and have no idea who to turn to. They take full responsibility for everything instead of leaving it up to the truck accident attorneys to prove liability.
Most often, trucking companies share the blame and need to answer for imposing such strict deadlines.
2. The isolation that few talk about
Life on the road can be incredibly lonely. While technology has made it easier to stay connected, truck drivers still spend most of their time alone. Days, sometimes weeks, pass without any meaningful human interaction beyond a brief conversation at a gas station or rest stop. And that’s barely even a conversation.
That kind of solitude can really take its toll, especially when you have a family waiting for you at home, and yet you’re not able to see them for weeks on end.
Truck drivers often miss birthdays and holidays. You realize that the good salary doesn’t make up for the fact that you’re not present to see your children grow up or to celebrate important milestones in your friends’ lives.
3. The constant pressure and lack of stability
Lastly, while being a truck driver may seem like a steady job, it’s anything but predictable. Quite the contrary, you often have to deal with unpredictable weather conditions and mechanical issues.
These are problems you can’t ever see coming, and even if you follow the weather forecast religiously, it still might take you by surprise. The weather can affect delivery times and also increase the risk of accidents we talked about before.
The pressure to deliver on time can also push drivers to make difficult and often unsound decisions.
Key takeaways
Truck drivers are what keeps the US economy going. Without a stable and reliable trucking fleet. Without them, the country’s economy would see the consequences quite quickly. Every delivery, every stocked store, every online order owes something to the truck driver trying to get the goods to their final destination.
But the job comes with a set of challenges that every new truck driver or someone looking to be employed in the industry needs to be aware of. Safety and solitude are often the main reasons why many truck drivers don’t keep the job for long and move on to different career paths.
If you’re not fit to keep up with the disadvatages that come with the job, then it’s perhaps best to choose something more suitable for your set of skills.
