Truck Driving as a Summer Job

Memorial Day weekend tends to mark the official start of summer. College kids are back home, grade-school kids are wrapping up in the classroom. And, most importantly, the sun is shining, and the temperatures are rising.

Since summer is upon us, we figured it would be a great opportunity to discuss summer driving jobs. It has become common for people, like teachers, professors, or students, to look for summer work. More and more people in those occupations are starting to look to truck driving as their summer side hustle.

 

Why You Should be a Truck Driver This Summer:

1. It’s a great side hustle

It’s no secret that truck driver salaries have increased significantly over the past few years. According to the National Transportation Institute, truck driver pay increased by almost 10 percent between 2017 and 2018. So there’s no question that being a CDL A truck driver would bring in the extra income you may be looking for.

2. You get to see the country

What’s a better way to see the country than behind the wheel of a semi-truck? While many companies, like Dot Transportation, Inc. (DTI), tend to have regionally-based driving positions, it would still be a great way to explore and ensure you get the home time you’re looking for.

3. Gain experience for your resume

Truck driving for the summer gives you the resume-building work experience you may be looking for. Customer service, organization, time management, teamwork, effective communication, independence—all of these adjectives can be added to your resume after spending the summer as a truck driver.

4. Get prepared for your second career or a retirement backup plan

Is retirement in your future? Or are you looking to make a career change? Truck driving makes a fantastic second career and is a useful income during retirement. Getting the miles you need under your belt to get better pay later on could be completed by driving for a few summers. Then you can say “hello” to a hefty income stream later on.

 

Am I too old? Am I too young?

In our opinion, you’re never too old to be a truck driver—as long as you can pass the Department of Transportation (D.O.T.) physical, our in-house physical, and possess a CDL A.

But, when it comes to being too young, we recommend that you are at least 21 years old. Due to the federal law that states you have to be 21 years of age or older to cross state lines in a semi-truck, most companies will not hire 18- to 20-year-olds. That being said, there may be local positions in your area who would be able to recruit younger drivers!

 

What if I don’t have my Class A CDL yet?

No worries—spend this summer in the classroom at a local truck driving school. Get your CDL A and then you’ll be set to hunt for a truck driving job next summer.

Long story short—Earn money. Gain experience. Develop your skills. See the country. It doesn’t get better than that.

Ready to hit the road this summer?

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