Employment as a Truck Driver
Why is truck driving a viable Career Option?
In the years to come, the truck driving industry is foreseen to increase in many countries like Canada, New Zealand, Australia, UK and the US. This is not surprising because almost all products of these countries have to be transported to their respective destinations.
Truck drivers, who are called drivers or truckers in the US or Canada, truckies in New Zealand and Australia, and lorry drivers or simply drivers in the UK, are very helpful since they transport raw materials to the processing plants where they are manufactured. After this, they transport them back to the distribution places. 
An educational background is not very much needed as a requirement. But there are few companies that accept only drivers with at least a high school education.
But if you really consider pursuing truck driving as a job, you have to get a license. In the US, this is called the commercial driver’s license (CDL). Australia has 5 license types: Light Rigid Class, Medium Rigid Class, Heavy Rigid Class, Heavy Combination Class and Multi-Combination Class. UK, meanwhile, has a Large Goods Vehicle and Heavy Goods Vehicle Licenses. Before licenses are availed, an applicant is first put on training courses.
The Trends in Truck Driver Employment
The most important reason that this career has to be considered is that most truck drivers today are already retiring. US, alone, currently needs around 20, 000 drivers.
Also, truck drivers from the long-haul sector have a very high turnover rate. This is because they are exposed to risks plus the long hours that they have to spend working. Furthermore, they also have to be away from their families for quite a time.
Although threats in the economy may affect this industry, the market for truck drivers will still be higher because of things like more aging drivers and turnover. When it comes to wages, truck drivers in the US receive $15 to $18 per hour while those who drive their own trucks receive more. Australian truck drivers, on the other hand, approximately receive 20 Australian dollars. UK heavy truck drivers earn 8 to 10 pounds at an hourly basis.
The facts earlier stated prove that this career should really be considered. The 2010-2011 Edition of the US Bureau of Labor Statistics’’ Occupational Outlook Handbook says that 291,000 truck driving jobs will be given over 2008 to 2018.
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