Is it still worth it to become a trucker?

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.

 

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.

 

If are scared to get back on the road and drive again, you answered your own question. Driving is not for you.

 

Ive heard this question asked since I first got my CDL 28 years ago. And the answer is always, “it depends on you”

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

so to answer your question i would say no.

 

Keep on truckin