People pick a truck driving career for many reasons. While the job has lots of pros and cons, it can bring a good and consistent income to support your family. It takes as little as 3-4 weeks to get ready for the new career. Some schools even offer placement assistance after graduation. However, first things first. Let’s learn more about the advantages and disadvantages of the job as well as how to pick the right truck driving school.
The pros and cons of going in the truck driving business
The advantages of becoming a truck driver include:
It’s a stable career that provides lots of opportunities.
You and your family can see other parts of the country.
Relatively affordable and quick training which lets you start working within a couple of months.
If a trucker works for a reputable company, he is sure to get extra benefits like insurance and retirement plans.
On the other hand, there are some disadvantages, too. The main ones are:
It may get lonely and isolated.
Delays are inevitable and when they occur, it may get frustrating.
Lack of movement, poorer eating habits, etc.
How to pick a truck driving school?
After you decide to become a truck driver, you should take your time to figure out which truck driving school to choose. Let’s take a quick look at the most important factors you should consider.
Location is likely to one of the key elements. Unless you want to move to study in this school, you should explore the options nearby. Bigger cities often have a wide selection of options.
Instructors and curriculum will also have a great impact. First of all, a future student should discover if the timetable works for him. It’s also better to pick instructors who used to be truck drivers. They are more experienced and can really provide some useful and practical tips.
Choose the type of school from the four main options: licensed, certified, accredited, and unaccredited.
Take into account the price and other expenses (commute, learning supplies, additional knickknacks).
People often pick truck driving schools based on their official websites. It’s also a wonderful solution if you want to check out the reputation and former students’ reviews.
Finally, job placement can be an important element for some. For example, mind that private schools don’t provide you with a job right after you graduate.
