If you are looking for work, I’d like to submit truck driving for your consideration.
Like any job, there are positives and negatives to it. I searched hard for a decent job for years, and I think I finally found it in the trucking industry.
**But aren’t the robots going to take over truck driving?
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Sure. Someday the robots will be doing all the truck driving. But that isn’t going to happen for a long time. I remember more than five years ago a guy from California assured me with a religious conviction that in less than five years almost all the cars on the road would be driverless. Here we are, more than five years later and nope, not really.
For robots to take over trucking, first they need to get every paved surface in the country covered with 5G. Much of Wyoming’s roads still aren’t covered by 3G even.
Another problem is that I’ve noticed most of the electronic sensors in current trucks go haywire when it is snowy and icy. The engineers need to fix that problem too. Driverless trucks may be a thing in the South soon, but it will be a long time before they are running in winter in places like Montana.
My guess is that it will be AT LEAST 10 years before robot trucks are really a thing, and probably more like 20. So if you are a 22 year old, you might be better off learning to code because trucking will go away someday. However, if you are in your 30s, 40s, or 50s and looking for a career change, trucking could be just the thing for you!
**How much can you make trucking?
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That depends on a lot of things of course. Most of the best truck driving jobs are reserved for those with at least two years of driving experience. As a new driver, you can get a good job, but you just won’t be qualified for the BEST jobs. Even so, with the shortage of truckers in America right now, you can walk out of school and get a $50k a year job without even trying. You can get a $60k or $70k a year job if you look a little. Once you’ve got some experience, many truckers are making over $100k now. How much does Starbucks pay liberal arts PhD’s?
**How do I get a CDL?
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If you own a truck, or a friend of yours does, you can just study, take the written test, get a learner’s permit, practice, and then go take the driving test. It costs a little in fees to the DOT, but not much.
There are many truck driving schools in the country. I went to [Sage Truck Driving School](Sage Truck Driving School) here in Cheyenne, WY. They are a national chain and have schools all over the country. The schools will probably be a one stop shop. They will handle all the background checks and other paperwork necessary to get your CDL with all the endorsements and certs. Start to finish it takes less than five weeks. It’s easy peasy. All you gotta do is show up. It does cost approximately $5,000 though. There is often financial aid available. Wyoming has a scholarship program for unemployed parents. Basically, if you do not have a job currently, and have at least one child under the age of 18, Wyoming will completely pay for your school. Your only commitment is you need to work as a truck driver for at least one year after completing the school. You’re state may have something similar so look into it!
A third option is to get hired with a company that has their own driver training program. This can be a great deal, however it will restrict your freedom. If you get your own license, you can be picky and choosy about who you work for. If you sign up with a company and they get you your license, they kinda own your ass for a year or so.
There is a fantastic website that will help you study for the written CDL test. It’s called [Trucking Truth](Trucking Truth.) Trucking Truth has all sorts of real word testimonials from drivers who will describe what real driving life is like. It’s a great place to go if this article interests you and you want to learn more details about professional driving. It’s also a great place to go to study for the exam.
There are also a variety of smartphone apps that will give you test questions to study to prepare for the test. CDL Prep Test by CoCo is my personal favorite. That’s all I did. I took all the online prep tests. That took about three, six hour days of work. Then I walked into the DOT, took all the tests in one sitting and passed each one. It ain’t hard, but if you are not a good test taker you will have to study more.
I’m a lady, can I be a truck driver?
Absolutely! There are many women in trucking now, and there are more coming in every day. It’s a male dominated profession, but it’s not at all men only.
That’s all I’ve got to say about that. If you are looking for a good way to make decent money, you really should give truck driving a look.
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Great idea for sure man! This country and world needs truck drivers. I don’t think they will be able to automate it the way they want for a while for those reasons as well as some others. They are testing it that’s for sure but with the rise of hacking and all that I don’t have high hopes for them getting it working anytime soon.
Absolutely! They want driverless trucks real bad, and they'll get them eventually, but it just isn't going to happen overnight.