If you are looking for a lucrative career that is rewarding and can provide for your family, consider the trucking industry. The trucking industry is consistently at a shortage of talented truck drivers. The reason for this is that the hours can be long and tiring and many do not want to drive long distances all the time.
Some find that being a truck driver takes them away from family and friends for extended periods of time. While some find these attributes to be detrimental to one’s overall well-being and goals for their family, others thrive on such a lifestyle.
If you are a free spirit who enjoys traveling by vehicle on the open road, truck driving is a career that you should seriously consider. With outstanding benefits and a great truck driver salary, truck drivers are never without work. The economy and the world needs truck drivers to help transport food, goods, and livestock to various aspects of the country.
Truck drivers play a critical role in running the economy and helping businesses flourish. If you are interested in trucking but are not sure what type of trucking job to look in to, this article will help you. This article is intended to be a guide and help you determine the best trucking jobs to look into when you are looking for a good job.
First, you need to determine what constitutes a good trucking job. People are different and have opinions on jobs and what makes a job good or bad. Because opinions are subjective, we have compiled a list of positive attributes that are often shared when talking about being employed within the trucking industry. Some prefer the flexibility to travel around the country.
Others appreciate the great pay for little schooling. Some find that sitting behind the wheel of a truck is much more exciting than sitting behind a desk for 40 hours a week. There are a plethora of reasons as to why people go into trucking as their full-time job. Whether you are interested in the pay or want a career, you can find out the best types of trucking jobs around by reading this article.
Commercial Truck Driving
When you think of a trucking job, you most likely think of commercial truck drivers. There are many perks to driving a truck for your favorite company. You would be surprised to find out that your favorite supermarket or shopping destination pays their trucking staff a great deal of money. It is true. In order to find the best drivers, a company must pay well and offer substantial benefits. In this section, we will share the top paying commercial trucking jobs.
Acme Truck Lines
Have you ever grocery shopped at Acme stores? Some say that their prices are higher than other grocery chain stores and now it is apparent as to why. Acme Corporation pays their truck drivers a handsome salary in addition to paying their other staff well. The cost of paying their employees well is then transferred onto the consumer. However, if you are looking at a job in the trucking industry, working for Acme is a great choice as they pay the best and offer a generous benefits program.
Pros
- Best paying trucking company in the US
- Acme operates nearly 3,000 trucks within seven states
- Steady work is likely as Acme tends to haul over 9,000 truckloads weekly
- Known to pay employees on time. For example, you transport a load one week and you get paid for the job the next week
- Acme allows employees to use a debit card or direct deposit as a way of being paid. They also provide the option of cash advances or provide gas cards
- Acme offers physical and bobtail damage insurance
- 401K plan is available
- You don’t have to be experienced to land a job at Acme
Cons
- Trucks are leased and not owned by Acme
- Acme does not provide or offer training
Walmart
Walmart is highly profitable because of their great roll-back pricing and the reputation for selling just about everything under one roof for less than other stores. Walmart attracts people from all walks of life and pays their employees well. Working for Walmart is a rewarding experience as you are paid generously which makes you feel valued for your contributions to the company.
Without dedicated, skilled, and timely truck drivers, goods would not be transported to stores for consumers to purchase. Walmart thrives on having an abundance of stock at any given time and much of this is attributed to having good truck drivers who can deliver freight in a timely manner. Here are some reasons that working for Walmart is considered one of the best trucking jobs in the country.
Pros
- Walmart owns their own fleet
- Walmart pays their drivers very well and are considered to be one of the top companies to work for in the US
- The average driver for Walmart earns $82,000 per year and works a 5.5 day work week
- Walmart pays for mileage and training
- Walmart offers a quarterly safe driving bonus
- Walmart gives driver’s time off to visit with family once a week
- Walmart drivers do not have to load or unload freight
- Walmart offers great medical, dental, vision, and pharmacy benefits that start on your first day on the job
- Option of enrolling in a 401K or stock purchase plan
- Low turnover rate. Driver’s leave because they are retiring, not because they don’t like the work or the company
Cons
- Walmart requires that you have at least 30 months of full-time trucking experience working on a Class A trailer within the last 3 years
- You will need to have an Interstate Class A and Hazmat endorsement
- You cannot have serious traffic violations on your record within the past 3 years
- Within the past 10 years, you can’t have had convictions for a DUI, DWI, reckless driving, or operating under the influence.
CRST International
When you work for CRST International, you can rest assured that you are employed by a trucking company that has a great reputation for hiring both experienced and novice drivers. CRST has been around for a long time and can assure their drivers that they will have consistent work.
Pros
- Well known and has a good reputation for being a good employer and a great trucking company
- CRST has its own trucking school so you can earn your CDL license by working with them
- Job security and consistent work leads to a stable career
- CRST has never had a layoff
- You will be paired with another driver who lives in your area when you are training. You can train with your friend or family member if you choose
- CRST offers guaranteed home time which is a nice perk as many companies don’t value this as much
- Sign-on bonuses available
- $100 towards Hazmat application
- Earn up to a $500 bonus for referring friends who are then hired by CRST
- You will receive payment for loaded and unloaded miles
- CRST offers twice-a-week paydays
- Medical coverage is offered through Blue Shield PPO insurance and begins on your first day of employment
- Disability, accident, and life insurance are also included in your benefits package
- Option to enroll in a 401K program after 90 days on the job
- Paid vacations
- CRST offers driver’s a unique “Shut Down” policy which means that if a driver is feeling ill or the weather is treacherous, they do not have to work
Cons
- Long hours away from home
- Being on the road can be tiresome and take the joy out of seeing new things
- Training can be long and grueling
- Training can be expensive and require that you commit to the company for an extended period of time to pay back the expense of the training
Working for a company has its perks but some choose to work on their own. There are benefits to working on your own such as being able to determine your work schedule and how often you choose to work. There are several options for working on your own which include leasing a truck through a company, leasing to own a truck, and purchasing a truck outright. Here are the benefits and setbacks to working on for yourself as a truck driver.
Lease Truck Driving
If you are tired of working for a company but you don’t have what it takes to run your own trucking business, leasing a truck is a great option to consider. Leasing a truck gives you the independence to choose the jobs that you want to take advantage of. There are many who prefer to lease a truck as it gives them the ability to be their own boss without having to worry about dealing with the insurance, maintenance, and upkeep of the truck.
If you are interested in leasing a truck, you will need to determine if you want to set up a conventional lease or a lease-to-own contract. A conventional lease will allow you to rent the truck from a company with no end purchase price. A lease-to-own contract outlines payments and the number of payments that need to be made in order for the lessee to own the truck outright. Some who want to own their own trucking company but do not have the funds to purchase a new truck choose to lease a truck so that they can eventually own it someday.
Pros
- Leasing from a company allows you to operate as an owner but still receive consistent work. You can pick and choose which loads you want to haul
- You can decide how long you will be out on the road
- Check with your tax accountant as leasing a truck may have implications on filing taxes
- If your truck needs maintenance, the leasing company will either pay for the repairs or give you a significant discount
- If you make it part of the initial agreement, you could lease to own the truck
- Lease payments are typically cheaper than ownership payments
- You will own the truck after the lease terms have been paid in full
Cons
- You will need to make sure that you haul enough to be able to make your lease payments
- The exclusive repair documentation can be restrictive when you are out on the road which can end up being a costly situation for you as a lessee
- You may own your truck after you lease it for an extended period of time. This will need to be discussed at the beginning of the lease agreement
- You will not be able to make upgrades to the truck unless you get permission in writing from the company you have the lease through
- If your truck breaks down on the road, you will need to call the company to have it towed to a location of their choosing for repairs. This can be inconvenient for you, especially if you need to be home on a specific date
Owner-Operator Truck Driving
One of the most lucrative trucking jobs is to own your own truck or lease one. You will be paid more per mile if you lease or own your own truck. Being an owner and operator can bring in a great deal of money per year which is why some people choose this route for their career. The pay is a great benefit of working on your own and it is also nice to be your own boss. However, there are some downsides to working for yourself as well.
Pros
- When you own a truck, you can determine when you work and for whom
- You can make more money. Some drivers make up to $160,000 annually
- You can make your own schedule. While this is quite a perk, you have to keep in mind that if you are not out on the road, you aren’t making money to pay the bills
- When you own your truck, you can customize it and make it comfortable. For example, if you have always wanted a nice seat, you can have one in your own truck. You can also design your truck in a way that is more comfortable and conducive to your preferences
- Due to your own insurance policy, you can determine who can ride with you. Some owners enjoy having a furry friend on the ride with them. It helps to make the open road not so lonely while being away from family
- There is a shortage of good truck drivers in the industry which means that you won’t have to worry about looking for work. Many companies are on the lookout for trucks with good drivers so there will always be work
Cons
- Starting your own trucking company can be a costly endeavor and one that many cannot afford. Some trucking companies will allow you to lease the truck until you are at a point where you can own it outright
- You will need to find and book your own jobs which can be quite a challenge. If you choose to lease a truck, the leasing company will be able to help you find jobs to transport
- When you factor in your pay, you will need to take into consideration the costs to operate your truck as well as the upkeep and maintenance of your vehicle. You will make a significant amount of money, but you will also need to be smart about where you put your income and how you save it for business expenses
- Trucks depreciate quickly so you may take a loss if you choose to leave the trucking industry. This is important to keep in mind before you make a big investment in buying your truck
- You will need to pay for your health insurance and other benefits out of pocket
- You will need to invest in your own insurance plan
- When you take vacation, you will not receive a paycheck as you work for yourself and you will not be accruing company vacation time
- Taxes may become complicated, so you may find yourself in need of hiring an accountant to assist with your yearly taxes
Conclusion
The trucking industry is promising and is not going anywhere anytime soon. The US needs trucks to help transport goods, produce, livestock, cars, and other items from one part of the country to another. Trucks play a big role in the livelihood of our economy and ensure that everyone in the country has food, clothes, water, and other necessities.
Working on the trucking industry can be taxing and a grueling lifestyle, but it doesn’t have to be. The trucking industry provides some options to you whether you are a new or seasoned driver. You can work for a company, lease to own a truck, lease a truck without goals of ownership, or own a truck. There are many options to choose from which makes the trucking industry one to consider if you are looking for a job that offers flexibility, consistent work, and a great paycheck.