“What you are going to be when you grow up?” is a question that has been on your mind since you were a child. Back then, you might have said a firefighter, ballerina, or a professional ice cream taster. The thought of driving a truck never crossed your mind. Now that you’re older and wiser, maybe you should reconsider a career in truck driving. Here are 5 reasons to become a truck driver and work for Bay and Bay Transportation:
1. Minimal Education Costs and Timeframe
As far as post-secondary education goes, getting your commercial driver’s license (CDL) is one of the more affordable options. Costs to attend a truck driving school range from $3,000 to $7,000, a price tag that is considerably cheaper than that of a four-year university, and closer to the tuition of a community or technical college. Just like the traditional college route, you can receive student loans to help cover the costs of CDL training. However, truck driving school has yet another advantage over even community or technical colleges: training is only 7 weeks long at most, and some programs are as short as 4 weeks. This means that while others are stuck in classrooms, you could be starting your career.
2. Competitive Wages and Benefits
Because the transportation industry is in high demand, a career in truck driving has the potential to be quite profitable. Across the nation, there is an estimated shortage of 35,000 drivers, which means that businesses have increased wages and begun offering signing bonuses. At Bay and Bay Transportation, drivers have an annual wage between $56-70,000, with additional bonuses and full medical and dental benefits. Plus, because they are salaried rather than paid by the mile, drivers always take home a steady paycheck.
3. Opportunities for Travel
Obviously, truck drivers travel a lot—in fact, nearly all of your day is spent cruising down highways and winding through towns. Typically, at Bay and Bay Transportation, company drivers go out on the road for 7-14 days or 14-21 days at a time to haul freight across multiple states and back. You will see a lot of US countryside; from Grand Forks, ND to Richmond, VA, and down to Houston, TX, plus meet a variety of people along the way. If you’ve had a feeling of wanderlust and a need for new surroundings your whole life, becoming a truck driver means that you get paid while fulfilling those desires.
4. Independent of a Supervisor
When you’re on the road, there is no one looking over your shoulder every minute of the day, or a supervisor telling you when to go on a break or assigning you tasks. It’s up to you to get the delivery made on time, but you get to decide when to pull over to stretch your legs or where to stop for dinner. As a truck driver, you get to enjoy a sense of independence and freedom that is often missing in other employment settings.
5. Develop into an Entrepreneur
You can take your career in truck driving to the next level by becoming an owner-operator. As an owner-operator, you own and maintain your own rig while contracting independently to transport products for clients. Bay and Bay Transportation also contracts with owner-operators and offers incentives such as fuel discounts and access to repair shops. Owning your own rig is expensive up front— a new semi can cost between $80-150,000, which is why you’ll probably wait until you have worked for several years and have some money saved up. However, making that leap from company driver to owner-operator can give you a sense of achievement and pride that only comes with being an entrepreneur.
It’s not the sweet life of a professional ice cream taster, but becoming a truck driver certainly has benefits of its own. Bay and Bay Transportation is always looking for qualified drivers for positions as company drivers or owner-operators. If you are interested in furthering your career in truck driving with Bay and Bay Transportation, apply today!