Do you need a new job? After a year or more of working from
home, did your employer just call you back into the office? But is cubicle life
not for you anymore? If you would rather switch careers than go back to an
office job, take a look at what you need to know about trucking.
Why Go From an Office Job to Trucking?
The answer to this question depends on you - and your
personal preferences or job goals. If you've always worked indoors in a
sit-down office job, truck driving is a complete change that comes with plenty
of benefits. When four walls and the same work setting day after day don't cut
it, a job in truck driving:
- Offers
a steady change in scenery. Whether you choose to work as a long-haul
or local driver, you won't have to sit in the same office every day.
Instead, you'll get to explore the open road and travel from state to
state or around your town.
- Allows
you to meet new people. Do you enjoy meeting new people? Did your
former office job limit this? If a return to the office means a return to
the same few faces you've seen every day for years, a truck driving job
can change this. As a trucker, you'll interact with different customers
daily or weekly.
- Allows
you to spend time by yourself. Is the social aspect of office life
your least favorite part of the job? While some truckers enjoy meeting new
customers or clients, others prefer the solitude of the open road.
- Provides
freedom and flexibility. Your work-from-home schedule had the
flexibility you need. But a nine-to-five, Monday through Friday office job
doesn't. While some truckers do work set hours, other drivers have a
flexible schedule. This could include one week on-one week off, nighttime
hours, or other nontraditional options.
Along with these benefits, truck driving could improve your
finances. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), in 2020, the
median pay for a heavy or tractor-trailer truck driver was $47,130 per year. If
the earning potential in the trucking field is higher than what your office job
pays, a switch could help you to mortgage a new house, buy a new car, or make
other major life changes.
How Can You Become a Truck Driver?
Now that you know more about the reasons to transition from
an office job to a truck driving career, take the next step. If you're serious
about this major life change:
- Contact
a training program. The specific background requirements necessary to
drive a truck professionally vary by state. A truck driving training
program can help you to understand what type of education and hands-on
experiences behind the wheel you need. You may need to contact a few
schools to decide which one is the best option.
- Enroll
in a training program. A training program provides you with the basic
knowledge you'll need to safely operate a truck or tractor-trailer. After
you contact driving schools, choose one that matches your needs and enroll
in the next available class.
- Get
the right license. The type of license you need to drive
professionally depends on what type of job you want. You'll likely need a
commercial driver's license (CDL). This could include a Class A, Class B,
or Class C license and endorsements (such as hazardous materials or
passenger).
If you're not sure what to look for in a training program,
talk to industry professionals. Truck drivers or trucking employers can provide
you with a list of experience or training requirements necessary to work in
this field.
Are you ready to start a new career? Contact Commercial Trucking School
for more information.
