The PROs and CONs of being a TRUCK DRIVER?

Question

could someone please tell me about the pros and cons of being a truck driver?

I'm considering it as a career change. I currently work a dead end office job that pays around $13 an hour and I would like to make more money.

Answer 1

pros: good pay, job security,many companies to chose from, no physical labor

cons: may have to go over the road, have to keep a clean driving record, most of the best postitions you need experience

i say to go for it.

Answer 2

I'm not sure how old you are, or if you have a family, but let me give you my thoughts. My husband is a truck driver. He has been home a total of 1 week in the past 2 months. We have 2 little girls (1 & 3) who never see him. Personally, and he agrees, that yes, it is nice to see the country, and the money can be alright, but you work long hours for the pay. And, if you do have a family, or plan on it someday, be prepared for your children to grow up without you. My husband would give anything to find another job, but once you start, it is hard to get out of. I don't want to tell you what to do or not do, but be sure you think it through.

Answer 3

I had thought about it.

First starting ( after driving school ) you will probably only get long haul runs. The short ones usually taken by the guys who have time under their belts. Also many companies like Safeway, Wal-mart and such want you to have at least 5 years of driving behind you before they hire you. They pay well .

Con - Not home to much, you can be on a time schedule you better not miss ( usually you have more then enough time.)Have to drive in all conditions.

If you like driving it a great job. See different places, money is ok. not very physical. you drive usually you do not load or unload.

Up to you though. Can be a fantastic job for you never know unless you try it.

Answer 4

You want make that much more money. Do you realize how much it costs to live on the road? You will work the longest and strangest hours in your life. Sometimes you will go days with out showers. Not by choice but because your in Moline Illinois and you have a delivery to make in Cicanatti Ohio in 12 hours after you have been up for 11 hours......ooops...... You made a wrong turn ,now you got to turn a 53 foot reefer around on some side street. Yea right. Don't go under the low power line your will knock out power to half the town. That low hanging tree branch might rip a hole down you trailor. Somehow you get your load there, you wait four hours to get unloaded, another two hours to get dispatched. When you finally get your new load your off to see the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. Those mountains look beautifull after an inch of ice.

Answer 5

Truck driving is not all that bad of a job however it can get to you just like any other job. Just remember that there are pros and cons about any job you go to. I do get tempted to look at different career paths from time to time because I have been driving for 20 years now in just Southern California. I drive a class B truck and get plenty of excersise doing that, Long Haul I would not touch because you do have to sit around quite a bit of the time.

Answer 6

Not a truck driver either but like several other posts, think seeing the country would be a pro. But maybe not so if you aren't able to see the scenic parts of the country. And maybe nice to be out there and not in an office all the time. But maybe there would be some pressure to get cargo transported in x amount of time.

Answer 7

Pros: Good Pay, Theres always a job to do, You can bring a friend to work, you don't have a boss bugging you all day, you are free to go wherever you want because you pick out the routes you want,visit a lot of countries, meet a lot of people/ Cons: Is exhausting, you get sick of driving,less exercise, and your testicles produce less semen,because your testicles are in constant heat since you are going to be seated for long hours,meaning you are less probable of having a child this is for real i read it.

Answer 8

I'm not a truck driver, but here's my opinion:

Pros - see a lot of the country.
Cons - lots of time sitting, therefore not much exercise. A lot easier to put on weight.

Answer 9

It can be quite dangerous, hard on your body and mind, and monotonous. An independant rather than a salaried driver is more profitable.

Answer 10

just imagine the freedom of being on the road nobody telling you what to do or all that workplace hassle pure heaven