Looking for a new career? Trying to figure out where to start?

Have you thought about becoming a professional truck driver?

The average truck driver in the United States is 55 years old and starting to consider retirement. That means a large chunk of the workforce responsible for getting our favorite products on the shelves of our local stores won’t be around for much longer. This is where Millennials come in. 

Who are Millennials?

While there are many debates about what defines a Millennial, we are going to go with the definition from Pew Research: Millennials are anyone born between 1981 and 1996. 

Millennials have had a bad rep over the years because of their different approach to work, life, and how those two things work together.

Why Become a Professional Truck Driver?

1. Job Security

Drivers are in demand. What does that mean? That means job security for decades to come. 

Did you know?: 80 percent of American communities rely solely on trucks for the delivery of goods to their area, according to the Department of Transportation (D.O.T.). That’s a lot of communities and a lot of drivers who are needed to keep people fed; hospitals, schools, jails, and more stocked; and ensure people have the things they need to continue living. 

Plus, if you drive for a company like Dot Transportation, Inc. (DTI) then you have a history of 60 years with zero layoffs to bet on.

2. Top-of-the-line pay and benefits

Enter the trucking industry and you’ll find all around great benefits. The average new driver starts with an annual pay of around $40K. According to Indeed, the average driver in the United States makes around $61K. 

Your pay can be impacted by a variety of factors, such as your type of commercial drivers license (CDL), years of experience, the company you work for, the state you live in, your job type, schedule type, and more.

At DTI, you can be making upwards of $90K after driving with us for a few years. Plus, we offer a benefits package worth over $22K with medical, vision, and dental coverage options; disability and life insurance, 401(k) match, profit sharing, vacation time, holiday pay, and more. 

Long story short—The more miles you drive, the more experience you have. The more experience you have, the more money you make.

3. Getting a CDL can be inexpensive and not too time consuming

On average, getting your CDL costs between $3,000 and $7,000. On top of that, most programs only take around two months to complete. 

Plus, many companies—like DTI—have a tuition reimbursement program you can enroll in to have your schooling costs covered.

4. Don’t want to touch freight? You don’t have to.

Due to the high demand of professional truck drivers, companies have gotten more and more flexible over the past few years. Many companies will do anything they can to make their truck driving jobs more appealing—including offering no-touch driver positions, like DTI.

If you are looking to just drive your truck and not have to break down pallets of freight, a no-touch driving position may be the right career path for you.

5. Find the freedom a desk job can’t provide

For many Millennials, the idea of an office or desk job can be discouraging. They want to see the world and have a bit more job flexibility. They don’t want to be doing the same, mundane tasks day in and day out. Trucking can solve that problem. 

When you’re a truck driver, you get the opportunity to be out on the open road and meet people from across the country. Plus, one day will never be exactly the same as the last. 

And, now that more companies are offering more flexibility to their drivers, you don’t have to sacrifice your personal time by spending weeks upon weeks of time on the road. You can be a regional or local driver—a position that gets you home multiple days per week.

6. Opportunities for career advancement

While you may think that having a career as a professional truck driver may result in minimal career advancement, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. 

Starting a career in trucking can still lead to a lot of opportunities, such as becoming a trainer, a transportation manager, or even making the switch to supply chain management, safety direction, and more. There are dozens of opportunities that can come from being a professional driver. 

But, if you don’t want to be a manager or aren’t interested in position advancement, you can continue collecting miles and become an expert driver.

7. Keep the United States running

Like we mentioned before, 80 percent of American communities rely solely on trucks for the delivery of goods. Truck drivers play a hugely important role in the U.S. economy and keeping the supply chain moving. Without drivers, our day-to-day lives and economy would look very, very different.

Interested in becoming a professional driver? Check out our job postings by clicking here. While not all of our locations are hiring today due to COVID-19, we do have a handful of locations who are in need of drivers. 

Check back frequently to see our available jobs.

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