Is OTR truck driving worth it?

Good income

On average drivers earn $50,909, while Over The Road (OTR) drivers who haul freight over long distances earn on average nearly $64,000 per year. Private fleets- those that deliver freight only for one company- often have much higher levels of pay.

Are OTR truck drivers in demand?

However, we are of the belief that the truck driver shortage is a really a myth. There are many individuals with the training and skills needed to fill these truck driving job positions. But due to low pay and less than desirable working conditions, many are leaving the industry, in search of a better career.

Is trucking driving a good career?

Truck drivers are in high demand

There is currently a truck driver shortage in America, making it one of the most in-demand careers. As a truck driver you can expect to have a strong, stable, and long-lasting career. Truck driving is a good job to have.

Is OTR trucking hard?

Due to the nature of living in a truck for extended time periods, eating restaurant food (processed and highly salted), lack of exercise and relaxation time, the lifestyle of an OTR trucker can lead to serious health issues.

Do OTR drivers make more than local?

Higher Pay: OTR truck drivers often receive higher salaries than local drivers. The average pay for an OTR driver is $62,000 a year, but it may take time to build up to that.

Is OTR Truck Driving for You?? Because it Sucks!!

What is the easiest trucking job?

Dry van trucking is the easiest type of trucking job to get. For one thing, the turnover rate is very high, leaving a revolving door of open jobs. It's also not uncommon for mega carriers to have thousands of these in their fleets.

How long are OTR drivers gone?

Over-the-road drivers typically stay out for 4-6 weeks at a time before coming home. There are, however, many drivers who prefer to stay out longer, or take "home time" somewhere other than their actual home.

Is OTR trucking stressful?

A 2019 survey by CareerCast rated the trucking profession as one of the highest stress jobs in America. We were kind of surprised to see that the survey ranked truck driving as more stressful than professions in masonry, welding and food service.

How hard is life as a trucker?

According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, truck drivers can drive up to 11 hours a day within a 14-hour window. The 14-hour window is essentially a trucker's “workday.” After eight consecutive hours of driving, truckers are required to take a 30-minute rest.

What are the disadvantages of being a truck driver?

Is driving an 18 wheeler hard?

Most truck drivers agree that while driving an 18-wheeler isn't necessarily hard, there is a learning curve when it comes to operating such a large vehicle. You need a lot more space to do things like make a turn, back up, or change lanes, and you'll have significantly larger blind spots to adjust to.

What is the highest paying truck driving job?

Is the trucking industry dying?

Reported by Business Insider, Goldman Sachs predicts 300,000 truck driving jobs will be lost per year, starting in 2042 or sooner. Qualified drivers will eventually be replaced by computers (and a small number of human handlers).

Is driving a semi a good job?

A truck driving job is a great career for those who want to start earning a high annual salary without spending years on training. While there is required training and paperwork that goes into getting your CDL and authority, the pay is often worth it for truck drivers.

Is trucking profitable right now?

Based on past trends, experts expect long-term growth for the trucking industry. After adjustments for the pandemic, market research company Research and Markets projects that the global freight trucking market will increase to $5.5 trillion in 2027 from $4.2 trillion in 2020, a compound annual growth rate of 4%.

What is the hardest part about driving a truck?

Are truck drivers happy?

At CareerExplorer, we conduct an ongoing survey with millions of people and ask them how satisfied they are with their careers. As it turns out, truck drivers rate their career happiness 2.7 out of 5 stars which puts them in the bottom 10% of careers.

How often do truck drivers go home?

You Get To Go Home Every Three Weeks

When working on an OTR schedule, you will get to go home once every 3 weeks or so. That kind of work schedule can be rough on relationships or lifelong partnerships. Having a serious talk with your partner to see if that lifestyle can work while you.

Do OTR truckers get weekends off?

4 answers. Truck drivers typically get weekends off, they don't get paid overtime everything for truckers is paid in commission.

Is there really a trucker shortage?

According to the Transportation Department, roughly 300,000 truck drivers leave the profession every year. The COVID-19 pandemic only made the driver shortage worse because training and apprenticeship programs were either closed or limited their operations.

What is the best OTR trucking company to work for?

What type of freight pays the most?

What is the safest trucking company?

Which trucking company pays new drivers most?

Swift Transportation is the highest paying company for rookie drivers. Not only can new truck drivers get their schooling through Swift, they can go right into employment with the company when the schooling and training are complete.