7 Benefits of Being a Truck Driver
Trucking is one of, if not the most important industry that has emerged in the last century. Since the 1930s these big rigs have delivered physical goods across the United States, and into Mexico and Canada, too! From rudimentary goods such as clothes to the exotic such as radioactive waste, if it needs to be moved from one place to the other, chances are a truck pulled it there. If you are considering a career change into something more adventurous, becoming a truck driver might just be what you are looking for. Here are some of the benefits to being a truck driver, ordered from least-best to the best!
7. Food
Whether you eat to live or live to eat, the truck driver life can cater to both lifestyles. You could stop at a convenience store for a banana and muffin, or you could mark popular eateries along your trip and make stops as necessary. Just make sure the location offers truck parking, but if it is along a major interstate they would be foolish not to do so!
6. Bring Your Pet
Trucking does not have to mean leaving your life behind you. Many trucking companies will allow you to bring your furry friend with you! Doing this will enable you to have a friend every step of the journey. Of course, if you choose to become your own boss, this decision is entirely up to you. Most rest areas have pet-friendly accommodations for their needs.
5. Music, Radio, Podcasts
If your current job forbids you from listening to your tunes while you work, audio entertainment is the rule for truck driving. Listen to your favorite music, laugh at stand-up comedy recordings, or hear a podcast about a subject that interests you. With podcasts on virtually every subject, it is highly unlikely you will run out of content even if driving ten hours every day.
4. Sightseeing
Does looking outside your window and seeing the same parking lot every time sound appalling to you? As you drive across the North American continent, you will see constantly changing landscapes. From the redwood forests of the west coast to the cold blustering winds of Maine, you will almost always get to see something new.
If driving in certain areas does not sound appealing to you, often a trucking company will have dedicated routes that need consistent running, such as delivering tons of tomatoes through the state of California.
If you ever decide to get your own truck or trailer for your business, we hope you will consider Go Capital. Read on below for more information on how we can get you your own equipment.
3. Upward Mobility
Some may see being a truck driver as a dead-end job, but nothing can be further from the truth. Once you have your CDL and a few years of driving under your belt, new opportunities can open to you. You may opt to become a CDL instructor and work close to home at all times, start your own trucking business as an owner-operator, or stay with the same company and get more pay and vacation time after a set number of years. The choice is yours.
2. High Demand
There has been talk of a “trucker shortage” for over a decade now, and logistics companies and those needing their goods shipped have been needing to have driver seats filled, offering many of the benefits provided in this list (such as pet ownership) to entice people to come behind the wheel.
With trucking in such high demand, getting hired is almost as easy as getting your CDL. Fulfill the training and interview for the job: it is much more straightforward than sending your resumé to dozens of different employers needing 7 years experience for an entry-level job.
1. Pay and Benefits
It might seem a little weird to have benefits in a list about benefits, but despite the apparent paradox, it stays true. When you sign on as a company driver for various logistics companies, you will get more than just a paycheck. Packages often include health, vision, and dental insurance; paid time off; 401(k) matching; and other potential benefits depending on the employer.
The flow of money is a big part of any business relationship, and at the time of writing, pay rates are good. Depending on who you work for, you can get paid 55 cents per mile or $25 per hour. If you opt to work for yourself, your pay may be more or less depending on various factors. In any case, an eight hour day averaging 50 miles per hour can get you $220 in a day.
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About Go Capital
Go Capital specializes in providing funding for small to medium-sized trucking businesses that are looking to buy a used truck or trailer to expand the fleet. Even if your credit is not the greatest, we can work with you to get you or your employee behind the wheel and start generating cash!
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