The Open Road: 4 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Truck Drivers

You might think that in our day and age, everything is done electronically, however, there are still needs for old-school methods of transportation. Truck driving is still a thriving occupation that is necessary in our highly advanced world today. Truck drivers are often seen as an inconvenience on the road for those who are trying to get somewhere quickly without getting stuck behind a big rig. Although truck drivers are known for spending hundreds of miles on the road daily, there are some surprising facts that the general public has yet to learn. Read on for some surprising facts about truck drivers that you might not know.

They Spend Over 100,000 Miles on the Road Annually

Truck drivers have one of the most interesting occupations and are estimated to spend 125,000 miles on the road each year. This makes for several hours listening to the radio or staying deep in thought while working to stay safe when making a delivery. Legally, they are only able to spend 11 hours on the road each day to prevent fatigue and keep them (and others on the road) safe.

Truck Drivers are at Least 21 Years of Age

Although the legal age to drive a vehicle in the U.S. is 16 years of age, truck drivers are required to be at least 21 years old before becoming a truck driver. Local companies may hire someone under 21, but reputable trucking companies require employees to have a CDL license for cross-country driving. This license requires individuals to be at least 21 years of age. Also to obtain the proper licenses, there is a certain amount of schooling and training needed. The schooling is not universal either, it depends on what country and region you’ll be driving in.

Their Income Continues to Increase

In some parts of society, truck drivers are often viewed as a low-paid individual with a tedious job. In previous years, their salaries averaged $35,000 annually but now are in the $55,000 range due to the increasing dependency of transporting goods. Truck drivers are often paid per mile or depending on the load that they transport, meaning they are not paid while the truck is idling or during a delivery.

Truck Drivers Often Work 70 Hours a Week

For many truck drivers, they can drive up to 70 hours per week in an eight-day period, but legally must take 34 hours off to relax and rest until they hit the road again. Each day, they must have at least a 10-hour break to ensure that they are in a healthy state of mind to stay alert when behind the wheel. Obviously these regulations have been put in place in order to keep everyone on the road safe, and make sure that drivers don’t overdo it and cause an accident.

America’s fascination with truck drivers began in the 1960s and ’70s when new films like Convoy and Smokey and the Bandit became blockbuster hits. Today, the occupation continues to evolve to reward the drivers with more benefits and luxurious amenities inside of the cab. Although there are several challenges when traveling hundreds of miles each day, the benefits continue to make it an enjoyable career.

AUTHOR BIO: This article was written by Dixie Somers, a freelance writer who loves to write about business, finance, women’s interests, and technology. She lives in Arizona with her husband and three beautiful daughters. Dixie got her information for this article from the professionals of Surrey & Hampshire LGV Training in London who specialize in training and certifying truck drivers.