Do you love the open road? Do you love adventure? Perhaps becoming a truck driver is the career for you. Truck driving can be an exciting career – one that allows you to be a master of your own schedule and to see the world. Truck drivers also make a decent salary – with benefits and a handsome retirement plan. However, truck driving isn’t for everyone. The career is demanding, requires long hours and there might be some stress involved with getting your payload to the destination on time. Yet, one of the biggest benefits is that you don’t need to go to school for a long time. In fact, all you really need is a high school diploma. Here are some things to consider when deciding whether or not becoming a truck driver is right for you.

One of the most important things to determine when it comes to deciding whether or not a truck driving career is right for you, is whether or not you have a love for the road. As a truck driver, you won’t be driving a vehicle that you are commonly used to, but a large big rig with up to 18 wheels. So, if you love operating heavy machinery and have a hyper awareness of all its safety hazards, you might be suited to the career.

Another thing to consider is that truck driving requires a certain amount of training and licensing. Not just anyone can be handed the keys of a big rig with a large payload. Yet, there are many truck driving schools you can attend to not only learn the rules of the road, but also mechanics and even how the trucking industry operates. Many of these courses take between six months and a year to complete. After you graduate from your courses you are required to take a written test and then a physical driving test.

Once you have your license and you are ready to hit the road you can stand to make a decent living. Most companies offer salaries between $50 thousand and $80 thousand a year. There are also benefits – including medical and dental. If you have a large family, becoming a truck driver can be an excellent career choice, because many of your benefits can extend to your family as well.

Truck driving also requires you to be working extremely long hours and through the night. Not only is it important to have incredible eyesight, but you must also be able to withstand staring at the road and passing white lights for multiple hours at a time. In some cases you might even be rushing to deliver your payload on time. While you can’t go over the speed limit – namely because your truck won’t go so fast – you do need to stay on the road to stay on schedule.

Lastly, truck driving requires a lot of responsibility. When a company is taking a look at trucking factoring companies to move their payload to a particular destination, the highest paying jobs will go to the most reputable drivers. This is why it’s important to develop your reputation as a driver who can get the payload there safe and sound. The more responsible you are as a truck driver, the more you will succeed in the industry. Maybe one day you’ll even have your own fleet.