If you’re about to graduate high school, or you are considering getting a college education; you may want to look into a career as a truck driver first.
As a truck driver, you can earn $40,000 per year or more, right away! In just a few years, you can be making $70,000 per year, which is comparable to the average college-educated salary.
There are also many opportunities to grow in a trucking career, including supervisor or dispatcher roles within trucking companies.
While a college education is also a fantastic route for some, it may also come with mounting student loans and take years to advance in your career. Keep reading to discover 5 reasons why a truck driving career might be better for you.
See our article “Is truck driving worth it?”
1. You’ll be able to start working right away.
If you want to start working right away, a truck driving career is an excellent choice.
Many trucking companies even offer truck driving school programs for people looking to obtain their commercial driver’s license (CDL).
Oftentimes, the company will cover the cost of your driving school and you’ll be able to start earning money right away. You don’t need to wait four years for a degree or go through the stresses of college life before getting started in your career.
See our guide on how to find the right truck driving school
2. Less debt, more financial freedom.
If you talk to any financial advisor, they’d say you don’t want to be in debt. It’s almost impossible to get out of, and it can be a burden on your future.
A truck driving career gives you the chance to avoid debt altogether. If you go to college, you will likely have debt from student loans and then with interest, that debt will just keep growing.
But if you become a truck driver instead, it costs on average $1,500 to $3,500 to attend driving school, and sometimes you can even have it paid for by a trucking company.
Then, you’ll enter the workforce at an impressive starting salary where you can immediately start saving money for retirement or for your family.
See our guide for “How to pay for your CDL license”
3. Your career is an open road.
There are many directions a trucking career can take you in — from dispatch to supervisor roles within a trucking company. No traditional office politics or having to climb your way up a corporate ladder.
4. Gain outstanding benefits.
A truck driving career offers a lot of benefits. For one, you get good health insurance. You also have dental, vision, and life insurance for you and your family. You can also get disability insurance if anything happens that prevents you from working. Many companies offer a 401(k) plan where employees save part of their salary each year to receive a retirement income when they are older. And in addition to all of this, truck drivers usually have paid vacations and holidays off every year.
5. Not your average 9-5.
As a truck driver, you’ll be driving all day and have the opportunity to see the country. While on the road, you can listen to podcasts or audiobooks, mull things over, and make stops wherever you want along the way. As long as you deliver your haul on time and safely, you’ll be seen as a hard worker and valuable driver. If working at a desk all day long from 9-5 sounds unbearable, then a truck driving career may be the better route for you.
In the end, we believe that a truck driving career is a great alternative to college. If you want to start working right away and don’t mind traveling, then this might be the right choice for you. Plus, it’s important to keep in mind that there are many other benefits of driving over going to school: no student loans, better pay, and benefits like health insurance or 401K plans—sounds like a great starting point, right? If you’d like to learn more about a career in trucking from industry insiders, reach out to us today.
