If you read the news, you know that there’s generally a trucker shortage in America. There has been for years and the problem seems to just be getting worse as time goes by. So you would think that the trucking industry would be so desperate that they’d throw out all their rules and regulations and just hire anyone, right? Wrong. The industry still has standards and there are prerequisites to being a professional driver. That’s a good thing, though, because it helps keep America’s roads safer rather than more dangerous.
So why can’t some people find trucking jobs?
Driving History
First, some people have several driving infractions and that’s not a good thing if you want to be a trucker. If you can’t safely drive your everyday normal car or truck or other vehicle, then you probably can’t safely drive a big truck. Infractions can include small things, like not wearing seatbelts, or big things, like driving drunk. The more “tickets” you get, the less likely any trucking company would want to hire you. Also, if you’re a drug addict, you shouldn’t be behind the wheel of a big rig.
Lack of Stability
Next, some people move around too much– they get hired at one company and then a couple weeks later they’re moving on to their next company and this cycle keeps on going and going… employers don’t like that! Why invest in someone who is just going to leave, quickly?
Misconceptions
Thirdly, some people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to trucking. They think of it as a way to travel and see new places like a tourist, but they don’t realize it’s a job, not a vacation. They also want to tell their employer what they will and won’t do, rather than be assigned such things. So, if an employee gave you, a manager, limited options such as “I can only work Mondays and Tuesdays and I can’t go more than 50 miles from home and I’ll only deliver such-and-such,” wouldn’t that make it hard to keep them? Yes!
Poor Performance
Finally, some people just aren’t good at trucking– they may have gotten some training and received their CDL, but in reality, they’re not good drivers, they can’t manage their time well, they don’t really want to work, etc. Couple this with a bad attitude and it’s no wonder that they can’t easily find work in the trucking industry!
If you need help finding a truck driving job, learn how Platinum Drivers can help.