If you’re tired of your current job, consider making a career change and taking the leap into truck driving. This industry is stable and booming, contributing hundreds of millions of dollars to the economy every year. In addition, companies are always in need of experienced drivers to fill positions on local or long haul routes. Even if you’re not a college graduate, you can become a truck driver and make a great living.
Another benefit of trucking jobs is that they are very flexible. You can set your own schedule and stay in different parts of the country each night. Trucking jobs can also allow you to spend some time with your family in between deliveries. You’ll need to adhere to regulations regarding hours of service, but you’ll enjoy the freedom that trucking offers. You can even decide whether you want to drive for a full-time career or work as a driver on a short-term contract.
In addition to the rewards of trucking, it’s important to remember that it’s still a demanding job. Truck drivers often work eighty hours a week and spend all but four days on the road each month. While this may be good money, you won’t have enough time to spend with your family. A full-time job near home would allow you to spend more time with them. Another advantage of truck driving is that you’ll have your own truck.
What Will Replace Truck Drivers?
As the use of autonomous technology becomes more widespread, what will replace truck drivers? The tech industry is likely to say that truck drivers will be replaced by machine technology, or automation. Automated vehicles will replace the labor of truck drivers at least partially, and they could be operating fully autonomously as early as 2027. Within the next decade, artificial intelligence might even be capable of steering and maneuvering a truck. The 11-hour rule states that property-carrying drivers can operate vehicles for 11 hours after 10 consecutive hours of rest. This is comparable to the work of welders, painters, and electricians.
There is an ongoing shortage of truck drivers. The cost of shipping is increasing, and companies are increasing wages to attract new drivers. These factors compound the problem, as more drivers retire and fewer people are applying for the profession. While the shortage isn’t likely to disappear any time soon, it may take longer than anticipated. Besides retiring drivers, there aren’t enough younger people who want to work long hours in the trucking industry.
What is a Good Job For an Ex Truck Driver?
If you’ve ever wondered what a good job for an ex truck driver is, you’re not alone. Almost all truck drivers spend most of their lives in the trucking industry. While the lifestyle is quite unique, the skills learned as a truck driver are highly transferable. This is evident in ZipRecruiter’s analysis of the skills and experience of thousands of drivers. Here are three jobs that are particularly suitable for truck drivers who wish to continue working.
If you’re physically fit and don’t mind sitting for hours on end, you might want to consider becoming a courier driver. Couriers drive small packages around, and they need to be physically fit. If you’re good at carrying heavy items, you could start a courier service or become a truck salesman. These jobs may offer good pay, and commission schemes. In addition to this, courier driving can be a regular job with predictable hours.
What Transferable Skills Do Truck Drivers Have?
Truck drivers are renowned for their customer service and problem-solving skills. They need to balance several aspects of a task, such as maintaining a strict schedule. In addition, they need to be flexible enough to adapt to unexpected circumstances. Good truck drivers are also known for their ability to maintain calm under pressure. Their attention to detail and thorough planning make them an asset to any company. A truck driver resume should include all of these traits.
Trucking jobs are highly competitive. However, the experience and training you have gained will transfer well. You need to possess a combination of soft skills and technical skills to get ahead. While the driving part is taught by trucking schools, the time and project management skills can be developed through a job in another field. For example, you may transition to the heavy machinery industry by becoming a mobile crane operator. Afterwards, you can leverage your truck driving experience and move up to a management role.
Will Truck Driving Jobs Go Away?
Despite the lackluster pay of the average driver, trucking jobs are far from going away. The nation needs trucks, and truck drivers are needed to make deliveries. Automation of trucks may make trucking jobs obsolete, but it may also improve them. Automation is the next big thing in driving, and truck drivers may find themselves in the same position as airplane pilots. The population will feel safer if they have a human driver operating their vehicles.
As autonomous trucks become more advanced and reliable, they may replace truck drivers in some aspects. But as automated trucks become more common, the number of drivers in this sector would decline dramatically. A report by Goldman Sachs predicts the loss of 300,000 jobs a year. Regardless, the new jobs created by autonomous trucks will likely be bad ones – such as independent contracting and working long hours. But in many ways, these changes may make the industry more efficient and competitive.
Are Truck Drivers in Demand?
The need for truck drivers is on the rise as fuel and equipment costs continue to increase. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, one million additional drivers will be needed in the U.S. by 2022, a decrease of only 2% from current levels. These drivers face numerous challenges, such as longer work hours, increased freight costs, and longer breaks. Despite this, trucking companies continue to offer a flexible lifestyle that attracts both young and older drivers.
Salaries for truck drivers vary greatly from state to state, depending on their experience and location. Truck drivers make an average of $58,032 per year, with potential for higher earnings. In addition, the job offers flexibility and free travel. Trucks transport 71% of goods produced in the United States. The industry has several benefits, including high pay and a flexible schedule. And the United States economy depends on trucking – approximately 71% of all goods produced in the country are transported by truck.
Do Truckers Have a Future?
Are truckers facing a future without a job? As the world moves toward more autonomous vehicles, many truckers are afraid that their jobs will become redundant. While this is untrue, trucking industry experts believe that the industry will be forced to adjust how it treats drivers. In the meantime, truckers will continue to be forced to work under regulations that were designed in the 1930s. Even with the new regulations like the Electronic Logging Device, drivers are still being treated as slave labor, working for little to no pay.
The industry has had 12 recessions since 1972. Six of them led to larger economic problems. Self-driving cars are expected to completely revolutionize the trucking industry in the coming decades. Although these technology advancements will replace truckers, analysts disagree on the future of the industry. Some predict that driverless vehicles will eliminate about 4 million jobs by 2042, and that qualified truckers will be displaced by automated technology.
Does Truck Driving Have a Future?
Until recently, truck driving was one of the most lucrative professions. But the current low pay and low productivity have made it unprofitable for many drivers. Trucking companies need to raise their wages to retain good drivers, or risk going out of business. As a result, some companies are now unable to pay their employees enough to remain profitable. Fortunately, some trucking companies still respect their drivers and treat them with respect, but there are also many problems in the industry.
The future of trucking is still uncertain. Driverless trucks may not be available for several decades, but the growing need for transportation services and the shortage of drivers will not make the job obsolete any time soon. The next big advancement in the trucking industry is autonomous vehicles, and they will be a few years away from being road-ready, but the demand for skilled truck drivers will never diminish. However, the future of the industry is still unknown, and the most capable truck drivers will be needed to drive the trucks.
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