Is it still worth it to become a trucker?

Discussion in 'Questions From New Drivers' started by Jbrow327, Oct 29, 2021.

  1. sirhwy

    sirhwy Medium Load Member

    347
    707
    Sep 1, 2011
    Central Iowa
    0
    The culture out on the road is not what it used to be. As each day goes by there’s more and more “I’m first get the he11 out of my way” mentality. There are more and more pi$$ jugs and shopping bags containing human feces laying around. The average intelligence level of truck drivers declines daily. If you would be proud to be part of this nomenclature then have at it.
     
    dwells40 and Grouch Thank this.
  2. Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.

  3. Rideandrepair

    Rideandrepair Road Train Member

    16,472
    53,813
    Aug 8, 2015
    0
    The Trades have never looked better. Welding, Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, Millwright, Carpenter. Take your pick. Earn while you Learn. Earn a Journeyman’s card and have an excellent future, and good retirement. Truckings looking good for the immediate future. Like always though, it changes. Yes Drivers pay does go down. It did in 2000, dropped across the board. You’ll always have a Job, just might not have the pay it’s worth. Sometimes the Trades are making twice an average Drivers annual pay. Sometimes there out of work, while Drivers still work, be it at lesser pay. Thats my 2cents. Always a Job Driving Somewhere.
     
    Last edited: Oct 29, 2021
    dwells40 Thanks this.
  4. Lazer

    Lazer Road Train Member

    1,353
    2,106
    Jan 22, 2017
    0
    If are scared to get back on the road and drive again, you answered your own question. Driving is not for you.
     
  5. TankerP

    TankerP Road Train Member

    1,188
    2,741
    Oct 1, 2010
    Holding the steering wheel
    0
    Ive heard this question asked since I first got my CDL 28 years ago. And the answer is always, “it depends on you”
     
    dwells40, Dave_in_AZ and Chinatown Thank this.
  6. Chinatown

    Chinatown Road Train Member

    68,036
    142,291
    Aug 28, 2011
    Henderson, NV & Orient
    0
    There's 3.5 million truckers in the USA and more needed.
    Yes, trucking is a great career and even the complainers won't do anything else; they love it.
    Next time you hear one griping, ask him why he still drives. You'll hear all kinds of excuses, but in the end, he won't quit trucking.
     
    dwells40, Speed_Drums, sirhwy and 2 others Thank this.
  7. RoadSideDown

    RoadSideDown Light Load Member

    163
    343
    Feb 26, 2021
    0
    I agree the skilled trades are the best option if you are in your 20s or early 30s. They are desperate for apprentices and have decent pay, valuable knowledge and experience and you can easily stay a senior employee or start your own contracting business.

    If older than that then trucking is a decent alternative. Pretty much the same pay in the first several years with much less training. But much more risk (regulations, shifty employers) and variable work conditions.
    I retired from IT and did some labor jobs and truck driving is way better than unskilled labor. I wish I had discovered it years ago. Have a Class B for two years and now in training to get my Class A. Already trained on a forklift which was a nice bonus as I never got a chance to operate any equipment before.

    Join a skilled trade or try trucking. IT has gone way down hill as described above. Job applications are all screened with AI bots and every applicant lies or uses tricks such as embedding all buzz words and criteria as super tiny white text that the eye doesn’t see but the bot does. If you enjoy trying to out smart job bots and 1,000 lying competitors then IT would be great fun. If you enjoy an honest days work and tangible results then the trades or trucking are better.
     
    dwells40 Thanks this.
  8. bryan21384

    bryan21384 Road Train Member

    12,524
    25,686
    Sep 18, 2009
    Memphis, TN
    0
    Despite what the naysayers say, I'd say yes, it is worth it to get your license. It is all about what you put into it, just like anything else. It's a different lifestyle than other jobs. Many guys go from company to company looking for some sort of nirvana, but at some point you create your own success. You make it work. It don't hurt to go into technology though. Its good to be diverse.. What you put it into it will determine if you think it's worth it or not.
     
  9. Cdubb

    Cdubb Light Load Member

    119
    96
    Mar 22, 2015
    0
    It depends vastly on you. I would say more times than not it’s a great idea to go trucking but it ultimately comes down to what you require and expect. There’s a lot of good paying daycab stuff out there if you don’t want to be over the road too. Had a UPS line haul guy basically recruit me saying they were hiring guys fresh out of school at $27 an hour with benefits for out and back runs. Lots of options out there even for newbies, I just wish I had started sooner is my only regret in trucking.
     
    dwells40 and RoadSideDown Thank this.
  10. 1catfish

    1catfish Road Train Member

    1,456
    649
    Jul 18, 2010
    0
    so to answer your question i would say no.
     
  11. Hazmat Cat

    Hazmat Cat Medium Load Member

    636
    1,777
    Oct 18, 2019
    0
  • Truckers Report Jobs

    Trucking Jobs in 30 seconds

    Every month 400 people find a job with the help of TruckersReport.