Common Misconceptions About Truck Drivers
Common Misconceptions About Truck Drivers - AllTruckJobs.com

Common Misconceptions About Truck Drivers

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Being a trucker is far from easy, but if you talked to a lot of non-truck drivers, you would assume it’s as simple as driving from point A to Point B. Who cares about the weather right? Those massive trucks should be able to run through mountains. Sadly, there are a lot of common misconceptions about truck drivers that many fail to realize. One trip in the cab could change most people’s mind, but oftentimes a simple explanation can do the trick. Truckers are constantly bombarded with inquiries about their line of work, and some of the things these “4-wheelers” say are hysterical. For the sake of us all, let’s debunk some of the most common misconceptions about truck drivers.

Common Misconceptions About Truck Drivers

Trucking Isn’t Physically or Mentally Demanding

Many assume that the toughest thing about trucking is finding the best possible cushion to sit on while on the road. However, trucking is actually a very demanding job both physically and mentally. While some drivers may load and unload their own rig, most think the rest of the time driving involves merely sitting on a cushioned seat in an air-conditioned cab. However, even the most modern and hi-tech truck won’t steer itself, and maintaining control of such a mammoth takes a good amount of upper body strength. In addition, constant focus on road travels can be very mentally taxing. While working long hours, truckers must be in complete control of a multi-ton piece of metal flying at high speeds down the highway, so it’s no surprise that one of the biggest misconceptions about truck drivers is just the amount of mental and physical energy the job requires.

Only Guys Can Be Truckers

Like many past jobs, the trucking community is becoming more and more diverse every day. This includes the 200,000 women that are truck drivers. While it can be easy to assume that truckers are rugged, male, and single, this isn’t the case at all. As long as you have your CDL license, you can pursue a career as a truck driver. What is a CDL driver? Whether you’re male, female, married, or single, anyone can be a CDL driver driver with the proper training and commitment. This is one reason why driver employers are branching out into different demographics to bridge the driver shortage gap.

common misconceptions about truck drivers

You Won’t See Your Family or Friends Much

One of the most common misconceptions about truck drivers is that they live a life of solitude and rarely get to interact with loved ones back home. While it may be true in certain situations, there is no need to miss out on your family life. If you choose a career in long-haul trucking, video chatting at a rest stop a few times a day will prevent you from missing out on the fun. Otherwise, there are plenty of CDL opportunities locally so you can be with your family and friends when you need to. As a driver, you will constantly be meeting people on the road as well, so you and your trucking buddies can try to meet up when you can. If you end up on a driving team, you’ll be spending someone quality time with a partner pretty frequently.

Truck Drivers Cause A lot of Accidents

Truckers are three times less likely to have an accident than normal vehicles. And the majority of accidents that do occur are due to drivers driving in blind spots and abruptly braking in front of them. In a career that is focused on precision and timing, it’s surprising that one of the biggest common misconceptions about truck drivers is that they are at fault when it comes to accidents on the road, which is simply not the case.

Truckers Go Days Without Sleep

This is not a profession that requires 48 hours straight driving. There is the option for team driving where shifts are taken, so there are no long stops. There is also the option to sleep in a hotel for five hours to recharge. Lack of sleep may still affect drivers, but it is usually due to a poor, fast food-based diet and not lack of shut-eye. With most interstate truckers sleeping in their rigs, there is still plenty of time to recharge batteries so you can be alert and wake while on the road.

If you’re looking to snag a rewarding trucking career, check out the hundreds of jobs we have posted today!

Author: Hit The Road Jack

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16 Comments

  1. After driving 600+ miles each day then just off duty for 10 hours isn’t enough. But the hometime we get is awful. Your naps disappear and your health too. No job should do what trucking does to you.

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    • Ive been driving for 20yrs. If your complaining about 10 hours of sleep and hometime sucks then your either working for the wrong company or mis managing your time or ( both ) if its a lufestyle issue, find a local job. Most pay equak to otr

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      • That’s true I only drove 1 year and it was good plenty of sleep and got to my drop offs ahead of time and there is always time to take a shower and eat use your time right and it will benefit you

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    • Find a Different Company

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    • 110% agree. My biggest reason I left trucking was health and fitness. Sitting, eating, stress & irregular sleep patterns made me one unhealthy unhappy person

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    • Then quit or try a different company

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  2. Ben truck in 17 years I just wish they had some of them things that cars need to know about trucks on a driving test like if a truck is turning right don’t run up the side of them if a truck is stopped this more reason do not run do not come from behind him wait your turn so you can see just a few little tips for regular drivers will help all of us a lot in that space that we leave don’t get in it stay in your lane we all stuck in this traffic and when you see a sign that says right lane closed automatically get over in the left-hand Lane and that helps all the traffic move but you have some run up that lane is closing and now it takes forever to get through because now he has to get over when you could have just got over when you first see the sign and that keeps the traffic moving some of this needs to be on the regular driving test you will be surprised that the people that don’t understand what this big truck means on the road I was always told by old G trucker respect the road and the road respects you

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  3. Don’t forget the local driver’s, I’ve done both there’s a big difference in the both all articles is always the long haul maybe someone should ride with a ” local hauler ” and see compare the two

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    • Local driver’s are not the same as long haul driver’s.. I have done both..I prefer long haul..
      But when your a local driver..I don’t want hear you complain that your the same as me.. big difference..you go home every night..and the traffic..no you wanted it when you decided to be local.. so yes your different local driver’s.. 20 year’s over the road..and the reason I can run night and to where I need to be without you and the four wheelers in my way..

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  4. I been a truck driver for 35 years it’s not the four wheelers it’s the new drivers we have out here on the road we used to communicate with each other through CB radios I don’t think the new drivers know what a CB radio is for you can’t tell a new driver anyting they get offended and think they know it all I started when we were call Professional truck drivers now with the flip-flops pajama win jeans hanging down past the butt we are just called truck drivers

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    • Totally agree. What ever happened to the professional trucker driver community. Drivers don’t warn each other about hazards on the road. Bad weather. Now your lucky if one of these so called drivers even flips his lights to let you know your clear to move over. The new drivers have no respect and think they deserve everything without earning anything

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  5. Otr and local are completely different.

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  6. Wake up… don’t expect respect or anything else until you grow up… look at any of the parking lots after trucks have been there…grow up Jack ass’s.

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  7. Keep an eye on everyone else, anticipate their next move

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  8. I have been driving for over 30 years . Doing local and Long Haul my biggest complaint is that four wheelers think there brake lights are a Shield. I can’t count the number of times 4 wheeler’s have to pull in front of a truck a slam on their brakes.

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