If you ask non-commercial drivers what personality traits they think professional driving jobs require, you’ll probably get answers ranging from “tough and competitive” to “independent and easy going.” Though these answers may be totally accurate in some individual cases, the real truth of the matter rests somewhere in between. Drivers with Bay and Bay Transportation near Madison, WI, may describe themselves as all or none of the above, but whether you’re tough or easy going, succeeding in truck driving still requires a few things that not everyone shares equally.
There isn’t a single, universal checklist of personality traits that driving jobs require. You don’t need to have a certain background, specific personality, or particular set of driving skills right from the get-go. Everyone who obtains a professional position in truck driving, however, does need to be flexible and willing to learn and improve. Many of the skills associated with truck driving can be obtained through experience. For instance, being able to read the road and predict the actions of the drivers around you isn’t necessarily a natural instinct, but can certainly be learned over time. The same goes for judging how much time you’ll need between stops, knowing when to pull over in sketchy weather, and understanding how to become allies with the other truckers you encounter…even if you never meet again.
Truck driving can be frustrating, change from day to day and shift to shift, and as a profession, it’s always innovating, even in small ways. Technology is always changing, roads are being redone, personnel is becoming more specialized, and with each of these shifts, the industry shifts as well. Whether or not you’re gregarious or reserved has no real bearing on how effective you’ll be behind the wheel. Your ability to improvise and be flexible in the face of change, however, certainly makes a difference.
Truck driving is a career path that just about anyone can try, but only certain people have the drive that makes them truly suited to the work. If you’re motivated and interested in a self-led career on the road near Madison, WI, contact Bay and Bay Transportation today for information on available driving jobs. Give us a call at (888) 801-3026, or visit our website here today!