“Getting a Good Job in America” Part 4 – Driving a Truck

Is truck driving the perfect job? If you are married with kids and want to be home every night to see them, maybe not. But for lots of people who are more nomadic in personality, truck driving has several advantages. Truck drivers are currently in demand in the United States, and they can make good money because of that demand:

How Much Does a Truck Driver Make?

“There is currently a massive driver shortage within the United States. In 2019, there would need to be 1.1 million new drivers added over the next 10 years in order to keep up with demand. The e-commerce boom, competition from traditionally more “attractive” careers and an aging driver population all contribute to the shortage.”

If you want to learn more, this video is a great starting point:

Truck Driver Salary: Here’s What It’s REALLY Like to Be a Truck Driver!!

A person cannot become a truck driver instantly – it does require a bit of training as described above to get a commercial drivers license. However, if you look online with a search like:

https://www.google.com/search?q=truck+driving+school

What you will find is that you can get your license in as little as 4 weeks and at most a few months. Be sure to check local community colleges, as they may have programs. Shop around.

Be Aware of Scams

Be aware of certain scams in the trucking industry so you have your eyes open. For example:

How to Avoid Being the Victim of Trucking Scams

As well as lease/purchase scams:

https://www.google.com/search?q=truck+driver+scam+lease-purchase+truck

Good Jobs for Truck Drivers

The upside is that truck driving can be a good job. This article published today:

Old Dominion Freight Line on Push to Hire 800 Class A CDL Truck Drivers Over the Next Three Months

“All new truck driver hires will be non-union, full-time employees with average annual pay ranging from $73,000 for pick-up and delivery drivers and $99,000 for line haul drivers, additional benefits such as health insurance including an option at no cost to the employee, company sponsored 401(k) and paid time off. In some locations, Old Dominion is offering a $5,000 sign-on bonus for qualified Class A CDL truck driver candidates.”

This sounds pretty good compared to a minimum wage job.