The Truth About Being a Truck Driver

Are you thinking of joining the 3.5 million truck drivers within the United States?

If so, there are a few things about being a truck driver that you need to know first before you make your decision.

While the job outlook for truckers is growing by roughly 6% each year, it’s far from an easy job. Trucking isn’t just about driving for long stretches and being away from your family.

It’s also about putting yourself in harm’s way, understanding the rules of the road, and a whole lot more.

Before you decide that being a truck driver is the perfect career for you, we want you to read this article first to ensure that you have realistic expectations.

You’ll Be Away From Home A Lot

Remember that, in most cases, being a truck driver means that you get paid by the number of miles you drive — not by the amount of time you spend on the road.

One of the hardest things about this profession is that it forces you to spend several weeks at a time away from your family. Especially if you have young children or family members that need an extra level of care, this can be a real challenge.

It can even put a strain on a marriage or cause you to feel like you’re missing out on watching your kids grow up. It’s tough to find a real work-life balance.

In fact, truck drivers have unusually high rates of divorce, in no small part because of the time that they spend away from their families.

Your Physical Health May Suffer

Before you make any definitive decisions about being a truck driver, you need to understand the possible risks to your physical health.

First of all, it’s not exactly rocket science that truckers spend the majority of their time sitting, engaged in very little physical activity. While you may want to hit the gym or even just go for a walk after you finish your drive for the day?

The long hours often leave you too physically exhausted to actually do so. This means that you’ll likely be at an increased risk for obesity and even diabetes. Plus, it can be incredibly difficult to eat healthy on the road — especially when your main options seem to be fast food or nothing else.

And speaking of exhaustion?

You can expect the long hours on the road — often driving through the night — to wreak havoc on your overall sleep cycle.

Though you’ll need to pass a physical examination required by the Department of Transportation in order to become a truck driver, you may find that your health quickly deteriorates afterward.

You may even deal with higher levels of cholesterol, blood pressure levels, and even an increased risk for sun damage.

You’re Prone To Serious Accidents

Another potential risk of deciding to join the truck driving prevention?

You’ll certainly be much more likely to get into an accident.

While of course, some of this just comes from an increased amount of time on the road, in other cases, it’s because you’ve fallen asleep at the wheel. Additionally, it can be surprisingly difficult for you to safely maneuver your truck or even see other cars out on the road.

It can take only a few seconds for your life to completely change.

And unfortunately, sometimes your worker’s compensation insurance simply isn’t enough to help you to provide for your family while you’re in recovery. The emotional side effects of getting into an accident are also something that you should take into serious consideration.

Of course, if you do end up getting into an accident, finding the right representation is absolutely essential.

Whether or not the accident was your fault, you want to be sure you’ve done everything you can to avoid heavy fines and get your medical bills paid for.

Female Truckers Face Unique Problems

Of course, as within any industry, it’s no secret that female employees face an especially unique set of challenges.

In addition to dealing with sexism in the workplace, women truck drivers are also frequently in environments where they are the only woman in the room.

While harassment is on the decline in the trucking industry, many female drivers do still worry about their safety while driving on the road late at night, or even taking naps and showers in truck stop areas.

If you’re a woman who is interested in being a truck driver, you also run the risk of facing gender-based discrimination in the workplace. Again, this is the sort of incident where having the right legal representation on your side can serve you well.

Still, we understand that you relish any opportunity to be a trailblazer — and trucking certainly allows you to do just that.

You Now Know The Risks Of Being A Truck Driver

Being a truck driver is one of the most difficult professions in the world — but it can also be incredibly rewarding.

If you’re a fan of flexibility and the open road, the benefits certainly outweigh the risks.

Of course, as with any other workplace environments, you’ll still need to be able to handle things like conflict resolution, salary negotiation, and even managing your relationships with suppliers.

Need additional advice on how to make it happen?

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