No matter what happens after 2020, there are millions of jobs that will never come back. But nearly overnight, the nation's dependence on the trucking industry to deliver food, water, personal protective equipment, and other essential goods became evident. There will always be a need for truck drivers. So, if you're considering a career change, you can successfully transition into one of many truck driving careers without immediately quitting your present job.
If you're unhappy with new company policies such as work-from-home, reduced hours, or the stringent safety protocols that make completing job tasks difficult, driving trucks for a living can give you the freedom and independence you desire. Here we will discuss the benefits of training to get your commercial driver's license or CDL without sacrificing your present income.
The flexibility of truck driving school
Today's truck driving schools work hard to fit the needs of the modern, adult student. They realize you may have responsibilities that you think will prevent you from getting your commercial driver's license or CDL - but think again! Many truck drivers have successfully studied part-time while working, raising a family, and balancing both school and life responsibilities.
As a matter of fact, there is an academic component of truck driver training that will involve book learning. This includes road regulations and DOT rules that protect both the driver and others while on roadways. These courses can certainly be completed during your off-hours, in the comfort of your own home, or even while enjoying a beverage at your favorite coffee shop.
Even better yet, many schools have embraced e-learning. That means you'll use a laptop or your home computer to work through short training modules that also include plenty of practice, quizzes, and example testing. This type of learning works to assure the student that they know the material well and can be confident about passing the CDL written exam.
CDL Training without quitting your job
You really don't have quit your job to start CDL training. This old method of career transitioning is outdated and can leave students without the income and security they need to complete their new training program. Some working students are aggressive. They may work full-time and study full-time. This path takes a lot of energy and a lot of commitment.
A better way to transition to trucking careers is to keep your present work hours or opt for reduced hours that will still bring you a decent paycheck. You can then study your truck driving material during spare evening hours, on the weekends, and during break times. Once you complete this theoretical or book training, you'll be ready to train on-the-road.
When it's time to perform the practical side of your training (or road training) that every trucker must complete, many schools arrange those hours to be performed on the weekends, or early evenings. This way you can easily continue to work through the week and commit the weekend to training for a new career. Not to worry, this isn't a long-term commitment. Most of these schools have fast-track programs that take as little as 5 weeks to complete.
Even better, choose a truck driving school that offers a weekend training program that provides hands-on training on Saturdays and Sundays. This type of training is typically performed after completion of the rules and regulations training. This means you can drive your training truck on public roads as long as you have a fully licensed instructor or other CDL licensed driver with you at the time.
Benefit of trucking careers
The country has gone through many seasons where there was a very real shortage of truck drivers available. Those times have worked to the benefit of truckers because trucking companies started tacking on excellent benefit packages, in addition to better wages to attract the best employees. Here are some more benefits that support making the career change to driving trucks for a living:
- Change of scenery - enjoy working outdoors and you get and meet new people on a regular basis
- Work flexibility - choose the type of trucking schedules or time frames that best suits your lifestyle
- Multiple trucking career options - including full-time, part-time, local, regional, and OTR or long-haul truckers
- Great pay - salary, bonuses, and benefits packages are all now standard fare with many top trucking companies
- Job security - truck driving jobs continue to increase even during economic downturns or global crisis
- Be part of a team - and of a network of on-the-road drivers that support each other in the field
If you feel it's time for a career change but are unsure of what your best options are, consider transitioning to a truck driving career. The trucking industry continues to grow at above average rates and work conditions have improved drastically for truck drivers. Even the trucks that are on the road are more comfortable, offer a smoother ride, and are equipped with features that were unheard of ten years ago.
Once you are awarded your CDL and are ready to start your new career, visit CDLjobs.com to find the right truck driving job to fit your lifestyle and career goals. We have listings of jobs from the top trucking companies across the country. You can easily search by trucking job type such as flatbed driving or by the name of the company you want to drive for.
You will also find helpful resources on CDLjobs, such as our industry newsletter to keep you informed about trucking news that can affect both truck drivers and Owner Operators.
If you're just starting to look for truck driving schools, we provide links to some of the best schools in America that offer professional truck driving programs - and many geared to adult students with 5 week completion and on-the-road truck driving training that will fit your busy schedules.
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