Posted By Hit The Road Jack on Oct 16, 2019 | 1 comment

Truck drivers are so important to the American economy and the global transport of goods. Although we recognize the importance of truck drivers, there are several people who still have misconceptions about them. Trucker stereotypes are incorrect and uninformed. It’s important to disprove these stereotypes and make sure people know the truth about trucking! Truck drivers deserve everyone’s appreciation, so it’s time to debunk some of these misconceptions. We’ve compiled a list of the top 5 truck driver myths so we can break them down and tell the truth about trucking!

Top 5 Truck Driver Myths

#1. Only Men are Truck Drivers

The stereotype that men are better truck drivers is, of course, not accurate. There are more than 200,000 female truck drivers in the United States and these women are five times less likely to break safety regulations than male truck drivers. They are also three times less likely to be in or cause an accident, and four times more likely to pass CDL certification on their first attempt than male drivers. Female drivers receive less driving warnings for issues such as collision warnings, speeding, and abrasive braking. Not only are female truckers statistically safer drivers than their male counterparts, but they are an integral part of the trucking industry!

#2. Drivers Earn a Low Income

Another truck driver myth is that drivers do not receive adequate salaries. This is untrue! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, truck drivers made an average annual income of $47,000 in 2019. Because the demand for truckers has increased, so have salaries. The highest paid truckers work in New York and Massachusetts. The top 10% of truck truckers make over $65,000 while the bottom 10% make around $28,000 annual salary. Truck drivers also rack up a lot of driving hours and miles, which can often result in end-of-the-year bonus from their companies.

#3. Truckers Don’t Spend Time at Home

Although some truck drivers work up to 70 hours a week, most truckers still have time to spend with their families. Many truck drivers work locally or regionally, meaning that they are able to go home multiple times a week to see their families. Truckers value seeing their loved ones, and many choose jobs that allow them to spend time at home. Even when they’re on the road, truckers keep in constant contact with their loved ones through technology.  

#4. Truck Drivers Cause Accidents

The public perception of big rigs is that they are annoyances on the road. However, what most people don’t realize is how much we rely on truckers. Trucks drive America’s commerce. Without trucks, we would not have groceries or other products that we need to survive. Trucks deliver 80% of all cargo in America. 

There is also a misconception that truckers cause accidents. Many non-truck drivers are afraid to drive alongside tractor-trailers because of “no zones.” Rest assured that truckers will see you. Truckers are 3 times less likely to be in an accident than a regular driver and are only involved in 2.4% of all car accidents in the United States.

#5. Truck Drivers are Uneducated

Many current truck drivers choose to get their college degrees before or after becoming truckers. Over 200,000 drivers aged 25-55 have some level of college education or a bachelor’s degree. This number has steadily risen over the last few decades. There are even reimbursement plans for truckers who want to go to college!

We did not have time to cover all of the truck driver myths out there, but these are a few of the most common. Do you have any more truck driver myths that we can bust? Let us know in the comments below! 

Are you interested in becoming a truck driver? Or maybe you want to start trucking somewhere else in the U.S.! Check out our job listings to find the perfect job and apply today! For more information, check out our video below!