These days, too many people are stuck in dead-end jobs that will inevitably take them nowhere and always leave them wanting more. With delivery work, it’s a whole different story. Driving through the landscape with just yourself for company may sound ideal for some, but are you someone that can appreciate, or indeed live, the trucker lifestyle?
The Benefits
When discussing a job prospect, some of the first things people are keen to find out about are the security and the money. It may come as a surprise to some, but truckers can often find very secure work with decent pay. Hours are flexible and, in many cases, you can arrange your own work schedule to fit your needs. Not only this, but trucking jobs are relatively easy to come by. Good, reliable driver will seldom struggle to find delivery work in their area (many companies are in need of long haul drivers in particular).
Delivery work is also a fantastic opportunity for travel and adventure. Wherever you go, there’ll be something new to see along the way. For many truckers, travelling alone certainly contributes to the advantages of working in the industry. There’s never any pressure to engage in small talk with other colleagues, and there won’t be a boss watching your every move. Another advantage of long or short haul trucking is having new challenges to face every day. Be it a difficult manoeuvre for a large vehicle or an obscure place to find, delivery work will never get boring.
Think You’re Right for the Job?
There are countless benefits of a career on the road, but you definitely need to be the right sort of person to appreciate them. Primarily, you have to be reliable. Time management is absolutely essential to do the job well, and you will gain a lot of respect for being a prompt delivery driver. A safety-conscious mindset is also key, as truckers are required to implement their own safety measures and, of course, always drive with caution. Following rules remains paramount for truckers, even when you aren’t being watched.
Without doubt, another helpful trait to have is a love for driving – obviously! Taking long journeys in a truck can, for some people, be the perfect way to wind down and enjoy the scenery. A love for the trucks and machinery is also helpful, although not a necessity.
With delivery work, job satisfaction comes firstly from you. If you love trucking, the open road, and a good bit of peace and quiet, it can be the best job in the world. But don’t let this make you think it’s easy; hours can be long and extremely tiring, with some rough nights inevitable – but it’s nothing that comfy seats and some good music on the radio can’t fix.
Norman Dulwich is a Correspondent for Haulage Exchange, the leading online trade network for the road transport industry. Connecting logistics professionals across the UK and Europe through their website, Haulage Exchange provides services for matching delivery work with available drivers. Over 5,400 member companies are networked together through the Exchange to fill empty capacity, get new clients and form long-lasting business relationships.
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