How Can a Single Mother Become a Truck Driver?

Many people are interested in becoming a truck driver. The thought of hitting the open road and making good money is appealing. There are also single mothers who are interested in becoming a truck driver. If you are a single mother who wants to become a truck driver it is important for you to know the options, how to make it happen, and what you need to consider up front.

The more you know about being a truck driver the better it will be in making the decision to become one. It is not a career that you want to jump into without first considering, or you may be surprised later on. Knowing what to expect is going to be important when considering this profession. Like all new career options, you need to know what the field is about so you go into it with your eyes wide open.

Truck Driving Facts

Most people who are interested in becoming a truck driver simply picture spending hours on driving around to see the countryside. This indeed may be the life of many truck drivers, but it is by far not the only way that you can spend your time as a truck driver. There are other options as well.

Truck drivers do work over the road, as it is referred to, which means they tend to drive out of their state. Some may spend weeks at a time on the road going from one place to another. Over the road truck drivers may work for a company or they may be independent contractors who are hired to run loads from one place to another. There are plenty of both options to consider.

Here are a few facts to keep in mind about the truck driving field, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics:

• Delivery drivers earn an average of $38,000 per year and only need a high school diploma. Those in these positions typically work locally, and are able to be home each evening. They may work for companies that deliver beer, chips, or soda to grocery stores, for example. This field is expected to grow much faster than the average in the coming years. There are often delivery jobs available. These positions typically have on-the-job training, so the company provides the training that is necessary to do the truck driving.
• Heavy truck drivers are those who drive trucks that have heavy equipment on them. You may have seen them before as you drive down the road and get caught behind one. They may have heavy construction equipment or other large items. Those who drive these trucks earn an average of $50,000 per year and they need to complete a training program to be hired for the job. This field is growing at an average pace.
• Over the road truck drivers are in high demand and have the potential to earn a lot of money. They earn an average hourly wage of nearly $31, and have a variety of places they can work for. Jobs in this field are available for companies, as independent contractors, working for the government, and more. The average salary per year is around $77,000, but many truck drivers who go over the road earn over $100,000 per year. To enter this field you will need to complete a truck driving program and be properly licensed.

If you want a delivery job that pays well and has you at home each night, you may want to consider applying with places like UPS and Amazon. These jobs pay well above the average and much more than other local delivery places. Those in these positions typically start early in the morning, have a set number of deliveries they have to make for the day, and then when they are done making them they can go home. Some of these positions pay over $100,000 per year.

Getting Hired as Truck Driver as a Single Mother

Here are the steps you can take to get hired as a truck driver, no matter what type of driving you would like to do:

• Determine what type of truck driving you want to do, including driving locally, over the road, etc. The companies that hire people to drive their trucks will likely not care if you are a single mother. But as a single mother you may care what type of truck driving job you have, because it may impact how often you see your children. The age of your children and the help you have to care for them may help you decide which option is right for you.
• Once you know what type of truck driving job you want, go onto a place like Indeed to see what jobs are available in your area. This will give you an idea of what is needed to be hired. You may see some that provide the training once you are hired, but others may require specific programs to be completed first.
• Most truck driving jobs will require some sort of driver’s license, so be sure yours in good standing order. Depending on the type of driving position, you may have to have certain endorsements as well. To get those you will need to go to the DMV and take a test and pay for the endorsements.
• If you need truck driver training that is not provided by the company doing the hiring, then seek out a truck driving school in your area. There are truck driving schools around the country that are not expensive, and will provide you with the hands-on skills that you need.
• Once you have the proper licensing and training (if it is needed ahead of time), then you are ready to apply for a truck driving job. Apply for all those truck driving jobs that are of interest to you and that you feel qualified for. Pay attention to the one that are offering hiring bonuses and benefits, which may come in handy.

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