If you love spending time on the open road and feel at your happiest when you’re sitting behind the wheel of a car, you might consider long-haul driving to be the perfect career opportunity for you.
Not only do you get the opportunity to drive a range of different kinds of vehicles, but you can explore new places, and even see the world, depending on the kind of job you get.
These days, the demand for long-haul drivers is higher than ever, because there are fewer people on the roads with the right skills and certifications to travel long distances in a larger vehicle.
This could mean you can get a well-paying job in this area if you’re willing to do the right training.
However, before you start scoping out your new career, it’s worth making sure you know what you’re getting into, and what you can expect.
The Ups and Downs of Long-Haul Driving
Long-distance driving has a lot of benefits to offer the right people.
You have plenty of time to yourself, where you can enjoy being alone with your thoughts as you explore the open road.
At the same time, you’ll be able to meet a wide variety of people wherever you go, which can be an enlightening and enriching experience.
Long-haul driving also gives you the freedom to explore more destinations around the world, without having to spend a fortune on travel.
While you might not be able to take your loved ones with you, there’s the option to soak up some amazing sights.
Of course, it’s not all fun road trips and interesting destinations.
You’ll also be working irregular schedules on long hours.
This means you need to make sure you can trust your employer to look after you and keep you safe when you’re on the open road.
Most of the fleet managers in the modern world use a range of technology and tools to help keep track of their drivers, including things like dash cameras and electronic logging devices (ELD) for tracking important information.
Though it might feel a little odd to have someone tracking your vehicle wherever it goes, it’s nice to know they’re also keeping your best interests in mind.
Is this Career Right for You?
Whether you can survive and thrive in a career as a long-haul driver will depend on a number of factors, including your personality, and how comfortable you feel behind the wheel.
If you’re the kind of person who hates the idea of being away from your home for long periods of time, then long-haul driving might not be the right solution for you.
And think about if this is your attempt to start to change your career path or your first dip in the job seeking pool, your needs and considerations depend on the stage you’re at.
On the other hand, if you feel comfortable behind the wheel of a car, and like the idea of travelling long distances on a regular basis, you could definitely earn a decent income in this job.
Just make sure you check out the person or company you’re going to be working for and determine how they’re going to monitor you in advance.