Truck driving can be a positive and rewarding career path. But there’s a lot of misinformation and misconceptions out there that can cast a dark cloud on the industry and the people who bring it to life. To dispel some of these falsehoods, we asked our very own drivers what they believe to be the biggest misconception in the trucking world. Here’s what they had to say…
The training is quick and easy
Maybe other places, but not here. At Dot Transportation, every one of our drivers, regardless of their experience, goes through a multi-week training program to learn the ins and outs of the truck driving world and everything it takes to be a Dot Transportation driver. That’s one-on-one training with a dedicated trainer who is there to help you succeed. You won’t be on your own until both you and your trainer agree that you’re ready.
Truck driving is an old man’s job
Wrong again. The truth is, men and women of all ages have found trucking to be a positive career choice. Every year, more and more women are finding success behind the wheel and our CDL classrooms have aspiring drivers as young as 18 getting their first taste of the professional world all the way up to folks in their 50s and 60s looking for a second or third change in career direction.
Every day is a paid vacation
We like to say that every day is an adventure, and that’s the truth. As a driver, you’ll rack up miles through every corner of the country, never knowing what you’ll encounter next. Drivers constantly compare this favorably to just sitting in a cubicle all day long. But no one would call it a “vacation” by any means. At the end of the day, you have a responsibility to get the job done.
You’re gone for weeks or months at a time
This really depends on the carrier. Some drivers will spend extended periods of time on the road. Some drivers are home every single evening. At Dot Transportation, we’re somewhere in the middle. We have a variety of schedules to get our drivers the miles they need, but nothing that keeps them away from home for more than a few days at a time. Our drivers are home every week and generally know their schedules far in advance as to make home scheduling much easier.
The pay isn’t good
While we can’t speak to the pay structures for every carrier, we can say that Dot Transportation drivers are paid extraordinarily well. We use what’s known as “activity-based pay” which compensates drivers for every part of the job, not just the odometer miles. Last year, first-year drivers earned an average of $84,000 with our fleet-wide average right around $100,000.
Anyone can be a truck driver
This one deserves a big asterisk. Yes, technically anyone that wants to go out and earn their CDL is legally allowed to drive a commercial vehicle. But to say “anyone can drive a truck” is a big stretch. Like any job, you need to have the right work ethic, the right state of mind, the right approach to learning, and the right attitude to be successful. Now, if you have all of that, you might be just who we’re looking for.