How To Become A Truck Driver
Want to travel and get paid to do so than being a Truck Driver is a nice career. Truck drivers frequently work long hours and may be away from their families for extended periods of time. Truck drivers will not only have to drive their trucks, but may be responsible for loading and unloading the goods after arriving at their destination. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS, www.bls.gov), the median hourly wage reported for truck drivers was about $20 per hour in May 2017, while the median annual salary was about $42k.
There’s a lot of jobs are available, with average growth of 6% predicted from 2016-2026, but a high number of qualified applicants and downturns in the economy can lead to fierce competition for the most desirable positions. High gas prices may eat into the profit margins of independent truck drivers, resulting in lower-than-usual profits.
In 2017, Driver/sales workers & truck drivers earned an average about $41k. The number of people employed as Driver/sales workers & truck drivers has been growing at a rate of 1%, about 3.3M Truck Driver in 2016. About 93% of Driver/sales workers & truck drivers are Male, making them the more common gender in the occupation. About 72% of Driver/sales workers & truck drivers are White, making that the most common race or ethnicity in the occupation. Representing 15% of Driver/sales workers & truck drivers, Black is the second most common race or ethnicity in this occupation.
How To Become A Truck Driver
You really don’t need a specific degree to become a truck driver, but some trucking companies prefer a high school diploma or a GED but you must have a commercial driver’s license that will allow you to drive a truck over 26,000 pounds. Now if your want to open your own trucking company have a certificate or associate’s degree in automotive technology and business can be helpful. You’ll have a better understand on how to run a business.
Also you must maintain a clean driving record. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, www.fmcsa.dot.gov, you must take and pass the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (FMCSR) Exam, offered by the U.S. Department of Transportation. This consists of a written test and a driving test that you must pass to become a truck driver. You will have to take and pass this test every two years. Concentration and attention to detail is a must, as truck drivers because of the work hours and must often drivers must track their load’s weight, contents, as well as logging their own hours worked and slept, per industry regulations.
(source: https://datausa.io)