Career Advancement in the Trucking Industry

As a truck driver, you can move from north to south and east to west but never feel like you’re moving up. Many truckers get into the business because they either want to quit the rat race or never want to take the starting line in the first place, but, like anyone who works for a living, still find themselves yearning for more responsibilities, more prestige, and of course, more pay. But with plenty of opportunities to advance to more favorable routes or even positions in management that graduate drivers off the road altogether, trucking is no dead end. Here are some tips for career advancement in the trucking industry that active and aspiring drivers alike can take as they seek to get more from the business.

Keep at It

With the understanding that the trucking industry is growing and always in need of drivers, many people obtain their CDLs and sign up to drive expecting easy money and a quick climb up the ladder. After all, how hard can it be to drive? As the research would bear out, harder than it looks—35% of new drivers hang up their driving gloves after just 90 days, with many more drivers walking away from the job in the first year. Woody Allen, though probably not truck-driver material himself, famously quipped that 90% percent of life is showing up. By continuing to show up to the job and not letting yourself wash out, you can quickly distinguish yourself as a driver who’s in it for the long haul.

Exceed Expectations

Sticking to the job is important, of course, but let’s look at that other 10%: performance. By demonstrating yourself to be an exemplary driver in every aspect, you can prove your worth as someone who deserves to move up in the business. On-time deliveries with a sterling driving record are key, of course, but so too are details like completing paperwork in a timely manner or keeping a clean truck. Management takes note of drivers who do all the little things, and most certainly notices those who get where they’re going on time without getting pulled over.

Keep an Open Mind

Professional development is important in white-collar jobs and blue-collar jobs alike. Consider supplementing your CDL with additional certifications, such as a hazardous material endorsement, which will allow you to take on more lucrative and specialized trucking jobs. Career advancement in the trucking industry can take you out from behind the wheel, too. Show interest in career paths that don’t involve driving, such as office work or management. If you demonstrate an aptitude for the business side of the industry, you may have a bright future in trucking long after you’ve grown tired of the truck stops and nights away from home.