Without trucks delivering goods, this country would come to a standstill. If you have a CDL, you always have a job. Driving a truck, whether locally, regionally, or over the road can be very lucrative, secure, satisfying and enjoyable. It can have many advantages over the nine to five rat race.

There are many facets to the truck driving industry. Many times the truck driver gets taken advantage of and gets the short end of the stick in pay, benefits, and overall job satisfaction. Long term good business relationships do not seem to be the norm in this industry. Why? Because of greed.

Driving an 80,000 pound truck down a highway at 70 mph, through major metropolitan areas, or through steep mountain grades is a highly skilled job with an awesome amount of responsibility. The demographics of truck drivers continues to change.
Still, most have no higher education, or skills in the business aspects of the trucking industry. Trucking companies take advantage of that.

To most trucking companies, the trucking industry is a numbers game. Most companies rely on gimmicks to lure drivers in to drive for them. They have new drivers coming in every week, and hopefully they can get three to six months work out of a driver, and one or two may stay long term. Go to a local truck stop and you will see many trucking employment magazines just loaded with ads promising you the world to come and join their team. Because of most company's high turnover rates, they have to keep pumping out sugar coated ads like these.

There are good solid companies to work for out there. There are union and non union. Most are non union. How does one sort through all the hype to find a decent company to work for that pays well, has good benefits, and truly respects you the truck driver? Just stick to the basics.

For company drivers, research and compare the pay scales for your experience and benefit packages. Most company pay scales are about the same. Local truck driving jobs usually pay hourly. Make sure you are looking at a base pay scale and not a cumulative one which averages in bonuses you may or may not get. What benefits offered really make a difference. Some of the big companies with good benefits, safety requirements, and solid freight may be the way to go. Some of the smaller companies may have a little more easy going work environment, and a little higher pay, but may or may not have good benefits.

If you have

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